Substitutions?

[formosa]

Was babbling here how I can't get Dittany of Crete anywhere, thinking what to use instead and the took a look in my resin box- Gum Mastik stares right back at me . Been sitting there for a year.

[cyv]

Go TigerMoonShell! I was just about to post the same thing =') Though I made it for, well..Everything. I'm still in doubt about the essential oils, I have a LOT of premixed sabbath incense still, I will probably not use it a lot after, I am on a budget, but I DO want to learn how to make incense. But preferably using the, say, juniper berry and star anise, mix with resin - or something - and creating it that way.

Just trying to find a way to make this fit so it is ok in 'my way'. I just don't want to spend all that money on something I will never use again. It's a lot of repetition, and I do want to learn about the herbs and their associations, but not using the 'extract' of it. I might still pick up a few of them, or I might end up getting them all. But I haven't figured that out yet.

I did figure out however when which should be bought (dates).
Now the names are already translated to Dutch, but a very quick summary:

December: 7 bottles
January: 4 bottles
February: 6 bottles
April: 5 bottles
September: 4 bottles
October: 2 bottles

December also holds most of the more expensive kinds of oils. I did not check if another bottle of the same thing is required later though.

[formosa]

I'm settling on the fact that you can replace oils with herbs if you need. I have about 5 still listed in oil section that I don't have yet, but some are not even around. Like lily, which was a surprise, because I have even found tulip. Still, there is still time.

Juniper berry, cyv? They indeed smell fantastic, on roasts and in incense. Locals use juniper for smoking the meat. Mmm! You made me feel right at home.

[autumnraiin]

I will def be using substitutions! Last year I bought mostly the first 3mo items, but this year $$$ is much tighter! Cunningham's book is amazing!!!

[cyv]

Which book is that? The oils etc? I think that's the one missing from my collection, partially because it's untranslated. I don't mind English at all, but these kinds of things are convenient to know in your native language. Guess I'll be translating.

[missmelissa]

So for month 2 one of the supplies is cinnamon bark. A lot of things in the states are labeled cinnamon, but are not true cinnamon. So, would cassia cinnamon be appropriate, when it is not true cinnamon?Cassia is Cinnamomum aromaticum and "true" cinnamon is Cinnamomum zeylanicum .

[lydiaharper]

I will most likely be using C. aromaticum, since that's all I can find around here and what I have on hand. I may try to check the ethnic aisle and see if there is any "true" cinnamon in the Mexican section, though.

[formosa]

I have some C.zeylanicum I got from grandmother, but I see no reason why aromaticum should be that much different from it. I do know it has slight difference in taste, but if you use it for aromatic purpose, there really is little difference, except some in chemical copounds. The bark looks different in different products simply because it was harvested from trees in different ages and different spieces. Aromaticum is also the one that is very widly used by Chinese medicin, so I see no reason why it isn't sort of synonymous with zeylanicum.

I think with tree barks you ought to follow the genus name more than the spieces. For example the oak or pine. There are huge variety out there and specifications on what to get. I think the same princible should suit here too. Because subspieces can be breeded or may have come in light through changes in enviourment, but the main spieces still stays the same, we should follow this one.

[zellen]

Sept 24, 2011 16:14:22 GMT -5 formosa said:

Mullein leaves - this one I suspect I have very little chance to find. The season for it has ended and so far I've had no luck finding it from herbalists. On the other hand - as it's needed in two months and we need leafs (can't wait for the book to arrive to see exactly why we need it!), I'm thinking if I could grow it in the pot?

personally i get mullein at my local health food store (i smoke it for bronchitis , and i know people that use it as a smokers aid to clean the lungs), in fact you can get alot of herbs there. and if thay dont have herbs ask them if there is one around and thay will be more than happy to send off i think hole foods may even have some of these herbs in stock

[formosa]

Here the apothecary is where I got most of my herbs. I have gone through most farms that provide them with herbs, but as most people still gather their own herbs, some are still hard to find. Mullein being one of them. But I still have some time and few farms to contact, perhaps one has them from last year.

[bellalunalavendula]

Does the candle have to be 5-6 inches? My candles are about 4 inches. They Are White but they are not tapered either? Does this matter? I could always taper them myelf using a knife? Please help! I am 5 days behind and I need to get started! =) Thanks

[formosa]

In the book, wasn't it suggestive only? That they should be 5-6 inches? I couldn't find shorter than 8 inches, but I still went for them. It's the colors that matter in my case- I think you could get started with them - it will be christmas sales soon, they probably will carry bigger variety of candles.

[cyv]

It was suggested because you have to completely burn the candle and bigger ones just take a lot longer. The shape is convenient for seeing your words be burned/molten away

[bellalunalavendula]

Ah, I see (about the shape)! I was going to write my words down the side of the candle..suppose it doesn't matter =) ...and for the size yeah I read the book and that is the conclusion I came to aswell but I thought I better check. I shall start this tonight. Thank you, Best Wishes.

[cyv]

Sure! It's all about intent after all. And about learning the different plants. Guess you'll be learning more!

My 'Complete book of incense, oils and brews' by Scott Cunningham just arrived! I think I nearly have all his books now =3

I'm not planning on using essential oils, really. Maybe a few, but..the magic within a herb is no different in a plant then in an oil. Yes, it is more concentrated but you have to dilute it back because of that. I'm so excited to be finally learning herbs! I've been to scatterbrained to figure out where to start. When I have a starting point it's usually a breeze after!