Patchouli Perfume

Patchouli perfume is a well-known oriental fragrance, which attracted the Europeans and gained further popularity in the 1960s, and has been a part of the popular culture since then. It is known to be an aphrodisiac; and is frequently used in perfumes, aromatherapy and cosmetics.

Patchouli perfume was very popular in the 1960s, and still continues to captivate hearts, as it has a strong earthy fragrance. It is an integral part of perfumes, oils and incense as well. It is derived from the patchouli plant, which is a small bushy herb that belongs to the mint family.

The plant grows to a height of two to three feet and bears pale pinkish-white flowers. The plant is native to the tropical regions of Asia, like India, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Mauritius, Philippines, Vietnam, and West Africa. The fragrance is made by distilling the leaves to prepare the essential oil, which is used in perfumery.

The scent of patchouli is heavy and has a natural feeling. The fragrance lasts for a long time, and can be used by men as well as women. Its oil and incense gained immense popularity in the US and Europe, during the 1960s and 1970s, especially due to the hippie movement.

Patchouli has been used for centuries, as a fragrance as well as a herb. It became famous in Europe, because of its association with imported Indian silk and ink. Silk materials and cashmere wool shawls brought in from Asia (to Europe) were always scented with patchouli.

Dried patchouli leaves were kept among these materials, to repel moths. The oil fragrance has a unique quality of improving with age. The Europeans came to associate this exotic fragrance with materials imported from India. For them, the scent was a proof of authenticity.

Patchouli oil is made by distillation of the leaves of patchouli plant. It has a strong and rich fragrance. You can make your personalized oil and create mesmerizing fragrances that are light on the pocket too! How strong or light your perfume becomes depends on the ratio of the essential oil to water/alcohol that is used.

Make sure you use spring or distilled water only. 100% vodka should be used for the alcohol part.

• Add a few drops of essential oil concentrate to 2½ ounce of 100% vodka. Avoid using more than 50 drops of essential oil. Stir slowly till the oil disperses properly. Do not disturb this mixture for 48 hours. 

• After that, add two tablespoons of water (distilled or spring) and leave the mixture for 48 hours at least. The longer you leave the mixture, the stronger the fragrance. After the perfume matures, filter the mixture to make sure that there are no unwanted sediments in it. Your very own customized patchouli perfume fragrance is ready.

• You can prepare a mixture of around 15 drops of patchouli oil, cinnamon oil and vetiver (an East Indian grass) in a bottle measuring 15 milliliters. Fill the bottle with scentless blending oils, like grape seed oil or apricot kernel oil.
  
  

• Note: It is important not to apply essential oils directly on the skin, as some of them can be quite strong and might burn the skin. Hence, they should always be diluted.

• A light perfume spray called patchouli tincture can also be prepared. Soak some dried patchouli leaves in vodka for several weeks. Strain the vodka. This rich, scented alcohol can be diluted with water, to get a fragrant cologne spray.

• You can also make patchouli hard perfume which can be used like a balm. For this purpose, mix equal amounts of melted beeswax, a carrier oil like almond oil, and essential patchouli oil.

Patchouli is used in perfumery as well as aromatherapy; as it blends well with other oriental oils, like lavender oil and rose. By making your own oil perfume, you can keep the natural essence without any chemical or harmful preservative. Rich patchouli perfume will lure you into another world with its earthy and spellbinding scent. Ready to get mesmerized!