Aromatic
Woody
Notesangelica rootbelladonnahemlocklicoricepatchoulirosemarywhite lichenwormwood
Tags
#fresh
#smoky
#sweet
Style
unisex
“In rifleing the closet of the ladie, they found a pipe of oyntement, wherewith she greased a staffe, upon which she ambled and galloped through thick and thin, when and in what manner she listed”
– Proceedings Against Dame Alice Kyteler, Prosecuted for Sorcery, 1324
Hexensalbe, also known as witches’ flying ointment, was a hallucinogenic salve used in witchcraft in the middle ages. It was a mixture of extremely poisonous ingredients that produced an ecstatic trance with powerful sensations of flying, images of otherworldly creatures and a primal sexual hunger.
But where did the witches’ broomstick come in? The ointment was too poisonous to eat, so instead it was applied to other soft membranes, commonly the genitals. Because of the erotic effects of the high, the salve would often be rubbed directly onto a phallic object like the end of a staff or a broomstick. (Now that’s what we call “riding a broomstick”!)
Given which aspects of the history of hexensalbe have been suppressed, it would seem that the one thing more terrifying than witches is female sexuality. This fragrance celebrates the forbidden rituals of personal power, summoning the ancient ways with dark aromatics: wormwood, liquorice, belladonna and black hemlock. Voluptuous tuberose and vibrant patchouli ensure a long and blissful trip.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
Hexensalbe suits an evening with a slightly unruly edge, when conversation grows closer and the room becomes warmer. Bitter herbs and salty liquorice keep its voluptuous floral side from feeling decorous; the woody, smoky undertone gives that sweetness a darker register.
How to wear
Start with one or two sprays on skin, leaving room for the bitter herbs, tuberose and patchouli to unfold without crowding one another. Cool to mild weather is a natural setting for this fresh yet dark composition; in warmer conditions, use a lighter application to keep its sweeter floral side in balance.
Who it’s for
For those drawn to bitter botanical scents, salty liquorice and woods with a smoky edge. It offers an alternative to straightforward herbal freshness, pairing aromatic sharpness with tuberose and patchouli for a sweeter, more sensual contrast.
Release year
2023
The nose
Anna Barkne is credited as the perfumer behind Hexensalbe. Her individual credit sits within Stora Skuggan’s collective, in-house approach, in which an initial composition is developed through shared evaluation.
Stora Skuggan’s story
Stora Skuggan is a Stockholm-based perfume collective that brings fragrance composition, production, artwork and packaging into its own studio practice. Myths, historical anecdotes and scientific phenomena feed its narratives, while essential oils and synthetic materials are chosen for their creative possibilities rather than an all-natural ideal. Originality takes priority over trends and focus groups.
Hexensalbe’s concept
Hexensalbe draws on the folklore of witches’ flying ointment: a legendary salve associated with imagined flight, altered states and erotic experience. Stora Skuggan interprets the broomstick story through a feminist lens, connecting its purported sexual associations with cultural anxiety about female sexuality. Bitter herbs, voluptuous tuberose and dark woods translate that narrative into scent rather than recreate a historical preparation.
Extra info
The name refers to witches’ ointment, the folkloric preparation behind the fragrance’s story. Hexensalbe is vegan, and its official note list includes lichen alongside black hemlock. The belladonna note is part of the perfume’s olfactory concept, not evidence of a historical psychoactive formula.
Notesangelica rootbelladonnahemlocklicoricepatchoulirosemarywhite lichenwormwood
Tags
#fresh
#smoky
#sweet
Style
unisex
“In rifleing the closet of the ladie, they found a pipe of oyntement, wherewith she greased a staffe, upon which she ambled and galloped through thick and thin, when and in what manner she listed”
– Proceedings Against Dame Alice Kyteler, Prosecuted for Sorcery, 1324
Hexensalbe, also known as witches’ flying ointment, was a hallucinogenic salve used in witchcraft in the middle ages. It was a mixture of extremely poisonous ingredients that produced an ecstatic trance with powerful sensations of flying, images of otherworldly creatures and a primal sexual hunger.
But where did the witches’ broomstick come in? The ointment was too poisonous to eat, so instead it was applied to other soft membranes, commonly the genitals. Because of the erotic effects of the high, the salve would often be rubbed directly onto a phallic object like the end of a staff or a broomstick. (Now that’s what we call “riding a broomstick”!)
Given which aspects of the history of hexensalbe have been suppressed, it would seem that the one thing more terrifying than witches is female sexuality. This fragrance celebrates the forbidden rituals of personal power, summoning the ancient ways with dark aromatics: wormwood, liquorice, belladonna and black hemlock. Voluptuous tuberose and vibrant patchouli ensure a long and blissful trip.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
Hexensalbe suits an evening with a slightly unruly edge, when conversation grows closer and the room becomes warmer. Bitter herbs and salty liquorice keep its voluptuous floral side from feeling decorous; the woody, smoky undertone gives that sweetness a darker register.
How to wear
Start with one or two sprays on skin, leaving room for the bitter herbs, tuberose and patchouli to unfold without crowding one another. Cool to mild weather is a natural setting for this fresh yet dark composition; in warmer conditions, use a lighter application to keep its sweeter floral side in balance.
Who it’s for
For those drawn to bitter botanical scents, salty liquorice and woods with a smoky edge. It offers an alternative to straightforward herbal freshness, pairing aromatic sharpness with tuberose and patchouli for a sweeter, more sensual contrast.
Release year
2023
The nose
Anna Barkne is credited as the perfumer behind Hexensalbe. Her individual credit sits within Stora Skuggan’s collective, in-house approach, in which an initial composition is developed through shared evaluation.
Stora Skuggan’s story
Stora Skuggan is a Stockholm-based perfume collective that brings fragrance composition, production, artwork and packaging into its own studio practice. Myths, historical anecdotes and scientific phenomena feed its narratives, while essential oils and synthetic materials are chosen for their creative possibilities rather than an all-natural ideal. Originality takes priority over trends and focus groups.
Hexensalbe’s concept
Hexensalbe draws on the folklore of witches’ flying ointment: a legendary salve associated with imagined flight, altered states and erotic experience. Stora Skuggan interprets the broomstick story through a feminist lens, connecting its purported sexual associations with cultural anxiety about female sexuality. Bitter herbs, voluptuous tuberose and dark woods translate that narrative into scent rather than recreate a historical preparation.
Extra info
The name refers to witches’ ointment, the folkloric preparation behind the fragrance’s story. Hexensalbe is vegan, and its official note list includes lichen alongside black hemlock. The belladonna note is part of the perfume’s olfactory concept, not evidence of a historical psychoactive formula.