Witchy Recipes

Cucumber Milk
4 ounces oil of sweet almonds
10 ounces juice of fresh cucumbers
3 ounces essence of cucumbers
1/4 ounce white Castile soap, powdered
2/3 drachm tincture of benzoin
The juice of the cucumbers is made by boiling the slices in a very little
water, strain through a fine cloth. Make the essnece by mixing 1 1/2 ounces
of the juice with 1 1/2 ounces alcohol (in this case, use strong vodka).
Dissolve the soap in the essence, add the juice, shake well until thoroughly
mixed; pour into a bowl and add the oil and the tincture, beating well until
you have a milky liquid. Bottle. (I would keep this refrigerated)
She states that this lotion is a specific for sensitive skins, redness,
sunburn and roughness.

For Summer Rash (prickly heat rash)
7 ounces elder-flower water
1 ounce glycerine
1/2 drachm borax
Apply night and morning.

Vinaigre des Quatre Voleurs
1 ounce lavender flowers
3/4 ounce each of: rosemary, thyme, rue, sage, wormwood, mint
1 drachm each of: calamus, nutmegs, cloves, cinnamon
1 drachm camphor (not mothballs)
2 ounces alcohol
1 quart strong wine vinegar
Dissolve the camphor in the alcohol, then add the herbs, spices and vinegar;
let stand 10 days, strain.

Aromatic Toilet Vinegar
1 pint spirits of wine (substitute strong vodka)
1/2 pint strong vinegar
1 1/2 ounces gum benzoin
1/2 ounce balsam of Peru
1/2 drachm oil of neroli (orange flower)
1/2 drachm oil of mace
Steep 1 week, then filter.

These vinegars were used as refreshing toners, by adding a few drops to a
glass of water to rinse the face, or by saturating a cotton wad and
inserting in a "vinaigrette", a small glass flacon carried and smelled when
one was feeling faint or to relieve a headache.

from "The Woman Beautiful" by Ella Adelia Fletcher, circa 1901