Many individuals either appreciate or dislike the aroma of patchouli.
It’s an earthy, spicy, and somewhat sweet scent that’s been linked to the fragrance of health food shops. Others describe it as musty or vegetal, while others describe it as very rich and one-of-a-kind.
When correctly combined, patchouli is a wonderful base note for refined perfumes.
You’ve come to the correct spot if you’re not acquainted with patchouli or want to learn more about its history. This essay will go into the patchouli aroma and where it originates from.
What precisely is patchouli?
Patchouli is a Southeast Asian flowering shrub with tropical flowers. Its full name is Pogostemon cablin, although most people call it “patchouli” or “patch” for short.
This lovely plant may reach a height of 3 feet and has large, hairy leaves as well as exquisite purple-white blooms that emerge from thick, woolly spikes.
Patchouli is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), which is odd given that it does not smell like mint — we’ll discuss what does patchouli smell like in more detail later.
Patchouli may have come from the Tamil people of South India. They were the first people to learn that the plant could be used as medicine, in cooking, and to keep insects away.
Its aromatic leaves were conveyed to the Middle East through silk trade routes, wrapped in trunks of silks, rugs, and other costly items to keep moths and other insects at bay. Patchouli is said to have been brought to Europe by Napoleon, where its deep, exotic smell made it popular right away.
Patchouli is perhaps best recognized as a scent associated with the American counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s. It was popular among free-spirited hippies because of its earthy, calming scent.
But don’t let patchouli mislead you into thinking it’s simply a “hippie” aroma. Patchouli is currently used in some of the most costly and sophisticated fragrances available.
What is the scent of patchouli?
Patchouli has a deep, earthy scent that is often associated with woody scents. However, it can also be used to make beautiful ambery, fougère, and chypre scents.
Patchouli smells earthy and musky to most people on its own. Those who like it appreciate it because of the slightly spicy, sweet, and woody elements that provide elegance and character to this one-of-a-kind smell.
Patchouli detractors compare its earthiness to that of a chilly cellar, a damp puppy, or an unbathed hippy. To be sure, they often smell like stale patchouli.
The fragrance of patchouli may be objectively characterized as:
- So organic.
- Musky
- peppery, woody, and sweet
- Herbaceous
- a little doped.
A nice patchouli essential oil smells like a barefoot stroll in a lush forest after a heavy rain. The strong sense of damp ground under your feet is quickly followed by the pleasant, herbaceous odor of the trees and plants that surround you.
Patchouli is a multifaceted foundation note that works well with citrusy notes like bergamot, floral notes like lavender and geranium, and woodsy notes like sandalwood and vetiver.
When applied sparingly, it lends elegance, refinement, and depth to many combinations (less is more). Popular patchouli perfumes include:
Tom Ford, A Gentleman, Patchouli Absolute
Givenchy Dior Chance Monsieur Eau de Parfum by Frederic Malle
What Makes Patchouli Smell So Good?
Patchouli’s distinctive aroma is derived mostly from its big, fuzzy leaves and stems, which are regularly plucked and dried. Steam distillation is used to obtain Patchouli essential oil from these leaves.
Patchouli essential oil contains active components such as patchoulol, norpatchoulenol, and germacrene-B.
Patchouli’s distinctive earthy, sweet, and camphoraceous aroma is mostly due to patchoulol. Norpatchoulenol is found as well. However, we were unable to locate any information on how this drug smells.
Finally, Germacrene-B is a sesquiterpene that smells like wood and aids in the insect repellent properties of patchouli.
Aromatherapy with Patchouli Benefits
Aromatherapy with patchouli may assist in relaxation, mood improvement, and anxiety reduction.
Some describe it as a grounding and emotionally balanced scent that encourages both mental and physical calm. It stimulates the creation of feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which aid in the relief of anxiety, stress, and depression.
The smell is strongly linked to love and desire. Patchouli has been used as an aphrodisiac for a long time because it raises estrogen and testosterone levels, making both men and women feel more sexually excited.
