James Dotson 2025

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LECTURE: Occult Aromatherapy
Essential oils are currently a multibillion dollar market and an established commodity within the Wellness industry and New Age practices. They are also widely adopted into contemporary witchcraft and magic. After being a niche item little known outside of France, in the early 1980’s the first wave of English language books and classes on aromatherapy appeared and proliferated into the mainstream over the next decade. One of the earliest aromatherapy enthusiasts in the witchcraft community was the author Scott Cunningham. With more than two million books in print in multiple languages, his magical aromatherapy ideas remain a major contributor to online sources. However, the metaphysical currents of essential oils were established long before their boom in the late 20th century.

The history of how aromatherapy has intersected with magical and esoteric practices since the 19th century will be reviewed with a focus on non-English sources and materials not generally found through internet searches. Highlights include the following : the French and British occult revival (Aleister Crowley), esoteric medicine, osmotherapy and Rosicrucianism (Dr. Arnold Krumm-Heller), theosophical clairvoyant investigations (Charles Leadbeater), Anthroposophy (Rudolf Steiner), 1930’s metaphysical chromotherapy and aromo-therapy (Roland Hunt), mid-20th century Parisian occultism, tarot and astrology (Valentin Bresle), and psychedelic era witchcraft (Lady Sara).