Marinades are made up of 3 main categories of ingredients: oils, acid, and flavorings, and it's advisable to use all three. Oils: olive oil, sesame oil, or any other vegetable oil. Acids: lemon juice, vinegar, wines, and beers. Flavorings: herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, or spices such as pepper, cumin, ginger, garlic powder, garlic cloves, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Even sugar, maple syrup, agave syrup, and soy sauce are used to add flavor.