The Story Behind Laveau Hair & Body Oil
Featured in the Mythologies Collection, Laveau Hair & Body Oil pays homage to Queen Marie Laveau, The Queen of Conjure and Pope of Voodoo. Laveau was an antebellum New Orleans Voodoo priestess, spirit medium, spell-caster, community leader, philanthropist and self-proclaimed Pope of Voodoo, born of mixed African, European and Native American ancestry.
Key ingredient symbolization in the Laveau Hair & Body Oil formulation:
- Amber: Amber has long been tied into botanical, vintage, occult perfumery. Laveau may be evoked using dark, warm, evocative, sweet, resinous amber notes.
- Rose: Roses have been left for Marie Laveau since the 1800s and is her traditional offering. Ritual: Leave 3 roses, petition her 3 times, and scratch three X marks on her tomb. (XXX)
- Rosehip seed: Rosehip seeds are used in love charms, spell jars, and talismans in Hoodoo and Voodoo magic, often for banishing nightmares, discouraging evil spirits, drawing love, luck, and positive opportunities.
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Lily of the valley: Marie Laveau blended Catholicism and Voodoo. Lily of the Valley, known as "Our Lady's Tears", is believed to have sprouted from the Virgin Mary's tears at the cross, syncretizing with Laveau's method of practice. Lily of the Valley is often featured in fragrances honoring Marie Laveau and also associated with the darker aspects of Laveau's mythos.
- Sandalwood: Sandalwood is strongly associated with Marie Laveau and is used as a base for incense and oils, burned to ground energy, cleanse sacred areas, aid in spiritual connection and invoking entities.
Marie Laveau, the Mysterious Pope of Voodoo
Marie Laveau, the legendary Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, established the New Orleans Voodoo tradition and is responsible for influencing Voodoo and witchcraft in all ranks of society.
Marie Laveau was born of mixed African, European, and Native American ancestry and though there are several years listed as to her actual birth year between 1783 and 1801, what is known... is that she existed. She worked as a Voodoo priestess-a spiritual healer, herbalist, spellcaster, medium, and as a hairdresser for elite members of society. Laveau became aware of their darkest secrets and personal struggles and used this knowledge during consultations when clients came to her seeking counsel.
She did not just impact New Orleans Voodoo, she had a massive influence on magic and mysticism in general. Like so many women today, Laveau worked from her home -a cottage (now demolished), that was previously located at 152 Saint Ann Street. There, Laveau practiced Haitian Vodou and Hoodoo blended with Catholicism (using holy water and saints), guiding spiritual rituals and providing consultations.
Laveau was famous for creating potions and elixirs, removing curses and lifting them, and making gris-gris charms for protection, luck, or manipulation. She combined pre-Christian summer solstice celebrations with elements of Catholic baptism (drumming, singing, spiritual possession), and leading Sunday gatherings at Congo Square-ritual and ceremonial activities that provided a spiritual release from oppression.
She nursed and healed the sick during outbreaks of yellow fever, gave to the poor, ministered and advocated for prisoners on death row, brought them gumbo and prayers, and may have been successful in getting some prisoners lesser sentences and pardons.
She used her own status and influence to work from within to rescue slaves: buying them from cruel homes, providing a safe house, and forging freedom papers for some. However, Marie Laveau's husband, Christophe Glapion, faced financial pressure from the bank, forcing them to sell their slaves. Other free people of color also purchased slaves to provide safe houses and/or to ultimately secure their freedom.
Laveau was highly respected and recognized as the leader of the New Orleans Voodoo community.
It is believed that Marie Laveau died on June 15, 1881, after passing her spiritual gifts on to her daughter, Marie Philomene Glapion (Marie Laveau ll). No one knows exactly how she died, but it was speculated that when Laveau grew elderly, she submerged herself in a lake and reemerged as a younger woman and continued to regenerate.
Marie favors practitioners of Hoodoo, Vodou, and Voodoo witchcraft, and magic spellcasting, divination, and mediums, as well as herbalists, healers, artisans, hairdressers, women, and marginalized members of society, and small business owners (especially women). She can be invoked for protection from abuse, evil, and bad luck, help with spells, guidance in mastering the art of witchcraft, good luck in legal battles and also in facing life's obstacles, health, prosperity, and communicating with spirits and ancestors.
Marie Laveau Celebrations
Marie Laveau is still venerated today, and many visit her grave at the New Orleans cemetery to invoke her for spiritual guidance, healing, help in mastering the Voodoo arts, and even assistance in legal matters! She is brought offerings of flowers, Voodoo-inspired gifts, charms, absinthe, candles (blue and white) and Creole food.
Marie Laveau's legacy is celebrated year-round with public ceremonies and festivals on the summer solstice.
Devotees leave hair styling accessories at her grave as offerings and gifts. Knocking on Marie's tomb three times, scratching three X marks on Laveau's tomb, and leaving gifts in threes (three roses, three coins, three Mardi gras necklaces or beads, repeating a prayer or petition three times). Gris-gris bags, rosaries, and charms are also offered to Laveau.
Other offerings given to Laveau include: 7 dimes or 7 charms of sterling silver, gifts associated with Roman Catholicism, red anisette, and salt water.
St. John's Eve: June 23rd, most important celebration for Voodoo in New Orleans, especially Marie Laveau.
October 31-Nov 2nd: Halloween to All Soul's Day is celebrated across Voodoo community
Many claim to have seen apparitions of Marie Laveau around New Orleans.
A tour must be booked to visit Queen Marie Laveau's tomb in New Orleans.
Self-adornment practices: adorning hair and skin in natural oils that honor Marie Laveau and help connect with her blessings and assistance.
Marie Laveau Attributes, Depictions, and Symbols
Marie Laveau is often depicted as a fair-skinned or medium, brown-skinned tall woman, dressed royally or fashionably, and wearing a turban.
Laveau may also be portrayed with an African Rock Python named Zombi. The serpent represents a connection to African deities, life cycles, regeneration, and power in the spiritual world. Her spiritual iconography depicts her with the Asson beaded rattle, bells, and the serpent.
Symbols: The Three X's (XXX), serpent.
Gris-Gris bags: Marie Laveau often used these bags to protect her followers, as well as for spellcasting and cures. These small, hand-crafted bags contain herbal elements, oils, personal items, and paper petitions.
Catholic icons and occult symbolism: Crucifixes, statues of Saint Peter or Saint Expedite, and the Catholic bible.
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