I love all things Patchouli. The fragrance, although difficult to describe, is earthy, musty, pungent and very strong. Patchouli’s fragrance can be very off-putting to some, but it is very alluring to others. My personal experience is that people either love it or hate it. Like wine, patchouli gets better with age. Some suppliers will hold back their premium lots, age it just like a wine, then sell it as premium oil. Patchouli is known for being the hippie scent-of-choice in the 1960s, but its traditional uses dates back thousands of years. Egypt's King Tut arranged to have ten gallons of patchouli oil buried with him in his tomb. The Romans used it as an appetite stimulant, and early European traders gladly traded one pound of patchouli for one pound of gold. 

The patchouli plant is native to tropical Southeast Asian countries, but is widely cultivated all over the tropics and subtropics including various Indonesian Islands, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, and South America. Traditionally, patchouli has been used often as a medicinal ingredient to treat skin inflammations and scars, headaches, colic, muscle spasms, bacterial and viral infections, anxiety, and depression. The Chinese, Japanese and Arabs believe it to possess aphrodisiac properties.  Possessing a strong and earthy fragrance, patchouli oil is a commonly added ingredient in fragrances, hair care and bath products. 

Inhaling patchouli oil is known to uplift mood and help release tension. Used in aromatherapy, it also may help boost alertness and activity while quieting anxious thoughts. This oil works great for people suffering from depression. It helps them to get over the feelings of sadness or loss and fills them with new hope. It lifts mood, drives away disappointment, and relaxes tension in many people, even if they are being treated for something else. This is due to the impact that inhaling patchouli essential oil has on the hormones and various chemical reactions in the body and mind. By stimulating the release of pleasure hormones like serotonin and dopamine, feelings of anxiety, anger, and sadness simply disappear. 

Good for dry skin, patchouli oil, applied topically, can be used to treat eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, sores, cuts and wounds. It is a naturally effective way to help speed the healing of skin marks left by acne as well as helping to fade old scars as it promotes the growth of new skin cells. Patchouli oil also boosts the immune system. Patchouli oil's antiseptic property makes it useful as a natural deodorant; however, its sweet but powerful smell is not liked by everyone.  

A word of warning - The long-lasting aroma of patchouli essential oil may be too strong and almost unpleasant to some people. Be cautious about using too much or smelling too strongly of it, as the aroma can be irritating to certain people. 

Thank you for your support 

~ C