Patchouli is a fragrant oil that has a sweet, spicy, smoky, cedar-y scent that is powerful and has to be handled with care. It is a plant-derived essence that is present in many fragrances, including Ambrées, chypre, and powdery fragrances. Patchouli is known for its deep, dark, earthy aroma and is often associated with the hippie-dippy era of the 60s.
Patchouli oil has many health benefits and is used extensively in perfumery. It is a natural insect repellent and is effective against flies and other bugs. The oil is extracted from the leaves of the patchouli plant and has an interesting structure, comprised of sweet herbaceous top notes, rich winey heart, and balsamic woodsy base.
The quality of patchouli oil varies, and only a few distilleries produce patchouli of high enough quality to please a VIP ‘nose’ or creator. The oil is often blended with other fragrances, including sandalwood, lavender, rose, bergamot, neroli, orris “resinoid”, nitro musks, cinnamates, methyl salicylate, cassia oil, myrrh, opopanax, sage clary absolute, borneol, pine needle oils, cyclohexanone derivatives, and more.
Positive aspects of patchouli include its rich, sweet-herbaceous, aromatic-spicy, and woody-balsamic odor. It is also versatile and blends well with other fragrances. Negative aspects of patchouli are that it can be overpowering and has a strong, musky-earthy aroma that may not be to everyones liking.
In summary, patchouli is a fragrant oil that has a sweet, spicy, smoky, cedar-y scent that is powerful and has to be handled with care. It is present in many fragrances and has many health benefits. Patchouli oil is extracted from the leaves of the patchouli plant and has an interesting structure, comprised of sweet herbaceous top notes, rich winey heart, and balsamic woodsy base. It is versatile and blends well with other fragrances, but it can be overpowering and has a strong, musky-earthy aroma that may not be to everyones liking.
