What does patchouli smell like? Understanding what patchouli smells like. Floral by delightful AMOUAGE

05.08.2023

Patchouli is a beautiful green herbaceous shrub from the mint family. The herb is adorned with delicate pinkish-white flowers and fragrant leaves that have been used for centuries in perfumery because of their fine and strong scent. Patchouli essential oil is phenomenal with extraordinary health benefits.

Botanical name: Pogostemon cablin

The plant is an aromatic shrub that can grow up to 1 meter in moist, rich soils. Leaves 7-10 cm long, ovate. Variable purplish green when grown in sun but bright green in shade. The small, thin, pinkish flowers are limited to long spikes. When the plant blooms, you will notice that the flowers are more fragrant than the leaves. Leaves, flowers, and seeds all have a stronger flavor when crushed. Crushing some stems and leaves in your hands will release a strong fragrance around the garden.

Patchouli is tolerant to Australian conditions. The natural habitat is in Malaysia and India, so it prefers humid and tropical conditions. However, it is not difficult to create the right environment in your own garden. Read also about its medicinal properties.

There are many uses for patchouli, the most well known being in perfumery and as fragrant oils. One of the earliest known uses was as a protection against bed bugs and moths. Patchouli leaves were placed in shipments of Indian cashmere carpets destined for England as a protection against moth damage. Ultimately, cashmere shawls became known for their distinctive scent.

Growing conditions

Patchouli is a robust upright shrub that can grow to a height of 90 cm. It prefers just the right amount of water - not too wet and not too dry! It is a relatively fast growing plant from seed or cuttings, and prefers rich soil and full sun (partly shade). After flowering, tiny brown seeds will appear. Young seedlings are best planted in the shade so that they can get stronger. In very cold climates, the plant will need to be kept in a greenhouse or warm sheltered area, also through the winter. If this is not done, then she will die and new seeds or seedlings will be needed for the annual planting. Plants should be rooted out if it becomes ragged in a shaded part of the garden. Read also how to grow in your garden.

Medicinal uses of patchouli

Patchouli is used for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties in the treatment of minor skin conditions such as acne, and soothes dry or chapped skin when used as a foot bath. Its reputation as a skin regenerator and healer is well known, and it can help prevent scarring from forming on wounds.

It has a pleasant smell for people and a killer for insects.

In addition, anti-fungal properties, and has the function of deodorization, and can also be used to treat insect bites. Patchouli also has a diuretic effect and can help with water retention and breaks down cellulite. Some people use the leaves to make an infusion and drink it to relieve menstrual cramps. Patchouli is also valued for its anti-depressant and uplifting properties, due to the active ingredients stimulating the pituitary gland, which allows the release of endorphins. Placing the crushed leaves in a warm bath will be beneficial for both the body and the mind.

Other uses

Patchouli has many uses as a fragrance oil for well-being and as a perfume ingredient. You can dry the leaves yourself and then use them in a potpourri (aromatic concoction) - boil a few leaves in a pot and to scent the air in your home.

The plant has a traditional use as a shampoo when the leaves are ground with hugo (entada) and lemongrass.

The crushed leaves and tops of plants can act as an insecticide and help get rid of cockroaches, moths, and even leeches. Young leaves will have the strongest flavor and become a more concentrated oil.

Patchouli oil - with its recognizable musky, sweet, spicy aroma - is widely used as a base note and serves as a fixing ingredient in modern perfumery. In fact, you will be surprised to know that some of the well-known and much-loved fragrances today contain patchouli as their base note.

Patchouli is a mysterious fragrance of the East. Those who found the forged chests of great-grandmothers probably remember that they often smelled of something pleasant and exciting instead of naphthalene, it was the smell of patchouli, which moths do not like so much.

In the old days, they soaked clothes in order to get rid of moths.

I became interested in patchouli when I read in one of the books that the scent of patchouli is the best way to attract money into your wallet. To do this, just put 1 drop of patchouli oil inside and let it dry. But the funny thing is that I still have not taken this advice and I myself can’t explain why… Although I have bought patchouli oil more than once, its sensual aroma is pleasant to me.

In the East, patchouli is added to bee honey.

For culinary purposes, 100% natural high-purity oil is used.

In India, patchouli is used to scent fabrics and keep them from moths.

Patchouli was considered a sacred plant in ancient times, and is still used today during wedding ceremonies.

The deep sensual scent of patchouli is a powerful aphrodisiac. It is used during romantic dates. A few drops of oil applied to the linen will not only enhance the pleasure, but also reveal the depth of love experiences in the soul.

Parapsychologists advise spouses to practice massage with the addition of a few drops of patchouli oil to the massage oil. This will revive the cooled passions and set in a romantic mood.

The perfume note of patchouli is indeed ambiguous: woody-earthy , with characteristic autumn "dampness" and resinous bitterness of smoke. To some, such a strange aroma is perceived as musty (more romantic people call it the smell of time stopped). But the attitude towards it can change dramatically over the years, and yesterday's opponents of patchouli become their selfless admirers.

Seesaw history

In the era of Napoleon, patchouli gained wild popularity with the light hand of French beauties who were drawn to the exotic. Ladies of high society wore thin, flowing, sleeveless tunics. They were exquisite, but not warm at all, so women wrapped themselves in warm cashmere shawls. These handkerchiefs just smelled of patchouli leaves - the herb that was used to wrap precious fabrics, sending them to Europe from the Indian colonies. This was done for the sole purpose of protecting the cargo from moths and ship rats.

French beauties, of course, did not know about this, and perceived the smell of "anti-moth" as a spectacular touch to complete their exotic image. As a result, the general interest in the new fragrance led perfumers to rush to buy Indian weed to create fashionable perfumes and toilet soaps.

By the end of the 19th century, patchouli fell out of favor with high society. Firstly, the fashion for oriental exoticism has declined, and secondly, it has already been widely used to treat linen from moths and bedbugs. As a result, oriental perfumes quickly became old-fashioned and even vulgar.

The return of patchouli to the perfume Olympus took place only half a century later, but the mysterious aroma did not stay here for long. As soon as all fashion houses switched to the release of oriental compositions with this note, the hippies discredited the exotic weed. "Flower Children" interrupted the spirit of marijuana with it, however, they used crappy cheap flavors for this. The fakes had little in common with real patchouli perfumes, but left a stain on the reputation of an already controversial component.

patchouli in perfumery

Surprisingly, today even the cheapest perfumes do not use synthetic substitutes for patchouli. The extraction of their esters is not too difficult or expensive, so perfumers have enough money for natural ingredients. And yet, the final aroma can vary depending on various factors: the place of cultivation, the time of collection, and the characteristics of the processing of phyto raw materials.

ReferenceTasty shop:Neither the fresh leaves nor even the flowers of patchouli originally have the smell that we hear in perfumes. It can be obtained only after prolonged drying and fermentation of the green part of the plants.

The most multifaceted and high-quality aroma is obtained from 3-4 lower leaves of grass - they accumulate a maximum of fragrant substances, which, with proper fermentation, will beautifully open up in perfumes. At the same time, the longer the essential oil is stored at the manufacturer, the richer and more refined its sound becomes, enriched with sweetish fruity notes.

Aroma magic

In the old days, it was believed that with the help of patchouli you can get into the other world and communicate with the dead (probably because of the earthy notes associated with mysterious dungeons). Today, it is much more common to believe that this smell attracts success and money, and also helps to make good deals.

There is even a simple ritual to attract wealth, for which banknotes or a wallet just need to be saturated with the aroma of an exotic plant (using essential oil or a sachet). Many say that after that even the lost money “finds” its way back to its owner. It's up to you to believe in such a miracle or not, but it's worth a try - what if the truth really works? After all, household magic draws most of its power from our desires.

modern aromatherapy

Other properties of the patchouli fragrance are more “mundane” and have already been substantiated by official science. Its ethers relieve anxiety and depression, restore peace of mind, but do it very gently and unobtrusively.

The smell of patchouli does not sparkle with puppy optimism, like citrus compositions, it just helps to look at things objectively from the good side. And this note has a beneficial effect on creative people:

Awakens artistic inclinations
Makes the brain creative
Changes the perception of reality - as if you are looking at the world with a fresh look

You can often hear that patchouli works as an aphrodisiac, but it acts mainly on women. Moreover, ladies equally love this fragrance both on themselves and on their man. In the first case, they gain relaxedness and confidence in their own sexuality, in the second, a “domestic cat” wakes up in women, which strives to rub against the shoulder of a loved one.

The intensity of the aroma plays a special role here. If you use patchouli little by little, the perfume will simply soothe and set you up for romance. But it is worth giving him more will, and a storm of passion will overwhelm you.

Patchouli Homemade Perfume

In our online store you can buy paper or plaster sachets with patchouli. They are perfect for scenting a small room and linen in the closet.

We also have diffusers and fillers with the smell of this exotic flower. Moreover, among them you can find patchouli mono-aroma (this is the French diffuser Le Blanc), and complex, three-level perfume compositions with patchouli. Aroma brand Stoneglow, for example, has two fragrances where the woody-resinous smell of patchouli is intertwined with the citrus fragrance of bergamot. Bergamot & Patchouli (Nature's friend series), in addition to the two main components - bergamot and patchouli, contains notes of lemon, lime, lavender, basil, geranium, rose, fern, vanilla and amber. And Bergamot, Vetiver, Patchouli (The Art Series) is a blend of illuminating citrus accords with chypre notes of patchouli, complemented by notes of nutmeg. lavender and fresh herbs. The base of the fragrance is a deep, smoky, sweetish vetiver.

Patchouli pairs wonderfully with amber, as you can see by choosing a diffuser by Parfum Berger or a filler with Amber Veil. The fragrance opens with a spicy-floral composition of roses, pepper, cinnamon; in the finale, spicy notes are also clearly heard, but with balsamic nuances. At the heart of the fragrance is a duet of patchouli and amber, which makes the whole aromatic melody mysterious and sensual.

Another sensual fragrance with patchouli and amber is from Chando. It's called Sensual Camellia". Here, patchouli and amber notes, complemented by cedar, sandalwood and musk, form the basis of the fragrance, and at the heart of its fragrant bouquet of camellia, rose, lily and jasmine.

If you prefer patchouli shades in the final chords, then pay attention to the marine fragrance "Antivan" by Parfum Berger. This is a unique fragrance. It not only fills the space with a pleasant fragrance, but also neutralizes unpleasant, musty and damp smells, most often inhabited in the bathroom. Top notes of lavender slowly flow into the sea breeze, carrying echoes of eucalyptus and orange blossom. And only at the very end, a spicy-woody trio of patchouli, cinnamon and oakmoss enters the party.

The scent of patchouli is so interesting that it will surely become one of your favorite home fragrances.

The scent of patchouli is woody and has a warm, sweet scent.

Patchouli has an earthy smell that is vaguely reminiscent of vetiver (similar chemicals and habitat), but is otherwise unique - heavy, rich, herbaceous, bitter-smoky, resinous-tart. With age, the oil develops a deeper flavor, changing from dark and cool dryness to bitter chocolate or unripe fruit.

Patchouli is a perennial shrub tropical plant from the Pogostemon genus. Processed patchouli leaves are famous for their strong and addictive aroma, which is why they have been used in perfumery for centuries. Interestingly, fresh patchouli leaves do not smell. Before obtaining essential oils, the leaves of plants must be dried a little and subjected to long-term fermentation. Patchouli is native to Asia, specifically the Philippines, but is now also found in West Africa and South America.

The name patchouli comes from the Tamil words patchai meaning green and ellai meaning leaf. Patchouli is one of the few components that are still original in the world of modern perfumery and do not need to be replaced by synthetic counterparts. So we have a unique opportunity to hear patchouli in exactly the form in which they drove all the women from the European high society of the 19th century crazy. Pieces of fabric, shawls and cashmere pashminas were brought from India at that time and, in order to protect the precious goods from moths during a long journey, they were shifted with dry patchouli leaves. Stoles that smelled through and through literally hypnotized their new owners. Oriental fabrics gained popularity in Europe and began to be copied by local craftsmen, but they still had to bring the scent of patchouli from the East. However, in 1837, the famous Spanish monk and botanist Francisco Manuel Blanco revealed the secret of the mysterious plant.

The peak of patchouli fame in Europe and America came in the 60s and 70s of the 20th century. It was a favorite scent of the hippies, who made extensive use of the plant's oil and incense (from inexpensive and low-quality raw materials) to eliminate the smell of marijuana around them.

Patchouli-scented perfumes are extremely popular among modern women. Exotic, unusual woody-earthy fragrance is one of the most beloved by modern perfumers. The combination with sandalwood, ylang-ylang and citrus components allows you to create different compositions that manifest themselves in different ways on the skin.

8 most striking patchouli perfumes:

1. Coquillete Paris Sumatera is a fresh patchouli extract from the island of Sumatra.
The perfume opens with green patchouli with elegant floral accords of Chinese jasmine and white flowers. The chypre character of the first notes is accentuated by spicy hints of Indian black pepper and cinnamon from Sri Lanka. The heart of the fragrance gives a combination of cedar, musk and patchouli, while the base is a wonderful combination of Madagascar vanilla and jasmine. 2. Roland V. Paris Exosens Patchouli- this is a light wind blowing from the coast, and carrying with it the tenderness of greenery, the moisture of the earth and the spicy haze of balms. 3. Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche - romantic freshness and soaring lightness of a warm summer morning, when dew drops have not yet left the green juicy grass. 4. Armaf Niche Platinum is a masculine fragrance in which earthy-tart patchouli in an elegant composition serves as an excellent backdrop for revealing the bright herbal and resinous overflows of labdanum and cistus. Complex overflows, interesting combinations and an alluring feeling of warmth in the perfume enchant those around you.

Patchouli came to us from the East. In the old days, they soaked clothes in order to get rid of moths. And then people noticed the unimaginably sensual aroma of patchouli, starting to use it as an aromatic oil and as other means. Now many people are interested in what the smell of patchouli is like, why it is so popular. Consider the versatility of this amazing fragrance and its uses.

sunset magic

The smell of patchouli is first and foremost a mystery. There is something new for everyone in it. But there are certain traits that people find common in this fragrance. The smell of patchouli has a whole bunch of warm, bitter, tart notes. It gives off the breath of an earthen well, the murmur of water in a stream, the calmness of a warm evening in a distant eastern country. The fragrance is filled with the energy of the setting sun, just as heavy, but protective, mysterious.

patchouli in perfumery

The patchouli scent is amazing. And this explains why it is so actively used in perfumery. With astringent and heavy notes, it is commonly used in men's incense. However, patchouli-scented perfumes are also suitable for women.

The composition of the perfume fragrance is often called oriental precisely because of the patchouli that is part of the perfume - warm, tart, earthy. This fragrance goes well with the smells of lavender or bergamot, but you should be very careful adding it to a composition with cinnamon and juniper notes.

Patchouli is also suitable for scenting fabrics and clothes.

patchouli aromatherapy

People really appreciate patchouli aromatic oil, because it has a whole bunch of useful properties:

Soothes, relieves tension and stress, prevents depression;
Makes more cheerful, gives a charge of active action for the whole day;
Improves brain function, gives freedom of creativity, a person becomes focused and attentive;
Human skin gets rid of dryness and at the same time from unnecessary fluid, patchouli eliminates various skin infections and inflammations, as well as unpleasant odors.

Patchouli aroma oil also has erotic properties. It acts not only as an aphrodisiac, but also restores the hormonal balance of a person.

Application of patchouli oil

Patchouli aromatic oil is a powerful remedy. You should always remember about the doses that can be applied in one case or another. Otherwise, a very high concentration of a substance can spoil the whole aroma and enjoyment from it. It is important to know that:

Pregnant women in the last month should limit themselves from the use of patchouli oil;
As stronger than others, patchouli essential oil should be applied in lower concentrations. For example, three drops of this oil are enough for an aroma lamp;
To enrich finished cosmetics with oil, remember the rule "five drops of aroma oil per twenty grams of product." But we add half as much to the hair care product;
A hot bath filled with the witchcraft of the tart patchouli aroma will be a great way to relax after a hard day at work or get a boost of energy for the next one. To do this, it will be enough to add 4-5 drops of aroma oil to the water;
Patchouli takes great care of the feet, removing unpleasant odors. In the foot bath, you can add up to seven drops of oil at a time;
Massage with patchouli oil will let you forget what gray everyday life is. But it is worth remembering that it must be mixed with another oil that has a fatter consistency. For example, if you use peach or soybean oil, then add such oil to patchouli in a ratio of 10 to 7;
As mentioned above, this tool does an excellent job with moths: just ten drops per liter of water when cleaning will help get rid of this scourge.

As you can see, everyone will find in the amazing aroma of patchouli for themselves not only something new, but also useful.