Essential Oil of the Month: Patchouli
Patchouli: (Pogostemon cabli)
“Patchouli is the scent of the earth dreaming of the heavens.”
- Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume
There’s something ancient and reassuring about the scent of patchouli. Earthy, warm and rich, it carries the rhythm of rain-soaked soil and the quiet pulse of nature itself. In moments of worry or overthinking, its aroma brings us gently back to center, grounding energies, settling a scattered mind, and softening the edges of restlessness.
A scent you hate to love yet love to hate...Patchouli wears contradiction like perfume
Patchouli’s familiar smoky scent is recognized by some as the quintessential scent of the 60’s. Instantly identifiable and often polarizing, it seems you either love it or dislike it. But before you dismiss it straight away, let me sing the praises of Patchouli and if you are not already, you will most likely be singing with me.
“Inside Patchouli…this oil of my youth
lingers on sweater sleeves
lifts me like his kiss can”
— Vanessa Shields
Patchouli’s magnetic scent has a way of pulling us back to our core selves. Its aroma feels like bare feet on soil after rain, supporting, sensual, and deeply genuine. To breathe in patchouli is to remember that calm isn’t something we chase, but something that leads us home.
Did You Know? The Soul note of Perfumery: Patchouli is a natural fixative. It slows the evaporation of lighter notes, helping a perfume last longer on the skin. This is why it appears, quietly but powerfully, in so many classic formulas. Famous perfume designers like Chanel, Tom Ford and Guerlain and have even used it in their popular fragrances.
The History of Patchouli
The Ancients understood the intrinsic value of Patchouli. For centuries it has been used in incense and as a fixative or base note in perfumery for its exotic scent and for its ability to linger. Its rich scent evokes the smell of the land, the wonder of growth, and the cycles of nature, making it a favorite for perfumes that aim to feel timeless, deep, and mysterious.
Patchouli’s history stretches from ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to the trade routes of the 1800s, when East Indian weavers tucked patchouli leaves into shipments of luxurious silk and cashmere to repel moths. Europeans became so enchanted by that scent that “real” Eastern fabrics were identified by their patchouli aroma. It became the perfume of mystery and genuineness and owning that earthy smell was a mark of wealth and authenticity.
Traditions like Ayurveda and Chinese medicine celebrated patchouli for its grounding, cooling, sensual qualities and its place in skin-care practices.
By the 19th century, Western perfumers had fallen under its spell. Its exotic, resinous depth added a touch of mystery to elegant blends, transforming fashion and fragrance alike.
1960s–70s: Patchouli became the scent of counterculture—earthy, grounding, and free-spirited. It was worn neat or blended with sandalwood and rose oils, symbolizing rebellion, spirituality, and connection to nature.
Today: Modern perfumery has reimagined patchouli through refined distillation and blending to highlight its chocolatey, woody, or musky facets (less earthy, more elegant). It’s a key ingredient in iconic perfumes from Chanel, Dior, Tom Ford, and Guerlain, among many others.
With its relaxing yet uplifting, sensual and grounding properties, patchouli brings its gifts to massage, spa treatments, and skincare as well as meditation and harmonizing relationships.
Spiritual and Emotional Properties of Patchouli
“Patchouli reminds us that sitting under a tree is good if there is a purpose...of knowing and appreciating.”
- Valerie Ann Worwood
Emotionally, patchouli is a balm for the restless mind. Its deep, earthy aroma steadies shifting moods and invites a calm, rooted confidence. Each breath carries a quiet whisper: slow down… breathe… be here. When the world feels too fast or too far away, patchouli brings you home to yourself.
Spiritually, it creates a bridge between body and soul, earth and ether. Linked with the root chakra, patchouli strengthens our sense of safety and belonging, centers the spirit in the present moment. In meditation and ritual, it’s cherished for fostering mindfulness, intention, and harmonizing the Earth element and intellect (Yi in Chinese medicine), grounding and stabilizing the mind when overthinking and worry interrupt our peace.
Mystically, patchouli has long been seen as a fragrance of manifestation. It anchors the mind and spirit, attracts prosperity, and harmonizes the material with the unseen. To breathe it in is to feel the steady heartbeat of nature itself. Ancient and profound, patchouli’s deep, smoky scent roots us to the earth, while awakening something instinctively divine.
Unlike most oils that fade and wither, patchouli improves as it ages. Its scent deepens and sweetens, gaining a smoother, rounder tone.
Did You Know? Patchouli
is one of the few oils that deepen with age, like a fine wine. As it ages, its
depth develops, becoming richer, fuller, more voluptuous.
Patchouli in Skincare
Patchouli has been cherished in skincare for centuries. From the wisdom of traditional Ayurvedic practices to the rituals of modern natural beauty, it has been treasured as an essence of renewal and balance for the skin.
Naturally Restorative: Patchouli oil contains natural aromatic compounds such as patchoulol and α-bulnesene, known for their renewing and balancing qualities. It’s often included in blends designed to comfort dryness, calm the look of irritation, and support a more even-toned complexion.
Balancing for All Skin Types: Though earthy and grounding in scent, patchouli is remarkably versatile. For dry or mature skin, it helps maintain softness and elasticity. For oily or combination skin, it encourages a natural sense of balance.
Aging Gracefully: With its naturally protective and regenerative character, patchouli is often found in night oils and botanical serums. It supports smoother texture and radiance, offering a gentle, grounding finish to daily skincare rituals.
Scalp and Hair: Patchouli also makes a good addition to haircare, especially for a dry scalp.
Golden, Grounding Glow Facial Oil
In a small glass bottle, pour the following:
- 2 tablespoons jojoba or sweet almond oil (base)
- 2 drops patchouli essential oil
- 1 drop frankincense essential oil
- 1 drop lavender essential oil
*Optional: Add a few drops of Evening Primrose Oil for extra hydration.
Gently roll the bottle between your hands to warm and blend the oils (we don’t shake essential oils. Just let them coalesce). Warm a few drops between your palms. Close your eyes and inhale the scent. Feel the tranquility wash over you from your head to your feet, grounding into the earth. Massage slowly over clean, damp skin. Let the oil absorb naturally while you breathe deeply and connect with the moment, feeling supported, relaxed, centered and just a little sensual.
Meditation Anointing Oil:
You can use the same formula above for meditation. Place a drop or two on your fingertip and apply to the area between the eyebrows (avoid the eye area).
You could also place a drop below the navel for extra grounding. Linked to the base or root chakra (the energetic center of stability, trust, and connection to the earth), it helps create a sense of being held, centered, and being present in the now. Its earthy energies help draw awareness down from the mind into the body, anchoring mindfulness and quieting the senses.
Breathe in the scent of the earth, letting it calm and steady you, and remember that stillness is where the soul begins to speak.
“Patchouli has always been a part of my fragrance, like a line through my life.”
— Julia Roberts
PRECAUTIONS: While generally considered safe in low concentrations (below 2% dilution), pregnant or breastfeeding individuals and those with specific medical conditions should consult a qualified healthcare provider before use. Always patch-test essential oils before use and dilute properly.
