There are some extraordinary fragrances in this world. Just imagine some of them for a moment. Sit back, close your eyes and breathe in, imagining these scents: Rose, Hyacinth, Lilac, All Spice, Anise, Frankincense, Patchouli.
If you're not familiar with the scent of patchouli, it's usually described as being earthy, but there is a bit more to this amazing plant than smelling like dirt or earth.
Patchouli is one of those fragrances that improves over time, and it has more than a single variation. The essential oil can be distilled or CO2 extracted and will also come available in light or dark. Not everyone really enjoys their very first whiff of straight patchouli oil under their nose, but given time, or adding it to just the right blend, seems to make most people come around. Many eventually learn to love it.
Patchouli's scent is best used as a base note, since it is heavy and a bit musky. It'll help to ground your fragrances and give them a sexy earthy note that in many cases, sets off the rest of perfume perfectly. Patchouli is a wonderful base for florals and citrus scents alike.
The patchouli plant is perennial in zones 9-11, anything under, it can be grown as an annual or brought indoors. It does best in partial sun and is easy to grow. To the right is dried patchouli with roses and lavender.
Patchouli is not all about fragrance, however, as it holds amazing properties for skin and health. It has been used to help with conditions such as acne, eczema, inflammations, fungal infections, chapping, dandruff, and irritated skin conditions.
In aromatherapy, the essential oil is burned for stress relief, tension, insomnia, and also as an aphrodisiac, one of it's more popular roles, so it is used often in sensual massage blends. It can also be added to insect repellant sprays.
Patchouli is an essential ingredient for many product makers. With its many benefits and amazing fragrance, it rates highly among soap makers. The dried leaf is an excellent addition for homemade potpourri, incense and as few people realize, steeped into teas. (Do not ingest patchouli in its essential oil form)
Patchouli can be infused into oils and made to make creams, salves, ointments and soaps. Blended into a foot soak, it can be used to treat athlete's foot. Infused in alcohol it can be added to homemade perfumes or spritzed directly onto skin. The essential oil can be diffused, steamed, blended into soaps and creams for fragrance, added to baths and dropped into potpourri. The ideas for such a wonderful aromatic herb are endless.
Patchouli may be best known as the scent for hippies. That's because it became so popular in the 60's as a natural, down to earth scent, that it was worn often, and many times, too strongly. Patchouli is heavy, to make the best use of it's wonderful fragrance, use it lightly and delicately, as it always smells much better when it drifts along unexpectedly, as if on the wind.
Here are some beautiful patchouli soaps made by some soaping friends of mine. In order: Suzanne Finley, Jenny Duncan, Heather Mayberry Melton, Sally Munroe McIntyre, Beth Cole Byrne, Kim Yeany, and my own.
As you can see, this awesome fragrance can spark a wonderful variety of ideas and beauty!
Here is a recipe for some wonderful Patchouli Rose Potpourri!
1 C. dried Rose buds
1 C. Dried Patchouli Leaf
1/2 C. Lavender buds
1/4 C. Oak Moss
3 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
3 Tbsp Whole cloves
3 Tbsp Oris Root Powder or Benzoin Gum Powder (fixative)
1/4 C Sea Salt
30 drops Patchouli Essential Oil (into the salt 3 days before blending)
20 Drops Rose Absolute (into salt 3 days before blending)
Mix everything together, store in a large plastic zip bag or closable container. Put away in a dry dark place for 1 month. Set out in pretty glass dishes, fill sachets, etc.
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