Patchouli
(Pogostemon cablin)

Patchouli is an essential oil whose scent is either loved or hated. Before you decide, read about some of the benefits that Patchouli offers and how to create blends that bring out the richness of this oil.

Plant Family: Lamiaceae

Plant Part Used: Leaves and some stems

Distillation Method: Steam-distilled

Countries of Origin: Tropical regions of Asia, the Philippines, and China. It is also grown in India and tropical regions of South America.

Properties: Calming, Sedative, Antiseptic, and Antibacterial, Fungicide, Skin Loving

Therapeutic Uses: Relaxation, Reduction of anxiety, relief of spasms, treatment of fungus, repelling insects

Most people today associate Patchouli with the hippy movement of the 1960’s. It has given Patchouli a bad reputation. They say it was worn to hide the scent of cannabis. I think it was worn because the grounding earthy scent resonated with a population of free-spirited mother nature lovers. When I think of the scent of Patchouli my mind paints a picture of an ancient Middle Eastern ruling class who were donned in elaborate garments and scented with exotic perfumes. It seems both associations might have a little truth and a little falsehood.

According to “Origin of the Name Patchouli and Its History” the plant (Pogostemon cablin) which we know as Patchouli, is native to the Philippines and was introduced into India in 1834. The name Patchouli evolved from the original plant name of Pacchilai. It is believed that Patchouli found its way to Europe in 1840 via Indian shawls where the dried leaves were used as a form of bug repellant. Once this benefit was discovered, Europeans began using this plant for this purpose. (Murugan 2010) This was a very valuable discovery. Shipping back then involved packing precious cargo into crates where it would be held for months as it traveled throughout ports of the world.

Today Patchouli is grown in tropical areas of the world. The leaves and sticks are left in the shade to dry and ferment. They are then steam distilled to create the beautiful oil that we love.

Patchouli essential oil can be labeled as either light or dark.  The light oil is distilled in stainless steel drums. This gives it a lighter color and softer scent. The dark oil is distilled in cast iron. It has a much darker, richer color and the scent is much more pungent and earthy.  (Patchouli Essential Oil, 2023)  Patchouli is one of the essential oils that has a very long shelf life. The scent gets much deeper as it ages. 

Some Chemistry

Patchouli oil is made up of 24 different Sesquiterpenes. Patchoulol makes up most of the oil and gives it its distinctive scent. Combined with a-patchoulene patchouli oil gains its anti-fungal properties. (Donelian. A., 2009)

Patchouli essential oil is considered a base note.  When combined with other lighter oils it helps form a synergy with the different oils.  As the lighter oil scent in the blend begins to drift the scent of the patchouli lingers. Because of this, combining it with citrus or florals creates a balance that lifts the mood while relaxing the body. It is a thick oil which makes it difficult to use in diffuser blends. It can however be combined into a wonderful stress-balancing inhaler blend. It can also be diluted in a carrier oil or lotion of choice and used topically. 

Growing Patchouli

Patchouli grows bushy, can grow up to 3 feet tall, and has small pink flowers that bloom in the fall. As stated above, it is a tropical plant. It loves water but must have well-draining soil. It prefers shade over direct sun.  It can be grown in pots indoors or outdoors if your season is long enough. It will not tolerate a frost at all. It prefers a pH of around 7.  It is a quick grower and can be propagated by seed or cuttings. (The Ultimate Guide to Patchouli, 2021) The leaves of Patchouli have a tough almost leathery look to them. They are tapered from the stem to the tip and have toothed edges.  I was given a small plant one year, by my daughter.  It grew to be pretty big and blossomed with the little pink flowers.  My husband took cuttings and managed to propagate some little plants.  I’m sure I managed to forget to care for them and they died.  The original plant itself was so beautiful.  I loved running my fingers over the leaves to release the scent. 

References

DONELIAN. A., C. L. (2009). COMPARISON OF EXTRACTION OF PATCHOULI (POGOSTEMON CABLIN) ESSENTIAL OIL WITH SUPERCRITICAL CO2 AND BY STEAM DISTILLATION. SCIENCE DIRECT, 15-20.

MURUGAN, R. (2010). ORIGIN OF THE NAME “PATCHOULI” AND ITS HISTORY. CURRENT SCIENCE, 1274-1276.

PATCHOULI ESSENTIAL OIL. (2023). RETRIEVED FROM AROMAWEB: HTTPS://WWW.AROMAWEB.COM/ESSENTIAL-OILS/PATCHOULI-ESSENTIAL-OIL.PHP

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PATCHOULI. (2021). RETRIEVED FROM THE HERB EXCHANGE: HTTPS://THEHERBEXCHANGE.COM/ULTIMATE-GUIDE-PATCHOULI/