Organic Patchouli Essential Oil

The scent of patchouli has one of the strongest mental associations of any plant. In historical trade its leaves were tucked between the folds of textiles exports from the Far East to ward off insects. Since costly shipments were more likely to garner protection, the scent was associated with luxurious silks, carpets, and clothing. French and English merchants even used it to try to pass off their own products as oriental, as the smell inferred authenticity. It was once exchanged pound for pound with gold, and rumors say King Tut arranged to have gallons of it sealed in his tomb. For many, though, patchouli’s immediate affiliation is as the “scent of the sixties”, when it was wildly popular and linked to the hippie movement. With musky overtones and antiseptic properties, patchouli has flourished in the soap, perfume, and deodorant industries. The Hindi word ‘pacholi’ literally means “to scent” and is thought to be its etymological root. The plant is also used in skin care, where it ca