PATCHOULI ESSENTIAL OIL
Patchouli Essential Oil
Earthy · Woody · Musky
Pogostemon cablin
Steam distilled from the leaves of Patchouli grown in Indonesia, this distinctive essential oil has a deep, earthy aroma with warm woods, soft musk and an unexpected sweetness.
Patchouli is one of botanical perfumery’s great base notes. Rich and persistent, its aroma develops beautifully on the skin, beginning intensely earthy and herbaceous before revealing smoother woody, subtly floral and almost balsamic nuances as it dries down.
Its exceptional tenacity also makes Patchouli a valuable natural fixative, helping anchor more fleeting citrus and floral notes within a perfume composition.
A botanical of earth, depth and stillness.
The aroma
Earthy · Woody · Musky · Warm
Botanical Notes
Patchouli — Pogostemon cablin
A tropical aromatic plant belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae. Unlike many members of that family, Patchouli is known not for a bright herbal aroma but for the extraordinarily deep fragrance held within its leaves.
Once harvested, the leaves are steam distilled to produce an essential oil with a rich, persistent scent, earthy and woody with sweet-herbaceous, musky and subtly floral facets.
Patchouli also has an interesting relationship with time. Its aroma can become smoother, rounder and more complex as the oil matures, making it particularly prized in natural perfumery.
Botanical Profile
Botanical name: Pogostemon cablin
Plant family: Lamiaceae
Origin: Indonesia
Plant part: Leaves
Extraction: Steam distillation
Aroma family: Earthy · Woody · Musky
Perfume note: Base
Perfumery role: Natural fixative
Aroma: Deep, warm and earthy-woody with musky, sweet-herbaceous and subtle floral nuances.
Blends Beautifully With
Citrus: Bergamot · Grapefruit · Lemon · Mandarin · Orange
Spice: Black Pepper · Cardamom · Cinnamon · Clove · Coriander · Ginger
Woods: Cedarwood · Sandalwood · Vetiver
Resins: Frankincense · Myrrh
Florals: Geranium · Jasmine · Neroli · Rose · Ylang Ylang
Herbs: Clary Sage · Lavender · Palmarosa
Patchouli is remarkably versatile. Used sparingly, it can give a citrus or floral blend greater depth without necessarily making the finished fragrance smell overtly of Patchouli.
The Ritual
Add a few drops to a diffuser when you want to create a deeper, earthy atmosphere.
For body or massage use, dilute appropriately in a carrier oil before applying to the skin.
In botanical perfumery, begin with a very small amount. Patchouli has extraordinary presence and longevity, making it particularly beautiful for grounding florals, woods and resins or giving lighter top notes a more enduring foundation.
Try pairing Patchouli + Bergamot + Rose for an earthy floral, or Patchouli + Sandalwood + Frankincense for something deeper, woody and meditative.
Ingredients
100% Pure Patchouli Essential Oil — Pogostemon cablin
Steam distilled from the leaves.
Safety
For external use only. Do not ingest. Do not apply undiluted to the skin. Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas. Keep out of reach of children. Store away from heat and direct sunlight.
Information on the traditional uses and properties are provided on this site is for educational use only, and is not intended as medical advice. If you have any serious health concerns, you should always check with your health care practitioner before use.
Easy Recipe
Lover's Massage Blend
Rose opens the heart & Patchouli grounds & calms
Equipment:
Bowl
Ingredients:
2 tbsp Jojoba Oil
8 drops Rose Oil Essential Oil
4 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
2 drops Vetiver Essential Oil
2 drops Geranium Essential Oil
Method:
Combine all the ingredients, blend well. Enjoy!
Reference:
1.
Lawless, Alec. Artisan Perfumery or Being Led by the Nose, 2009, p. 84.