The Spellcaster's Source Hoodoo and Voodoo Witchcraft Blog of Talia Felix

Many hoodoo formulas are related to one another, sometimes very closely. Some formulas, Lovers formula versus Love formula, are just manufacturer specific names for what is essentially the same product (or at least a product meant to get the same result.) Sometimes people wonder, what's the difference between Uncrossing and Van Van ? What's the difference between Road Opener and Blockbuster ? First things first: Road Opener, aka Abre Camino, is not a traditional hoodoo formula, it's a Latin American loaner that has come in relatively recently along with a lot of Santeria and Brujeria practices. This is why it seems to cover the same ground that several other old hoodoo mixtures do. Blockbuster might also be in this same boat, though my evidence on this is less sure -- nonetheless it does seem to be a newer formula, in relative terms ( the word "blockbuster" is only datable to around 1940 ) and often sold with an alternate Spanish name "Arrasa con T...

The earliest mention of Arabka Soudagar oil that I can find through Google Books is in 2003's Candle Therapy: The Magical Guide to Life Enhancement . The first I ever heard of it was in Judika Illes's book of 5,000 Spells.  However, as an incense it is listed (as Arab-Ka Soudagor) in the 1974 book Famous Voodoo Rituals and Spells. The name is probably from the Hindi phrase, Arab Ka Saudagar , which according to an online translator means "Dealers of Arabia." It appears to be a case like Has No Hanna , where a foreign word used for a perfume name was corrupted. I'm being led to think it originated as an incense, for  Mysore Sugandhi sells a rose scented blend under the brand name Arab Ka Soudagar . This brand of incense dates back at least to the 1960s if not before. The package artwork features Arabian merchants leading camels packed with goods, and is written in a font that can easily let the words Arab Ka be misread as Arabka.  Alternate spellings for t...