Patchouli: Encyclopedia - Patchouli

Patchouli

Patchouli (also patchouly or pachouli) is both a plant and an essential oil (patchouli oil) obtained from the leaves of that plant. The scent of patchouli is heavy and strong, and some people find it offensive. It has been used for centuries in perfumes, and is grown in the East and West Indies. The word derives from the Tamil patchai (green), ellai (leaf).

Patchouli oil and incense underwent a surge in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, mostly among devotees of the free love and hippie lifestyles. In addition, it can be used as a hair conditioner for dreadlocks.

The Hare Krishna movement may have been responsible for this surge. The god Krishna is said to "inhabit" patchouli.

Despite its common association with an alternative lifestyle, patchouli has found widespread use in modern industry. It is a component in about a third of modern, high-end perfumes, including more than half of perfumes for men. Patchouli is also an important ingredient in East Asian incense. It is also used as a scent in products like paper towels, laundry detergents, and air fresheners. The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the dried leaves of the plant – a process which provides a relatively high yield of the oil.

During the 18th and 19th century silk traders from China travelling to the Middle East pack their silk cloth with dried patchouli leaves to prevent moths from laying their eggs on the cloth. Many historian speculate that this association with opulent eastern goods is why patchouli was considered by of Europeans of that era to be a luxurious scent. This trend has continued to the present day in modern perfumery.

The plant and oil have a number of claimed health benefits in herbal folk-lore, and its scent is supposed to be relaxing.

The patchouli plant is a bushy herb reaching two or three feet in height. The plant grows well in southern climates. It enjoys hot weather but not direct sunlight, and tends to wither unless an adequate amount of water is given daily. If the plant does wither, a cup or two of water is all it takes to revive it. The seed-bearing flowers are very fragrant and bloom in late fall. The tiny seeds may be harvested for planting, but they are very delicate and easily crushed. Cuttings from the mother plant can also be rooted in water to produce further plants.

Categories: Lamiaceae | Incense | Perfumery | Insect repellents

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Patchouli", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki