Fun Facts About Vanilla

Vanilla beans, some cut and some uncut. A knife is in display as well as a bottle of Kentucky whiskey. A glass container of cut vanilla beans is nearby and this appears to be the setup to make vanilla extract.

Which is Most Expensive Vanilla or Saffron?

Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, with saffron being the most expensive. This is because producing vanilla fruit is very labor-intensive — from seed to harvest.

Edmond Albius Invents Vanilla Pollination

It wasn’t until 1841 that a working hand-pollination technique for the vanilla flower was discovered — by a 12-year-old slave named Edmond Albius. This discovery allowed for the global cultivation of the vanilla plant.

What is Bourbon Vanilla?

While there are many species of the vanilla plant, the most commonly used form is vanilla planifolia, also known as Madagascar or Bourbon Vanilla, named after the former name of the French Island of Réunion — Île Bourbon.

Vanilla beans, some cut and some uncut. A knife is in display as well as a bottle of Kentucky whiskey. A glass container of cut vanilla beans is nearby and this appears to be the setup to make vanilla extract.

Is Vanilla Ice Cream Good for Morning Sickness?

Due to its mild and smooth taste and non-overbearing amount of sweetness, vanilla ice cream is often used to ease nausea. Studies show pregnant women experiencing moderate to severe morning sickness can see their symptoms lessened by consuming vanilla ice cream.

Vanillin: Synthetic Vanilla

95% of vanilla dishes are flavored with vanillin, which is synthetically produced from lignin, a polymer found in wood. You can tell a dish is made with real vanilla beans as it will have characteristic black seeds.

Tlīlxochitl: The Black Flower

The Aztecs referred to vanilla as tlīlxochitl, meaning “black flower.” This is due to the appearance of the vanilla fruit once it is picked — it shrivels and turns black shortly afterward.

Vanilla Name Origin

Vanilla is a diminutive version of the Spanish word vaina, which means “sheath” or “pod,” and translates to “little pod.”

What is French Vanilla?

French vanilla originates from a French style of making vanilla ice cream — using a custard base, vanilla pods, cream, and egg yolks.

Pollinating Vanilla Bean Plants

Vanilla flowers must be pollinated within 12 hours of opening, or they won’t produce vanilla beans.

Yellow vanilla flower orchids.

FDA Disclaimer

The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not render medical or psychological advice, opinion, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a medical or psychological problem, you should consult your appropriate health care provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Links on this website are provided only as an informational resource, and it should not be implied that we recommend, endorse or approve of any of the content at the linked sites, nor are we responsible for their availability, accuracy or content.


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A white vanilla flower shining in the light of the sun.

Vanilla: The Love Bean

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A bundle of vanilla beans on a wooden surface.

Vanilla Hair Care • Promoting Healthier Hair with Vanilla

You might think that the only reason Vanilla shows up in so many hair care products is because of its fabulous scent. But actually, the inclusion of Vanilla provides much more than just aromatherapeutic benefits to your hair care routine. Vanilla promotes healthy hair growth. It houses benefits from the hair follicle to the ends. For example …

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Vanilla Hair Care • Promoting Healthier Hair with Vanilla

A bundle of vanilla beans on a wooden surface.

Promoting Healthier Hair with Vanilla

You might think that the only reason Vanilla shows up in so many hair care products is because of its fabulous scent. But actually, the inclusion of Vanilla provides much more than just aromatherapeutic benefits to your hair care routine.

Vanilla Prevents Split Ends

Vanilla promotes healthy hair growth. It houses benefits from the hair follicle to the ends. For example, it contains antioxidants, which can help keep your beloved mane from aging prematurelyThis means fewer split ends and breakage, ensuring that your hair remains full, strong, and vibrant for many years.

Vanilla Helps Lessen Frizzy Hair

Riboflavin is essential to the production of proteins, such as keratin. If your body has an issue synthesizing keratin, it will result in frizzier, less glossy hair. Allow Vanilla to supplement your keratin production, and in turn, your hair will reap the benefits.

A white vanilla flower shining in the light of the sun.

Lustrous Hair with Vanilla

Your hair needs vitamins to grow vibrant and lustrous. Fortunately, Vanilla is replete with beneficial vitamins. Vanilla contains vitamin B2, which you may also know as riboflavin.

Repairing Damaged Hair with Vanilla

If you blow-dry your hair often or use a straightening iron, Vanilla can help repair the damage done by these tools. It contains Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid. 

Pantothenic Acid Rebuilds Hair Shafts

Pantothenic acid can help repair and rebuild hair shafts damaged by heat, overexposure to the sun, and the damage wrought by shampoos.

Restore Hair Color with Vanilla

Vanilla contains a secret ingredient for those wishing to restore their deep, natural hair color: Vitamin B6. Interestingly enough, Vitamin B6 helps the body produce melanin, a component in your hair’s natural color.

Vanilla Hair Mask

Consider a Vanilla hair mask if you wish to help your hair return to its original coloration. You can also add a couple of drops of vanilla oil to your favorite hair care products and reap the benefits.

Vanilla Balances Oily Hair

Finally, for those with hair that tends to become somewhat oily, the Vitamin B6 in Vanilla can help regulate that. It regulates sebum production, which will help unburden your hair from its oily constraints.

Vanilla beans on a wooden mat.

FDA Disclaimer

The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not render medical or psychological advice, opinion, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a medical or psychological problem, you should consult your appropriate health care provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Links on this website are provided only as an informational resource, and it should not be implied that we recommend, endorse or approve of any of the content at the linked sites, nor are we responsible for their availability, accuracy or content.


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A white vanilla flower shining in the light of the sun.

Vanilla: The Love Bean

The sweet scent of vanilla is comforting, welcoming, and warm. It is a scent that engenders a loving, cozy feeling — whether it comes from the vanilla-scented candle burning on the coffee table or the freshly baked cookies with a splash of vanilla extract cooling in the kitchen. We love vanilla — and vanilla inspires us to love. The scent is irresistible and …

Continue Reading

Vanilla beans, some cut and some uncut. A knife is in display as well as a bottle of Kentucky whiskey. A glass container of cut vanilla beans is nearby and this appears to be the setup to make vanilla extract.

Fun Facts About Vanilla

Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, with saffron being the most expensive. This is because producing vanilla fruit is very labor-intensive — from seed to harvest. It wasn’t until 1841 that a working hand-pollination technique for the vanilla flower was discovered — by a 12-year-old slave named …

Continue Reading

The Yuletide Spice: Cinnamon Spiritual Meaning and Magic

Bundles of cinnamon sticks in a wooden box.

The Magic of Cinnamon

There’s something about the scent of cinnamon that warms our souls and ignites our passions. It is a powerful spice, much beloved by many cultures, from the Chinese, who used it in healing rituals over 4,000 years ago, to the Egyptians, who used it in the mummification mixture when burying their dead.

Cinnamon is Connected to the Sun

Replete with the Sun’s energy, cinnamon’s magic lends itself well to spells and magical workings that deal with protection, prosperity, and passion.

The Prosperous Power of Cinnamon

Central to cinnamon’s magic is the energy of prosperity it draws upon. Cinnamon has the hallmark as a very valued and valuable spice, considered in the ancient world as a gift fit for monarchs and even the gods, such as Apollo.

A row of cinnamon sticks with a piece of star anise.

A Spice of Mythic Reputation

Spice traders sought to obscure the source of their cinnamon in mystery to keep a monopoly on this heavily prized spice and even created myths around it to add to its allure, such as the island it hailed from being guarded by winged serpents.


Magical Ways to Use Cinnamon

You can take advantage of cinnamon’s prosperous energy by charging a cinnamon broom with the intent to draw prosperity and keeping it by your doorway or placing a few spare cinnamon sticks on the windowsills of your home.

Love, Sex, and Cinnamon

Cinnamon is believed to enhance the male libido. A cinnamon stick tucked away under the pillows can help get the fires of intimacy and passion going. Share a cinnamon-infused beverage or a dessert that includes cinnamon with the one you desire to help ignite sexual energies.

Raising Clairvoyant Energy with Cinnamon

Place some cinnamon sticks in the pouch you carry your Tarot deck in or near your other divinatory tools to raise their clairvoyant energy. You can also keep cinnamon on your altar or sacred space for this same effect.

Bundles of cinnamon sticks on a woven cloth.

Attracting Wealth with Cinnamon

Add cinnamon to money sachets and mojo bags, or make an aromatic potpourri for the home by brewing it with ginger and cloves to draw wealth.

A Cinnamon Money Attraction Spell

An excellent money drawing spell, make a bowl out of cinnamon clay. Write the amount of money you need on a piece of paper and place the paper along with a few coins in the bowl. Once you receive the money, bury the coins and paper into the Earth. You can save the cinnamon bowl for future financial requests.

A Sprinkle of Cinnamon for Success

Consider the magic of cinnamon next time you have a financial matter you would like a measure of success in, like getting a job or landing a raise.

A bundle of cinnamon sticks held together by twine, with ground cinnamon being dusted on it.

Cinnamon’s Protective Magic

It makes sense that cinnamon harbors protective energies. The warm, inviting aroma of cinnamon reminds us of the comfort and coziness of home, where we feel safe.

Protect Your Home with Cinnamon Sticks

To protect your home with cinnamon, tie nine cinnamon sticks together and hang them over the doorway, and place cinnamon on the window sill to protect the home from unwanted guests and energies.

Close-up of cinnamon sticks in a bowl.

Cinnamon is Connected to the Sun and Moon

Cinnamon is also connected to the Sun, a masculine force that lends cinnamon its protective energies. And while cinnamon sticks carry solar energies, the cinnamon tree is said to be of the moon, embodying lunar energies. Because of its lunar connection, cinnamon can help raise psychic, divinatory, and clairvoyant energies.

The Yuletide Spice

Cinnamon has a very close association with Yule and the Winter season. Use it to decorate gifts, season beverages, and dishes, or keep some on your altar space to celebrate this special time.

A bird-eye view of cinnamon sticks in a hashtag pattern on top of a cup of coffee, near coffee beans and anise seeds.

FDA Disclaimer

The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not render medical or psychological advice, opinion, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a medical or psychological problem, you should consult your appropriate health care provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Links on this website are provided only as an informational resource, and it should not be implied that we recommend, endorse or approve of any of the content at the linked sites, nor are we responsible for their availability, accuracy, or content.


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The Intoxicating Spice: Nutmeg Spiritual Meaning and Magic

Whole nutmeg fruit, sitting atop bright red nutmeg seeds.

The Magic of Nutmeg

Nutmeg’s story isn’t peaceful. Although it is considered a lucky spice now, it has been quite the unlucky spice for some in the past, and as such, its history is filled with blood. What began as a crop exclusive to the Banda Islands quickly became an excuse to enslave and kill many islanders native to the region. Nutmeg’s lesson is quite clear — don’t go overboard.

With Nutmeg, a Little Bit Goes a Long Way

Nutmeg’s allure is intoxicating, and as is the case with almost all other uses of nutmeg, a little bit goes a long way. In cooking, if you use too much nutmeg, you will spoil the meal. Nutmeg is a toxic hallucinogen when over-consumed, so don’t overeat it. When using nutmeg in magical practice, don’t overdo it — Its power is quite potent.

The Luck of Nutmeg

Nutmeg is associated with good luck, so be sure to carry a nutmeg seed before getting involved in games of chances to swing the odds in your favor. Drilling a hole in a nutmeg seed, then filling it with mercury, or wrapping the seed with a green cloth can potentiate this effect. Carry nutmeg while traveling for a little extra good luck.

A basket of nutmeg seeds on sale, labeled "Muscade."

Attracting Wealth and Prosperity with Nutmeg

Nutmeg oil can be used to draw money, anoint green candles, and magical tools to draw wealth to the household. Nutmeg powder can be used to draw prosperity. Sprinkle it over candles and other objects or add it to candle wax and use it when casting a money drawing spell.

Divination and Nutmeg

Nutmeg has strong divinatory properties and, when added to a beverage and consumed before meditation, can heighten the meditative experience and encourage visions and clairvoyance.  A nutmeg massage oil or nutmeg butter can also help towards this aim.

Encouraging Faithfulness with Nutmeg

Nutmeg is associated with fidelity and can be used in spells to help ensure your lover’s fidelity and ward off temptation. Share a beverage that contains nutmeg with the one you love, and that will help in having those feelings returned.

Nutmeg and the Holidays

Nutmeg is a perfect holiday spice in that it can help lessen tensions and conflict that can arise during the winter months due to lack of sunlight.

Nutmeg for Legal Matters

Carry nutmeg as a charm and wrap it in purple cloth before dealing with legal matters to strengthen the likelihood that your legal situation will end favorably. Diffuse nutmeg essential oil to revitalize the body and strengthen the flow of energy throughout the body and soul.

Nutmeg seeds sitting against a white background.

Nutmeg Magical Correspondences

  • Botanical Name: Myristica fragrans
  • Folk Names: Qoust, Sadhika, Wohpala, Bicuiba Acu
  • Gender: Masculine
  • Planet: Jupiter
  • Element: Fire
  • Attributes: Luck, Money, Health, Fidelity, Legal Matters, Divination, Love, Prosperity, Travel, Psychic Ability, Clairvoyance

FDA Disclaimer

The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not render medical or psychological advice, opinion, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a medical or psychological problem, you should consult your appropriate health care provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Links on this website are provided only as an informational resource, and it should not be implied that we recommend, endorse or approve of any of the content at the linked sites, nor are we responsible for their availability, accuracy or content.


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