A new idea for Potions: Magic Essences

[SirenSon117]

Ok so the whole inspiration for this is my pixiv. Lovely pixiv art of things in perfume bottles that logically should not be in perfume bottles, like the moon. That got me thinking, what if you had a potion but instead of drinking it like a drink it worked like like a perfume? Launching a fireball at someone by spraying what looks like an inoffensive bottle of Bath and Body Works or giving yourself a bubble bath that gives a small power multiplier for the day. Indeed, in a traditional Urban Fantasy Setting where all the Magic is locked up by the fuzz, you may well get your Magic Essences from a perfume store simply by showing your wizard card, being escorted to the back, and doing Harry Potter Train Shenanigans. I do not deal in "traditional" Urban Fantasy, so for me this stuff is right alongside the regular stuff. What do you guys think?! What are some ideas and suggestions for different Magic Essences?

 

[Finchbearer]

I think that a weapon in the form of a perfume bottle makes me think of covert operations, or spy missions. Death by poisoning.

In other words it’d have to be used discreetly, like in a private liaison or something similar, a meeting with just two people. In the Salisbury poisonings, which wasn’t all that long ago, two Russians carried a nerve agent that was placed inside a perfume bottle killing and severely disabling multiple people.

In a magical setting an apothecary comes to mind, or an alchemist setting.

 

[pmmg]

I was interested in something like this since I saw Jade Fox use a concoction to drug Jen in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. I had to wonder what is was she used, but it was something released into the air and not imbibed. I used this in my own story for a drug, but I had to wonder, why would it not affect everyone who was near it? And so...if area of effect was desired, I think this would be okay. But for an individual, I might start to wonder how it is contained.

I suppose its not unlike tear gas, or mustard gas. If its in the air, and you are near, its bad for you.

I dont think I follow the image of a fireball used in this way, but a molotov cocktail is kind of the same effect.

I am sure I can make up a scent for any spell I like. But right away, this using this to charm people seems an obvious use. That and poison.

 

[Demesnedenoir]

Hmmm, depends on the system as a whole. It could be made to work. My instinct would be to use it less like a Harry wand... but then, I am not a fan of Harry and wands, so a grain of salt there... and more like a magical reagent. Spritz some Chanel No5 and Black Opium, add a little magic, and you get something different than Black Opium and Dirty Vanilla. Throw in some cologne and! who the hell knows. The ability to spritz, leave the room, then add magic, would add both a diffusion timer and intrigue with the ability to leave the space.

 

[SirenSon117]

Hmmm, depends on the system as a whole. It could be made to work. My instinct would be to use it less like a Harry wand... but then, I am not a fan of Harry and wands, so a grain of salt there... and more like a magical reagent. Spritz some Chanel No5 and Black Opium, add a little magic, and you get something different than Black Opium and Dirty Vanilla. Throw in some cologne and! who the hell knows. The ability to spritz, leave the room, then add magic, would add both a diffusion timer and intrigue with the ability to leave the space.

I was thinking less "harry wand" and more "lucy heartfilia" where the magical effect is hyper-specific and pre-packaged into an item and has a limited number of uses. Your concept reminds me of Alchemy, which is probably how these things are made in the first place.