Patchouli - Woody elegance and relaxing power

- Close your eyes and let yourself be transported by the captivating, sensual, and relaxing scent of patchouli. Its fragrance transports you to a world that invites meditation.

Patchouli is one of the most iconic ingredients in natural perfumery. Native to tropical Asia, it is now primarily cultivated in Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. This leaf, with its woody, humid, and earthy notes, is known for its unique, enveloping, and reassuring olfactory power.

Surprisingly, the fresh plant has almost no scent. Its scent is revealed when the leaves are left to dry, preferably in the shade, for about 5 to 6 days. Harvested by hand several times a year, the leaves are then steam distilled for 8 to 12 hours. The resulting essential oil then requires several months of maturation to fully develop its aromatic richness and lose its bitterness.

Its virtues and benefits.

Patchouli essence is recognized for its multiple virtues both in perfumery and in traditional use.

▪︎In high perfumery, it is prized for its woody, earthy and sensual notes. It brings depth and a trail in contrast with fresher and more volatile notes such as lemon or bergamot.

▪︎In meditative practices and in Ayurvedic medicine, patchouli is used for its soothing, purifying and aphrodisiac properties. It is said to promote mental detachment, emotional balance, and sleep. Patchouli is also used as incense during various ceremonies in India.

▪︎Its essential oil is rich in sesquiterpenes, molecules with anti-inflammatory and circulatory properties. Patchouli is traditionally used against headaches, abdominal pain and nervous tension.

At Domaine Singulier.

You will find the essence of patchouli in the fragrance of Elixir Bien Elevé.

A little history.

In the 19th century, patchouli, with its exotic and highly sensual character, became the symbol of a slightly subversive elegance. In the 1960s and 1970s, patchouli became the olfactory standard of the hippie movement due to its aphrodisiac properties and highly sensual notes. A powerful image that may have caused people to forget the richness of this essence before high-end perfumery rehabilitated it.

To learn more, we recommend reading the Nez magazine dedicated to patchouli (October 2019). We also recommend an article written by Elisabeth de Feydeau https://elisadefeydeau.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/le-patchouli-une-feuille-venue-dindonsie-au-xixme-sicle-pour-enflammer-leurope/ and an article from Sciences et avenir (June 2023): the Romans already used patchouli essential oil to perfume themselves.