Every Potion Ingredient in Harry Potter

Many weird and wonderful things are used in the HP series to create a variety of different potions. Here we list all known potion ingredients, what potions they are used in and any other information!

A

  • Abyssinian Shrivelfig
    • State: Plant
    • Used in: Shrinking Solution when skinned
    • Additional Notes: Taught to second-year Herbology students for pruning.
    • Reference: CoS p. 268
  • Aconite
    • State: Plant
    • Used in: Likely in Wolfsbane Potion
    • Additional Notes: Also known as Monkshood or Wolfsbane. “Dumbledore’s Delight” is a folk term mentioned.
    • Reference: SS p. 138
  • Acromantula Venom
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Unspecified, but highly valuable
    • Additional Notes: Costs about 100 Galleons per pint due to rarity.
    • Reference: HBP, chapter 22
  • Armadillo Bile
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Wit-Sharpening Potion
    • Additional Notes: Harry spills this to eavesdrop on Karkaroff and Snape.
    • Reference: GoF pp. 518-19
  • Ashwinder Eggs
    • State: Solid; Egg
    • Used in: Love Potions
    • Additional Notes: Cure for ague; can cause fires if not frozen.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, American Muggle Edition, p. 2
  • Asphodel
    • State: Root
    • Used in: Draught of Living Death
    • Additional Notes: Snape’s question to Harry about adding it to an infusion of Wormwood.
    • Reference: SS pp. 137-38

B

  • Bat Spleen
    • State: Solid; Organ
    • Used in: Unspecified
    • Additional Notes: Seen for sale in Diagon Alley.
    • Reference: PS, Chapter 6
  • Beetle Eyes
    • State: Solid; Organ
    • Used in: Unspecified
    • Additional Notes: Found at the bottom of Harry’s trunk; also seen in Diagon Alley.
    • Reference: PS Chapter 6, DH chapter 2
  • Bezoar
    • State: Solid; Stone
    • Used in: Antidotes to poison
    • Additional Notes: Saves Ron’s life; Harry gains points for presenting it to Slughorn.
    • Reference: SS pp. 137-138, HBP pp. 377, 378, 380, 398, 400, 403, 539
  • Bicorn Horn
    • State: Solid; Horn
    • Used in: Polyjuice Potion
    • Additional Notes: Hermione steals it from Snape’s private store.
    • Reference: CoS, Chapter 11
  • Billywig Stings
    • State: Solid
    • Used in: Fizzing Whisbees
    • Additional Notes: Rumored ingredient in the sweet.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  • Boomslang Skin
    • State: Solid; Skin
    • Used in: Polyjuice Potion
    • Additional Notes: Stolen by Hermione and Barty Crouch Jr. from Snape.
    • Reference: CoS, Chapter 10; GoF p. 516
  • Bubotuber Pus
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Acne potions
    • Additional Notes: Abrasive; discovered by Sacharissa Tugwood.
    • Reference: GoF pp. 194-95, 541; HBP p. 84
  • Bundimun Secretion
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Cleaning products
    • Additional Notes: Highly acidic; used diluted.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, American Muggle Edition, p. 6

C

  • Caterpillar
    • State: Solid; Insect
    • Used in: Shrinking Solution
    • Additional Notes: None
    • Reference: PoA p. 125
  • Cockroaches
    • State: Solid; Insect
    • Used in: Unspecified
    • Additional Notes: Thrown at Harry by Snape.
    • Reference: OotP, Chapter 28
  • Crocodile Heart
    • State: Solid; Organ
    • Used in: Unspecified
    • Additional Notes: Ron deducted points for throwing it at Malfoy.
    • Reference: PoA, chapter 10

D

  • Daisy Root
    • State: Plant
    • Used in: Shrinking Solution
    • Additional Notes: Ron swaps his with Malfoy’s after sabotaging his own.
    • Reference: PoA pg. 124
  • Dittany
    • State: Plant
    • Used in: Healing Potions
    • Additional Notes: Used by Hermione for Splinching and on Harry after Nagini’s attack.
    • Reference: SS p. 229; HBP p. 523
  • Doxy Eggs
    • State: Solid; Egg
    • Used in: Doxycide
    • Additional Notes: Poisonous; used in Weasley’s experiments.
    • Reference: OotP, Chapter 6
  • Dragon’s Blood
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Unspecified (12 uses)
    • Additional Notes: Dumbledore’s fame for discovering uses; varies by dragon breed.
    • Reference: HBP Chapter 4, DH Chapter 2

E

  • Eels Eyes
    • State: Solid; Organ
    • Used in: Spattergoit cure
    • Additional Notes: Seen in Diagon Alley; Ron’s Spattergoit “cure” mentioned.
    • Reference: PS Chapter 5; OotP Chapter 22
  • Erumpent Horn
    • State: Solid; Horn
    • Used in: Unspecified
    • Additional Notes: Pierces any material; Xenophilius Lovegood’s mistaken purchase.
    • Reference: DH, Chapter 20; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  • Erumpent Horn Exploding Fluid
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Unspecified
    • Additional Notes: Highly explosive; Class B Tradeable Material.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  • Erumpent Tail
    • State: Solid; Tail
    • Used in: Unspecified
    • Additional Notes: Class B Tradable Material.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

F

  • Flobberworm Mucus
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Potion thickener
    • Additional Notes: None
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  • Fluxweed
    • State: Plant
    • Used in: Polyjuice Potion
    • Additional Notes: Must be picked at full moon; available to students.
    • Reference: CoS; pp. 165-166

G

  • Ginger Root
    • State: Plant
    • Used in: Wit-Sharpening Potion
    • Additional Notes: Used by fourth years at Hogwarts.
    • Reference: GoF pp. 516-518
  • Glumbumble Treacle
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Antidote for Alihotsy-induced hysteria
    • Additional Notes: Produced by the Glumbumble.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  • Graphorn Horn
    • State: Solid; Horn
    • Used in: Unspecified (common in potions)
    • Additional Notes: Difficult to collect, hence expensive.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  • Griffin Claw
    • State: Solid; Claw
    • Used in: Strengthening Solution
    • Additional Notes: Harry’s essay mistake due to lack of concentration.
    • Reference: OotP, Chapter 22

H

  • Horned Slugs
    • State: Insect
    • Used in: Boil-Cure Potion
    • Additional Notes: Malfoy praised for stewing them perfectly.
    • Reference: PS, Chapter 8
  • Horned Toads
    • State: Lizard
    • Used in: Unspecified
    • Additional Notes: Neville tasked with disemboweling after a Potions mishap.
    • Reference: GoF, Chapter 14

J

  • Jobberknoll Feathers
    • State: Feather
    • Used in: Memory and Truth Potions
    • Additional Notes: Jobberknoll’s perfect memory makes its feathers ideal for these potions.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

K

  • Knotgrass
    • State: Plant
    • Used in: Polyjuice Potion
    • Additional Notes: Available from Hogwarts’ student store cupboard.
    • Reference: CoS pp. 165 & 184

L

  • Lacewing Flies
    • State: Insect wings
    • Used in: Polyjuice Potion
    • Additional Notes: Must be stewed for 21 days; available to students.
    • Reference: CoS pp. 165-66, 184, and 211
  • Leech Juice
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Shrinking Solution
    • Additional Notes: Should be used sparingly in potions.
    • Reference: PoA, Chapter 7
  • Leeches
    • State: Solid; Slug
    • Used in: Polyjuice Potion
    • Additional Notes: Available from the student store cupboard at Hogwarts.
    • Reference: CoS pg.165 & 184
  • Lionfish Spine
    • State: Solid; Fish bone
    • Used in: Various unspecified potions
    • Additional Notes: Part of the standard potion-making kit for Hogwarts students.
    • Reference: GoF, Chapter 10
  • Lovage
    • State: Herb
    • Used in: Befuddlement Draught & Confusing Concoction
    • Additional Notes: Induces reckless behavior when used in potions.
    • Reference: OotP pg 383

M

  • Mandrake Juice
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Restorative antidotes
    • Additional Notes: Derived from the Mandrake plant; used to cure those petrified by a Basilisk.
    • Reference: CoS pp. 91-94,144, 285, and 288
  • Monkshood
    • See Aconite
  • Moonstone
    • State: Stone
    • Used in: Draught of Peace
    • Additional Notes: Must be powdered for the potion; subject of an essay following potion-making class.
    • Reference: OotP, Chapters 12, 13 & 15

N

  • Nettles
    • State: Plant
    • Used in: Boil Cure Potion
    • Additional Notes: Commonly found around Hogwarts; can be used for tea as well.
    • Reference: PS, Chapter 8

P

  • Peppermint
    • State: Herb
    • Used in: Elixir to Induce Euphoria
    • Additional Notes: Optional ingredient to counteract side effects of singing and nose-tweaking.
    • Reference: HBP 22
  • Pomegranate Juice
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Unspecified potions
    • Additional Notes: Almost mistakenly added to a potion by Harry; stopped by Hermione.
    • Reference: OotP pg 363
  • Porcupine Quills
    • State: Solid; Animal quills
    • Used in: Boil Cure Potion
    • Additional Notes: Neville forgot to add these to his potion, turning it acidic.
    • Reference: PS, Chapter 8
  • Puffer-fish Eyes
    • State: Solid; Fish organ
    • Used in: Swelling Solution
    • Additional Notes: Malfoy flicked these at Harry and Ron during a potions class.
    • Reference: CoS, Chapter 11

R

  • Rat Spleen
    • State: Solid; Rat organ
    • Used in: Shrinking Solution
    • Additional Notes: Only one spleen is needed per cauldron of potion.
    • Reference: PoA, Chapter 7
  • Rat Tails
    • State: Solid; Rat organ
    • Used in: Hair Raising Potion
    • Additional Notes: Subject of an essay Snape assigns to his second-year students.
    • Reference: CoS, Chapter 13
  • Runespoor Eggs
    • State: Solid; Egg
    • Used in: Potions for mental agility
    • Additional Notes: Extremely valuable; a favorite food of the Bowtruckle.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

S

  • Salamander Blood
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Strengthening Solution
    • Additional Notes: Known for restorative and curative properties.
    • Reference: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  • Scarab Beetles
    • State: Insect
    • Used in: Wit-Sharpening Potion
    • Additional Notes: Considered sacred in ancient Egypt.
    • Reference: GoF Chapter 27
  • Scurvy-Grass
    • State: Herb
    • Used in: Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts
    • Additional Notes: Induces hot-headedness and reckless behavior.
    • Reference: OotP pg 383
  • Snake Fangs
    • State: Solid; Snake organ
    • Used in: Boil Cure Potion
    • Additional Notes: Must be crushed before use.
    • Reference: PS Chapter 8
  • Snake Venom
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Voldemort’s Potion
    • Additional Notes: Used by Voldemort for his rebirth; Nagini’s venom is particularly potent.
    • Reference: GoF Chapter 33, DH Chapter 6
  • Sneezewort
    • State: Herb
    • Used in: Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts
    • Additional Notes: Causes hot-headedness and reckless behavior.
    • Reference: OotP Chapter 18
  • Sopophorous Bean
    • State: Bean
    • Used in: Draught of Living Death
    • Additional Notes: Harry follows Half-Blood Prince’s advice for a successful potion.
    • Reference: HBP Chapter 9
  • Syrup of Hellebore
    • State: Liquid
    • Used in: Draught of Peace
    • Additional Notes: Harry forgets to add this to his potion, resulting in a vanished cauldron content.
    • Reference: OotP, pg 234

T

  • Tubeworms
    • State: Worm
    • Used in: Unspecified
    • Additional Notes: Harry has to scrape these off the desk during detention with Snape.
    • Reference: CoS, Chapter 9

U

  • Unicorn Horn
    • State: Solid; Animal horn
    • Used in: Unspecified potions
    • Additional Notes: Included in first-year students’ potion kits.
    • Reference: PS, chapter 15

V

  • Valerian Roots
    • State: Plant Root
    • Used in: Draught of Living Death
    • Additional Notes: Harry uses these following the Half-Blood Prince’s potion notes.
    • Reference: HBP Chapter 9

W

  • Wolfsbane
    • See Aconite
  • Wormwood
    • State: Plant
    • Used in: Draught of Living Death
    • Additional Notes: Used in both wizarding and Muggle medicine.
    • Reference: PS, Chapter 8
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A long time Potterhead and gamer, I keep up to date with everything in the Wizarding World from Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts to Hogwarts Legacy.

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