Patchouli…a Love/Hate Relationship
Patchouli…a Love/Hate Relationship
Ah Patchouli! The very name conjures up images of free love, peace signs, and Jimi Hendrix. The Urban Dictionary definition: Hippie perfume … smells like forest, pot and snuggling. You either love Patchouli or you hate it. There is no middle ground and there have been many a heated argument on the subject; “it smells fantastic” VS “it smells like unwashed bodies”. Who knew that it’s part of the Mint Family (yes, Mint!). Touted as an aphrodisiac for hundreds of years, Patchouli has many other health benefits as well. The oil gets better with age and lends a warm, Oriental note to perfumes and colognes.
Medicinal uses include: Relaxation, Headaches, Colds, Nausea, and Abdominal Pain. It is also beneficial for Acne prone skin, Athlete’s Foot, Chapped Skin, Eczema, Fatigue, Frigidity, Dermatitis, as an Insect Repellant, and for Stress [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.] In Malaysia and Japan, Patchouli has been used to treat poisonous snake bites!
For years I would smell Patchouli and cringe. One day a friend met me for lunch and as she sat, a rich combination of Earthiness, Dark Chocolate, and subtle hints of Fruit emanated from her. I asked what she was wearing and she answered, “Patchouli.” I almost fell out of my chair. This was not the Patchouli that I loathed! This was a glimpse of Arabian Nights, the heat of the Indies, and the mysteries of the Orient all rolled up in one delicious sniff! In a nut shell, it was heavenly. So as a former Patchouli Hater, I have built a Love relationship with Patchouli. Try out one of our many Patchouli fragrances and judge for yourself!
