Abstract:
Incense making, as it is used in modern magick, owes its practice to traditional techniques. This work covers a novel production of the fragrance, Incense of Abramelin. This product is typically constituted of the resins of frankincense, storax, and lignum aloes. These resins are compounded in a ratio of 4:2:1 by weight. Other methods include the use of a binding agent, such as Benzoin or Gum Arabic, along with the powders of these plants.
In this procedure, the fragrances were extracted from their corresponding resins in an exhaustive Soxhlet extraction using a 95% alcoholic solvent system. After the extraction, the alcohol was distilled via fractional distillation.
The resulting resin was a solid at room temperature. This phenomenon is somewhat unique for this traditional incense, as the primary active constituent of frankincense is β-Boswelic Acid—a sterol that has a melting point of 120°C ("Merk Index"). The result was a much more concentrated preparation of Incense of Abramelin, having a lower melting point than many raw resins.
Materials:
Lab Glassware was purchased from LABOY (BaoDing, China). Styrax, Wood Aloes, and Frankincense were obtained from Isis Books (Englewood, CO). The Ever Clear was purchase from the Washington State Liquor Control Board (Olympia, WA).
Methods:
The herbs (8 g. Frankincense, 4 g. Styrax, and 2 g. Wood Aloes) were charged into a 50 mL soxhlet extraction chamber. The digestion flask was charged with 100 mL of 95% alcohol such that there was enough alcohol to fill the extraction chamber of the soxhlet extractor twice.
The exhaustive soxhlet extraction was initiated on the 18th day of Luna[1], lasting four Lunar days. On the 22nd day of Luna, the Caput Mortuum was dried and weighed to determine the change in weight of the incense.
Alcohol was removed via fractional distillation at 85°C. The product was weighed. Its weight was compared to the difference in weight of the incense and Caput Mortuum.
Results:
The Caput Mortuum weighed 4 grams. The relative difference between the Caput Mortuum and the raw resins was 71.45
The weight of the product was 5 grams. The difference between the weight difference of the raw herb and Caput Mortuum, and the product weight was 50%. It appeared as a vitreous, translucent brown.
Discussion:
The morphology of the product appeared as was predicted, as a vitreous, transparent golden-brown color. Upon burning upon charcoal, it instantly vaporized to produce the characteristic smell of Abramelin Incense; however, there seemed to be an overabundance of the Benzoin smell.
If 0.5 grams of the incense was burned at lower temperatures, using an alcohol lamp or heating mantle, it would produce a thin line of smoke, along with the characteristic smell for 45 minutes.
The yield was unexpectedly low (only 50%). Upon inspecting the soxhlet extractor, I noticed that there was a small fissure in the snorkel. It is likely that some of the extractives could have volatilized away through the fissure. Future experiments will work towards minimizing the loss of product.
Appendix:
Abramelin incense first appeared in text, as such, in the MS. The Sacred Magick of Abramelin the Mage, found in the Bibliotheque de l’Arsenal. The recipe, as given in S.L. Mathers’ translation, goes thus:
“Incense in tears[2] one part; of stacte[3] a half part; of lign aloes one fourth; and if not being able to get this wood you shall take that of cedar, rose, or of citron, or some other odiferous wood.” (The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage)
According to another source, the recipe calls for four parts Frankincense, two parts Storax (or Benzoin as a substitute), and one part lignum aloes (Apirion and Helena).
The appropriate time for the production of incenses and oils is unclear in both sources. In the Sacred Magic, the author makes it clear that he does not subscribe to the divisions of the planetary virtues into days and hours. Howbeit, the operation is supposed to proceed from the feast of Passover, corresponding to the 15th day of the Jewish month Aviv (The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage). There is mention that preparations should be made before Passover and that the incense should be prepared just before the day. Other sources may give a clue as to the appropriate time to perform the operation.
The modern practice, as is done by students who espouse the Paracelsus Research Society, is to perform alchemical work on the planetary day and hour that the subject calls for. Thus, for benzoin, an extraction would occur on a Friday at 1 am or 8 am (Stavish). Another source states that an alchemical work should take place under the influence of the appropriate zodiacal sign. Thus, for a digestion, the Sol should be in Ares; these workings also being attributable to Mars (Bartlett).
Lunar considerations are also taken by modern practitioners. Luna should be in its increasing when procedures involving increase, such as the coagulation of a plant stone; while distillations should occur only on the waning of the moon (Stavish).
With time constraints considered, I determined that the 18th day of Luna was an appropriate time to conduct this project, as the operation essentially was concerned with the he processes of extraction and distillation. Sol was in 5° Leo (see figure 1) at the beginning of the project.
Leo was deemed an appropriate astrological constellation to conduct the work in because of its importance within the Thelemic Sacramental system of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica—Insence of Abramelin is the fragrance called for in the celebration of Liber XV:
I decided to consult Crowley's thought on the issue of the new aeon in terms of the constellations. He believed that the sign opposite to the one that rises at the beginning of the vernal equinox was also of import. He further states, "To call this the Aquarin age is really a joke. The characteristic so far has been much more that of Leo" (Liber CXI vel Aleph, 2nd ed.).
Figure 2
Works Cited
Albertus. Alchemists Handook. York beach: Samuel Weiser, 1974.
Tau Apirion and Helena. The Gnostic Mass. 2004 e.v. 8th July 2010 <http://hermetic.com/sabazius/gnostic_mass.htm>.
Bartlett, Robert. Real Alchemy: a primer of practical alchemy. Lake Worth: Ibis Press, 2007.
Crowley, Aleister. 777 and other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley. York Beach: Samuel Weiser, 1973.
—. Liber CXI vel Aleph. Ed. Hymanaeus Beta. 2nd ed. York Beach: Samuel Weiser, 1991.
NIST. Merk Index, 14e. 2006.
Skinner, Stephen. The Complete Magicians Tables. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publication, 2009 .
Stavish, Mark. The Path of Alchemy. Woodbury: Llewellyn, 2008.
[1] For astrological considerations, along with the data for the particular day can be found in figures 2 and 3 of the appendix.
[2] Frankincense
[3] Storax
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