Patchouli

About Patchouli

The scent of the 1960s counterculture, but it has been used in Asian medicine for thousands of years. It is a moth repellent - silk traders packed fabrics with patchouli leaves. The essential oil improves with age, like fine wine. It is used in perfumery as a fixative that makes other scents last longer. It has demonstrated antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a member of the mint family. The leaves are fermented before distillation to produce the best oil. India and Indonesia produce most of the world supply. It grows 60-90 cm tall. It thrives in warm, humid conditions.