Amortentia

Amortentia
Potion information
Effect	Love Potion that causes a powerful infatuation or obsession in the drinker
Characteristics	Mother-of-pearl sheen Spiralling steam Scent is multi-faceted and varies based on what the person likes
Difficulty level	Advanced

"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 is the most powerful love potion in existence. It causes a powerful infatuation or obsession from the drinker. It has a distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen, and steam rises from it in characteristic spirals.

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."

—Hector Dagworth-Granger regarding love potions

Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in existence. It's considered to be a powerful and highly dangerous potion. As stated it's dangerous to underestimate a powerful infatuation. Despite its power, Amortentia doesn't create actual love; it's impossible to manufacture or imitate love. The person under the effect of the potion will only hold an obsession for the person who administered it.

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 as smelled by Harry Potter

It has a different aroma for everyone who smells it, reminding each person of the things that they find most attractive, even if the person doesn't acknowledge or is 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 smelled 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).

The effects of the potion on a person are described to be near instantaneous; with the person who drank the potion appearing "pale and sickly" and becoming obsessed with the object of their affections, speaking of them as though "hit by a ray of purest sunlight" and becoming excited or dangerously unstable towards others.

Known aromas for individuals

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

Etymology

• Amor is a Roman god of love, and the word "Amour" in French means "Love".
• "Tentia" is also Latin for "held".

Behind the scenes

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

• According to J.K. Rowling, a large fountain filled with Amortentia could be found in the Love Room in the Department of Mysteries.
• 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