Properties of Patchouli Oil

Patchouli, also known as Pogostemon cablin, benth, or patchouly is an aromatic herb with Indian and Oriental origins. There are several varieties of the pogostemon genus that are cultivated for the extraction of patchouli oil, but P. cablin is generally considered to have the superior aroma. The plant is a perennial herb and evergreen bush, generally growing about two to three feet in height, and is a member of the mint family. Flowers of patchouli are tiny clusters of small pale pink flowers. The branches of the plant will become woody as they mature. Patchouli grows especially well in warm and tropical climates and loves hot weather with indirect sunlight – it does not do well with direct sunlight. The flowers, leaves, and seeds of the plant all give off the signature patchouli scent and even more so if they are crushed. Placing dried, stem cut patchouli in a room will permeate the area with the fragrance.

Patchouli oil has a very earthy aroma that matures with aging – depending on the aging process the scent is also sometimes described as musty. In full concentration patchouli oil is rather strong and most people tend to either love it or hate it with few having no opinion. Patchouli oil is extracted from the leaves of the plant which are harvested in the wet season and then dried for several days first. Steam distillation is used to extract the essential oil of patchouli and requires that the cell walls of the leaves be ruptured first, hence the drying process that occurs after harvesting.

Patchouli oil has long been used in India, China, and Japan for various medicinal purposes.  It is considered a stimulant, euphoric, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, and an insecticide.  Patchouli has a sweet and spicy aroma that is used to stimulate a person's nervous system, relieve stress, and lift depression by giving feelings of well being and elation.  While it is considered a stimulant, patchouli also stimulates the pituitary gland which aids in relaxation.  The pituitary gland secretes endorphins that are known to help relax stress, promote feelings of peace, relieve pain, induce euphoria, and increase sexual feelings.  

Pure patchouli essential oil is rather strong and is best diluted with a carrier oil such as almond oil.  Use the essential oil as a room freshener, in your bath water, or added to a cloth such as a handkerchief to release the scent into the atmosphere.  For generations, cloth in the East Indies has continuously been scented with patchouli as silk traders from China packed their wares with dried patchouli leaves in order to keep moths from laying eggs in the precious silk cloth.  Patchouli is still effective at warding off moths in the closet.  The scent was so pervasive in cloth of the region that European cloth importers had to do the same in order to sell their wares in India.

Patchouli oil is generally considered effective for insomnia, stress, tension, and anxiety.  Many cultures consider patchouli to be a strong aphrodisiac and it is used as a fixative in over 50% of men's perfumes as well as about a quarter to one third of all women's perfumes.  As a perfume fixative, patchouli is excellent, binding the more volatile essential oils so that their scent is release over a much longer period of time rather than dissipating almost immediately.

Other traditional uses of patchouli oil include to assist in treating skin inflammations, and to clear rough and cracked skin.  It is used in the east to treat dermatitis and minor acne.  Patchouli oil is used for hair as well as skin and has long been a traditional conditioner for dreadlocks.  Because of its primary antiseptic properties, patchouli is used to treat athlete's foot, dandruff, and to help heal wounds and scars.  While it can be used directly on the skin undiluted, most people find the scent too strong.  It is best to dilute patchouli by adding 10-20 drops of patchouli essential oil to around two tablespoons of a carrier oil such as almond and add a small amount of preservative oil such as 5 drops of wheatgerm oil or a few drops of vitamin E to preserve a fresh scent.