Clove: magical uses, history and safety

How to read the labels Historical what the old sources say. Later tradition what later writers added. Modern modern practice and my own notes.

Cloves are the dried flower buds of a tropical evergreen tree, small brown nails with a fierce, warm scent. Once worth more than their weight in silver, they now sit in almost every spice cupboard. In modern witchcraft they are protection, friendship and the warmth of a well-stocked home.

At a glance

How witches use clove today

Modern Cloves are a kitchen witch’s dream: inexpensive, long-lasting and powerful in scent, so a few go a long way.

Pomanders. An orange studded with whole cloves, dried slowly, is both an old household perfume and a modern Yule charm for a warm, protected home. Hang it in the kitchen or the hall.

Stopping gossip. A popular modern spell uses cloves to “nail shut” gossip: a paper with the words “Kind words only” placed in a small jar with cloves pressed into a piece of wax or clay. It is a symbolic gesture, and an honest conversation usually does more.

Friendship and money. Whole cloves go into money jars with cinnamon and bay, and into friendship sachets exchanged between friends. Some witches carry three cloves in a wallet.

Protection. Cloves strung on red thread or added to a protection pouch are a modern home guard. They pair well with my home protection spell.

Kitchen witchery. Mulled cider or wine, spiced bread and winter stews all welcome a clove or two. Stir with a wish for warmth and fellowship at the table.

Comfort in grief. Cunningham also lists cloves for comforting the bereaved. A small dish of whole cloves beside a memorial candle fills the room with a warm, familiar scent.

Candles. Rather than rubbing clove oil on a candle, set a ring of whole cloves on the dish around it. It is safer and just as fragrant once the dish warms.

Tarot pairing. I pair clove with the Ten of Pentacles: a household that is safe, warm and well provided for.

Journal prompt. What makes my home feel protected, and what small thing could make it feel more welcoming to friends?

Try this: a Yule pomander

1. Choose a firm orange. Use a toothpick to poke small holes in rows or spirals.
2. Press a whole clove into each hole. Cover as much of the peel as you like.
3. As you work, name the people you would like to welcome to your home this winter.
4. Roll the orange in a little ground cinnamon if you like.
5. Leave it in a dry, airy place for two to four weeks, turning it now and then, until it is light and hard.
6. Tie a ribbon around it and hang it by the door for Yule. Throw it away if it molds.

Folklore and history

Historical Cloves come from the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, the original Spice Islands. They traveled far along ancient trade routes and are recorded at the Han court in China, where officials are said to have held cloves in their mouths to sweeten their breath before addressing the emperor.

Later tradition In early modern Europe, the clove trade drove the brutal competition of the Portuguese and Dutch colonial empires in the Indian Ocean. Pomanders, from the French pomme d’ambre, began as perfume balls carried against bad smells and were later made with oranges and cloves.

Modern Its links with friendship, money and stopping gossip come from modern magical herbals such as Cunningham’s.

Safety

Clove oil. Clove essential oil can burn and sensitize skin and is very dangerous if swallowed by children. Never use it as a home cure on gums or skin.

Pets. Keep clove oil, diffusers and studded oranges away from cats and dogs; essential oils are a known poisoning risk for cats in particular.

Food. Whole and ground cloves are safe in cooking amounts. Medicinal amounts can interact with blood thinners. Spells are symbolic and do not replace care.

What next

Clove’s natural partner is cinnamon. For more kitchen practice, see kitchen witchcraft, and for the full list of beginner herbs, my guide to herbs.