Ah, Patchouli oil - people seem to love it or hate it. This well know essential oil has a somewhat deserved reputation as the scent of the Hippy generation (according to one source, it's use began as a mask for the odor of a particularly cherished herb), though it's traditional use dates back hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Today, Patchouli oil has a well-deserved reputation in aromatherapy, with it's deep, musky, and sweet odor, and Earth and Fire balancing energy. It is an exotic aroma that can forever leave an imprint on the olfactory memory.

Patchouli is a perennial herb originating in tropical Asia, growing wild at elevations between 3,000 and 6,000 feet, with farming more pervasive in the lowland tropical jungles of India and Indonesia. This bushy plant grows to one meter, with a powerful stem and soft, hair-covered leaves. The plant is harvested two or three times per year, with the best quality essential oil derived from leaves cut in the rainy seasons. The leaves are hand picked and dried in the shade, fermenting for a few days before the oil is extracted via steam distillation. The fermentation process softens the plant's cell walls, easing the extraction of the oil, though it doesn't significantly add to the oils' distinctive odor.

Patchouli oil's prices are low in comparison to other essential oils because of the plant's high yield.Further, Patchouli can be stored for long periods, being one of the few essential oils that improve with age. Over time, the oil looses a harshness that many find distasteful, and adds a sweet top note. As it ages, the oil turns from light yellow to a deep viscous amber, with the aroma becoming smoother and more rich.

The aroma of Patchouli was pervasive in cloth and clothing exported from India in the 19th century, as it was found effective at preventing insects from devouring natural fabrics. The scent became an indicator of true Oriental cloth, so much so that European clothing makers were obliged to douse their products with Patchouli to ensure acceptance in the marketplace. Patchouli oil has been used for centuries in traditional medicines in Asia, indicated for skin conditions. Patchouli can help with dermatitis, eczema, acne, dry chapped skin, and other irritating conditions, along with dandruff and oily scalp conditions. It may help in healing wounds and reducing the appearance of scars, acting as a stimulant for skin rejuvenation. Further, Patchouli is considered an excellent remedy for insect and snake bites, and when used as a fumigant, it may prevent the spread of infectious fever and support the immune system.

Patchouli oil is considered an excellent base note and fixative in perfumery, being a component in many famous perfumes. As a fixative, it slows the evaporation of other, more volatile oils so that their aroma may be released over a longer period of time. A little patchouli can be used in natural perfume blends, adding that special deep and earthy aroma. It mixes well with many essential oils, with almost all common oils being mentioned across a variety of sources - these include Vetiver, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Myrrh, Jasmine, Rose, Citrus oils, Clary Sage, Lemongrass, Geranium and Ginger.

In aromatherapy, Patchouli is considered a great balancer, relaxing yet stimulating, particularly relevant for conditions of weak immunity where overwork and anxiety have left one feeling 'spent'. Patchouli oil may also relieve the strain of those with excessive mental activity who may feel out of touch with their sensuality. It has been considered a aphrodisiac, and can be helpful worn as a perfume for those with impotence, frigidity, and sexual anxiety. Patchouli combines this aphrodisiac effect with an antidepressant one, uplifting the mind with it's sweet, warm, earthy qualities.

To further add to it's lore, Patchouli is thought to be a bringer of prosperity and abundance to the lives of those exposed to it's aroma. The oil is used in ceremonies and rituals by those in need of monetary or other type of infusion. A simple method to employ Patchouli's power is to close the eyes and visualize the abundance actually coming into one's environment while inhaling the oil's aroma.

Creating your own aromatherapy and perfumery blends with Patchouli can be exceptionally rewarding - for a few simple blends, try: 3 parts Patchouli and 1 part Rosemary oil. This is a wonderfully uplifting blend combining the deep earthiness of Patchouli with the invigorating, herbaceous aroma of Rosemary, and can certainly be worn as a perfume or used in a diffuser. When the going gets tedious, try brightening with 3 parts Coriander, 2 parts Patchouli and 1 part Bergamot. This may uplift the spirits and remind one of the joy to be found in life. For the sensually insecure, try 1 part Geranium, 1 part Patchouli and 1 part Bergamot. A beautiful yet simple blend for getting comfortable in one's own body.

It may take a little effort finding that perfectly distilled and aged Patchouli oil, but many who claim to have a dislike for Patchouli's unique aroma may truly enjoy it when finally getting to sample an exquisite variety.