Deadwick's Ethereal Emporium — Local services in Portsmouth

The magic is real! I’m a new student in the studies of witchcraft and my experience this evening at Deadwick’s was indeed magical for me. The universe was definitely telling me I was in the right place through Heathcliff and the dialogue we shared. I have been working with crystal energies for years but I’ve heard about this place for even longer and tonight was my first visit to go pick up some selenite to cleanse my other crystals. Heathcliff showed me the basket where the selenite was, and as we were chatting, he showed me the large larger than softball size selenite crystal ball they had which I left the store with happily. We spoke together about my journey that I was beginning and he had recommended a book from an author who comes from a Norse perspective. I have Norwegian heritage. I showed him the tattoo I have of Thor’s Mjolnir as Thor is one of my patron deities. Snap, clap and sparkle to my surprise, Heathcliff pulled out the amulet around his neck from his shirt collar, and it was the same sacred symbol! We share a patron deity! I also walked out with four books that he introduced me to after discussing what I was looking for. I’m very excited that I have discovered this place and met Heathcliff and Fae! The atmosphere is very calming and there’s a lot of love in this store. I felt welcomed, I was impressed by the knowledge that was shared with me and I can’t wait to go back. Thank you so much for your help today and I’ll...

I enjoy this shop, it is decorated very nicely and they have a good selection of different items, from jewelry to herbs, books etc. They are extremely attentive here, in a strangely aggressive and uncomfortable way. It has been this way everytime i have been in. They have some perfumes that they will not allow you to touch or smell on your own. This is where it gets weird- they insist on showing and spraying wach peefume and explaining the notes, even though i would never spray most of these. I was interested in 1 or 2 scents, and would have liked to smell the bottle or the cap for the base notes on the dry down. Thats my preference, as I dont want to spray many scents and become overwhelmed. Anyway, it comes across as some scripted presentation, like a timeshare salesman, and its difficult to excuse yourself in the middle of it all. Perfume sprayed everywhere in such a small space is awful. I would suggest that they spray into some small sample bottles for customers to smell themselves, and lock the bottles up to avoid this awkward interaction, where they have a sign warning to not touch, but also then approach all customers and give them a dissertation on the perfume and how you arent allowed to touch it.

There is a fine line between offering to help customers, and being oppressive. Making people uncomfortable isnt good business practice.

I want to shop here more, but they are just not...

For those of the craft, Deadwick’s was renowned some ten years ago. In fact, my journey started here. The staff were knowledgeable about the craft and how their products fit into one’s practice, or for those contemplating a potential practice. The impacts of their products were taken seriously, and, like most things involving magick, you could feel that there was intention behind the curation of the space. Now, at best, it feels like a well-done gift shop catered to those day travelers of the Portsmouth area, willing to spend money on a novelty at best. Although welcoming, the variety of staff has greatly diminished, and the quality of the products has shifted to cater to mass appeal instead of magical implication. Their incense offerings are just one example of the products that have changed and diminished over time. The implied cost of doing business in an affluent area is not lost upon me. Still, as an extension of a well-known and established brand in the region, the quality of the entire experience for those who supported the business to begin with makes it pointless even to enter the store anymore. Although I will not mention the name of a competitor in this review, there is another magic apothecary that has recently opened on State Street in Portsmouth, near the Rosa restaurant, which is far more authentic and caters to those who view this way of life as a faith, much like the...