Herblore is a members-only skill in RuneScape which allows players to make various potions. It is considered one of the harder skills in the game, as it is quite expensive to level up, and herbs (if gained through combat) are relatively hard to come by. Herblore is not a great skill to make money with, if herbs are bought, as most potions cost little more than the herb required to make it.
For players to actually start herblore, they must do the Druidic Ritual Quest, boosting their herblore level to level 3, thus allowing them to identify the first herb, Guam Leaf. Herblore consists of two major parts - identifying and making the potions themselves. Herbs, when gotten from creatures, are known as 'Unidentified Herb', and they must be identified before potions can be made with them. Certain levels are required to identify each different herb, and experience is given when you are able to identify a herb, and you identify it. If unable to identify a herb, you will be informed that you require a higher herblore level to do so.
To make a potion, a herb, water filled vial and the corresponding secondary ingredient is required. The required level for the specific potion is also required. Firstly, the herb must be used on the vial. This results in an 'Unfinished Potion'. Then the secondary ingredient is added to result in a potion (Potion depending on the herb and secondary ingredient used). Potions made are always 3 dose, except for weapon poisons, which are all 1 use.
Popular potions to make are: Prayer Restore Potion - great for experience, secondary ingredient easy to get, minimum loss for those wishing to level up. Super Sets (consists of Super Attack Potion, Super Strength Potion, Super Defence Potion). - not too hard to sell, yet losses are hard to avoid. Super Attack and Super Strength potions are easy to sell to pures, and thus Super Defence Potions are usually avoided.