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Patchouli
Patchouli
Patchouli is a deeply spiced, thickly herbal and immediately recognizable note - it’s “dirty hippie” reputation doesn’t do it justice. Patchouli’s scent lies somewhere between cumin’s sharp and acrid tang and nutmeg’s smooth, sweet warmth, and it can carry a fragrance or blend easily with other, spicier notes. It is ideal in heated, spicy perfumes that feature leather, smoke, resins, and lighter aromatic notes like lavender and geranium. Patchouli’s exotic strength can be an acquired taste in perfume, but it’s many moods and blends make it an endlessly fascinating note to explore in the spicy end of the scent spectrum.
Penetrating woody, humus, earthy, powerful and heady yet tender.
ChinaIndonesiaGuatemalaPhilippinesChypre
Historie
Patchouli made its first debut on the European fragrance stage during the Victorian era, with dried patchouli being added to scented sachets, potpourris and its essence being mixed in fragrances. Patchouli enjoyed a brief stint as the symbolic scent of excess, self-indulgence and decadent hedonism. Women who enjoyed patchouli were often fascinated with the likes of Baudelaire and Huysmans—who wrote with an exoticism inherited from the Romantics, and who were known for their influence in the French Decadent movement. Rehabilitated by the carefree hippies of the 60s, patchouli was then reformed again as an influential scent during the “flower power” movement, as its scent relaxes and soothes both body and mind.
Produktion
Native to Indonesia and Malaysia, the ever-popular patchouli plant is a perennial bush that grows to a height of 1 meter. Its iconically fragrant, purple petals decorate its tall, green stems. The fragrance of patchouli is captured through a process of steam distillation whereby dry leaves are distilled to obtain essential oil, which is then refined for several months. This process is crucial to ensure the essence loses its bitterness—resulting in the woody, smooth scent we know and love.
Vidste du?
The penetratingly woody, earthy and heady characteristics of patchouli contributed to its success during the 60s. However, the verdict is out as to whether it was also a convenient disguise to cover the potent scent of marijuana. The mystical prowess of patchouli extends well beyond the confines of perfumery: it is known to have anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, decongestant, circulatory, invigorating and aphrodisiac properties. In aromatherapy, patchouli is said to regenerate skin cells, while in cosmetics, it is thought to be a revitalizing ingredient in body and skincare.
