Scott Cunningham writes that rosemary, when burned, emits powerful cleansing and purifying vibrations and is smouldered to rid a place of negativity, especially before magical work. He calls it one of the oldest incenses and notes it is generally used as a substitute for frankincense. Hung at the door it turns away thieves, and worn as a chaplet it aids the memory.

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis) is a Mediterranean evergreen of the mint family. Its needle-like leaves are rich in cineole, camphor, and rosmarinic acid, the sources of its piercing scent.

Rosemary's old names include Dew of the Sea and Elf Leaf, and Scott Cunningham notes it was grown to attract elves to the garden., Folk tradition recorded by Cunningham holds that rosemary beneath the pillow ensures good sleep and drives away nightmares., and In the Renaissance it was believed that rosemary worn with lavender would preserve a woman's chastity, one thread in its long association with memory and fidelity.

With rosemary I call myself back to myself. My mind clears, my memory brightens, and my home settles into a peace that follows me into sleep.