Patchouli, originally native to Asia, is now cultivated in tropical areas throughout the world.
A bushy herb of the mint family and distantly related to lavender and
rosemary, it is reluctant to flower and is propagated by cuttings.
Patchouli rocketed to popularity during the hippie movement of the 60’s
when people began challenging traditional ideas.
Trying different scents that weren’t widely accepted or even known
about was par for the course in that particular era.
Once Patchouli caught on, however, it eventually became a common
ingredient in perfumes, soaps and incense. Its
rich exotic scent reminds one of earth and wood, making it a popular ingredient
in perfume.
BOGART
POUR HOMME BY JACQUES BOGART(MEN) -
Patchouli is also very useful to
perfumers as a fixative that blends well with other ingredients, substantially
slowing their evaporation and allowing the scent to last longer.
It is usually harvested by steam distillation and has very good yields,
the leaves producing 3.5% of their weight in oil.
Patchouli leaves are said to be best if processed as quickly as possible
after harvesting but some producers prefer to bale dried leaves and allow them
to ferment a bit to encourage their earthy scent.
Aging is an important part of processing the leaves, as they have a
rather harsh aroma when first picked. The
oil mellows with time, becoming sweeter and richer-much as fine wine does as it
ages.
Both men’s and women’s perfumes use
patchouli for its rich, warm fragrance redolent of nature and sunshine.
High quality oil is demanded by the best perfumers; patchouli that has
been altered by additives to stretch its quantity has a cedar wood or clove-like
scent and its fixative powers are severely impeded.
The best patchouli oil is fruity, sophisticated and has a wine-like
richness.
CRISTALLE
BY CHANEL - Price : $44.95
Patchouli is ideal for men and women who
like to wear fresh scents inspired by nature.
Bogart Pour Homme by Jacques Bogart, a men’s cologne first marketed in
2004, uses patchouli as a base to preserve and compliment its other notes of
vanilla, bergamot and water lily tempered by tonka bean.
Cristalle, a women’s fragrance by Chanel, combines patchouli with rose
and amber with an aldehyde fixative for a fresh scent of summer days full of
sunshine and cool, breezy evenings with a hint of dew.
As you can see, patchouli is very versatile and allows other components
to shine while subtly lending its own unique and earthy bouquet to the formula.
Tim Walt