Amortentia

Amortentia
Potion information
Effect	Love potion that caused a powerful infatuation or obsession in the drinker
Characteristics	Mother-of-pearl sheen Spiralling steam Scent was multi-faceted and varied based on what the person liked
Difficulty level	Advanced
Known ingredients	Pearl Dust

"Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world. It is distinctive for its mother-of-pearl sheen, and steam rises from the potion in spirals. Amortentia smells different to each person, according to what attracts them."

— Description

Amortentia was the most powerful love potion in existence. It caused a powerful infatuation or obsession from the drinker. It had a distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen, and steam rose from it in characteristic spirals. Amortentia was considered an incredibly dangerous potion, as one should have never underestimated obsessive infatuation.

History

Horace Slughorn: "You recognised it, I suppose, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen?"

Hermione Granger: "And the steam rising in characteristic spirals, and it’s supposed to smell differently to each of according to what attracts us, and I can smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and —"

— Physical description of Amortentia

Amortentia was kept in a fountain or well in the Love Room in the Department of Mysteries, which Unspeakables would study.

Professor Snape showing fifth year students Amortentia in a large cauldron

In February 1988 at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, around the time of Valentine's Day, Professor Severus Snape showed this potion to fifth-year students in Potions class in a large cauldron, as part of the school's celebration of the holiday.

In September 1996, Professor Horace Slughorn introduced this potion to sixth-year students in Potions class, along with other advanced potions, such as Veritaserum and Polyjuice Potion, in order to show his students what kind of potions they would be able to brew after finishing their N.E.W.T.s in their seventh year. Hermione Granger identified all of Slughorn's potions correctly, including Amortentia, which very much earned his approval.

Nature

"Powerful infatuations can be induced by the skilful potioneer, but never yet has anyone managed to create the truly unbreakable, eternal, unconditional attachment that alone can be called Love."

— The essence of a love potion

Amortentia was the most powerful love potion in existence. It was considered to be a powerful and highly dangerous potion. As stated, it was dangerous to underestimate a powerful infatuation. However, although certainly powerful, Amortentia did not create actual love, as it was impossible to manufacture or imitate love. The person under the effect of the potion would only hold an obsession for the person who administered it. Presumably, this would also mean that the potion could not undo true love, meaning that Amortentia would not be able to displace true feelings of intimacy.

Effects

"They chose the one nearest a gold-coloured cauldron that was emitting one of the most seductive scents Harry had ever inhaled: Somehow it reminded him simultaneously of treacle tart, the woody smell of a broomstick handle, and something flowery he thought he might have smelled at the Burrow. He found that he was breathing very slowly and deeply and that the potion's fumes seemed to be filling him up like drink."

— The aroma and effects of the potion

It had a different aroma for everyone who smelt it, reminding each person of the things that they found most attractive, even if the person did not acknowledge or was unaware of their fondness for the object of their affection themselves; e.g. Hermione Granger smelt fresh cut grass, new parchment, and Ron Weasley's hair.

Harry Potter smelt treacle tart, the woody scent of broomstick handle, and "something flowery that he thought he might have smelled at the Burrow" (which he later realised was the smell of Ginny Weasley).

Known aromas

Person	Smells
Hermione Granger	Freshly mown grass, new parchment, and Ron Weasley's hair
Harry Potter	Treacle tart, broomstick handles, and Ginny Weasley

Etymology

Amor is a Roman god of love, and the word "amour" in French means "love". The word "amor" also means "love" in Spanish and Portuguese. "Tentia" is also Latin for "held".

Behind the scenes

Amortentia, described as the Most Powerful Love Potion in the World

• In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Hermione does not say what the third thing she smells is, although Rowling revealed in an interview that the third smell was Ron's hair. However, in the film version, Hermione states that the third thing she smells is spearmint toothpaste, due to the fact that in an earlier scene at The Burrow where Ron points out to Hermione there is toothpaste on her face and her parents being dentists.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Mentioned only)