Patchouli Perfume

October 30th, 2010 by admin

Patchouli Oil and Its Medicinal Uses

Patchouli oil is basically an essential oil which is extracted from the leaves of patchouli plant. It is an herb which belongs to the mint family. This herb is widely cultivated in West Africa, West Indies, India and China and it is native to Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines.

This plant grows to an average height of 3-4 feet and is pruned to 3-4 times over the year for the purpose of harvesting its leaves to produce essential oils. During the process of harvesting, the patchouli leaves are spread in thin layers and kept in a shade. These are turned daily and they dry over a period of few days. Natural fermentation also takes place during this ongoing process.

Proper drying improves the quality as well as the yield of essential oil which is further extracted by means of steam distillation. The leaves that are dried are then processed immediately or they are baled and stored.

Patchouli oil is known for their classy fragrance. It will not be wrong to say that patchouli is a perfume all on its own. Its scent is long lasting and very strong. It has been used as fixatives in perfume since long.

Patchouli also blends well with other essential oils like Clary Sage, Rose, Lavender and Frankincense etc. A little experimentation with t patchouli oil can make these oils even more aromatic and likable.

The fragrance of patchouli oils develop