Notes

Cauldron 
- various sizes (from "can be held in hand" to "can contain a large human"). Standardized numbering systems but can vary internationally
- standard materials : pewter (best for beginners, least expensive, slowest brewing, gives a leeway), brass (medium speed, slighty more efficient) and copper (fastest brewing, can be too fast for potions needing a long brewing time)
- luxurious materials : silver and gold (long shelf life, heightened qualities)
- black market : fire crab shell (law now protects colonies in Fiji)
- self-heating cauldron : keed steady temperature

Other equipments
- reminder : dragon-hide gloves, goggles, and wand- set of scales, measuring cups (liquids), ruler (solids)
- sharp knife, cutting board
- mortar and pestle (crush to fine dust)
- stirring : wand (without sticking it in the potion), wooden stirring ustensil
- cauldron cleaner (could interact with remnants of old potions)
- clean implements between use (interactions between two ingredients)

Brewing process
- follow instructions !
- prep ingredients in advance (some ingredients' capabilities depend on moon phase or celestial alignment)
- crush to fine dust, cut cleanly, keep whole ingredients that cannot be exposed to air long
- add ingredients in the right order
- stirring : hold wand above cauldron, incantation, slow steady circles (clockwise or counter-wlockwise), right number of circles
- EBT : Estimated Brew Time. Vary between materials, book time = pewter/brass.

After brewing
- store potion : glass or crystal phials (usually transparent, can be tinted for potions that need darkness). Use funnel or a Siphoning Charm
- TBT : Total Brew Time. EBT + time needed for a potion to become "mature" and usable.
- potions have an expiration date
- label : name of the Potions, effect, ingredients, date brewed, expiration date, usage, and warnings about allergies or side effects

Essay

Prompt
This week, I would like for you to consider what would be the most practical way to set up a home Potions lab. Create an essay, short story, drawing, or video describing this area in your home. Essays or short stories should be a minimum of 250 words, although there is no maximum word limit. Be sure to answer the following:

• Where would you locate this in your house?

• What implements would be necessary for you to buy or secure in some fashion?

• What specific material would you prefer for your cauldron, knife, and other variable goods? Why?

• How would you set up your cauldron and other instruments?

• Many Potioneers decorate their workspace with safe, homey personal touches, since they spend so many hours there. What might you include around your workstation at home to make it more comfortable during long brewing times?

Feel free to include any further details you feel are important, and have fun with the assignment!

If I were to set up a Potions lab at in my home, I would install it in my garage. At first, I was thinking of putting it in the kitchen, because brewing shares a lot with cooking. However, it doesn't seem very secure. I wouldn't want to mix my potentially dangerous potions ingredients with my cooking ingredients. Same goes for my ustensils : I would rather have different sets of knifes for potions and cooking.

My garage is more of a worshop than a garage. There's a door that is closed with a key that I keep in safety. If I were to use dangerous ingredients or brew dangerous potions, I would also add a magical lock. In addition to the door, there's also a window, which allows a good ventilation. I believe this is important for fumes and odors evacuation. There is a lot of free space and storage, which is perfect to store all the equipment I need. The only problem I see is that it's a bit dark. I could use a Wand-Lighting Charm to light up the room, but I would have to break the spell when I would need to stir with my wand. I think I would have to add a lamp near the lab, to see properly when cutting ingredients, and avoid cutting my fingers !

I would install a big table to have enough space to organize my work surface. Above it I would set up some shelves to store non-fragile and non-toxic ingredients - those would be stored in cupboards or crates. I would also have some hangers for my goggles, gloves and overall. I would put my cauldron next to the table, but not too close in case some ingredients fall. My ustensils would be stored in drawers below the table, to be accessed quickly if I need them. I would keep glass phials filled with potions in cupboards. In fact, I believe every storage unit would be filled with potions equipment : cutting board, scales, cups, empty phials, cauldron cleaner... My lab would take the whole room !