Patchouli Essential Oil

Before I begin my post about Patchouli I want to remind everyone to register for my monthly giveaway here http://glorybeherbals.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-giveaway.html.

Patchouli. This is one oil that evokes powerful emotions in anyone who has ever smelled it. I don't think there is any middle ground with this oil-you either love it or hate it. And haters don't just hate it-they HATE it. The haters have good reason to hate it. It is a very powerful oil that can easily be overdone. I love patchouli in small amounts but it can quickly become overpowering if too much is used.

Patchouli is one of the very few oils that improves with age. Fresh Patchouli is very rough smelling but as it ages it becomes much smoother. It is a great fixative and blender-it works well with just about everything else. Try blending it with rose or palmarosa and you won't even recognize it. My favorite oils to blend with patchouli are rose, palmarosa, petitgrain, citrus oils (especially orange, lime and bergamot), spices and woods. Again, just one drop of patchouli can help anchor the lighter oils-more than that can overpower everything else. Patchouli also lingers for a long time-days or even weeks.

The therpeutic value of patchouli is unbelievable, used in the right way. It is considered an aphrodisiac, helps to moisturize dry skin, prevents wrinkles, and is mildly stimulating. For skin care I love it mixed with rose, neroli, carrot seed, lavender, palmarosa, and rosewood. For perfumery I adore it blended with petitgrain. The blend of patchouli and petitgrain really helps to anchor the petitgrain and the petitgrain really helps to soften the patchouli.

So if you're a hater give this oil another chance! It certainly won't do any harm to buy a small vial of it. If you can't deal with it right away you can put it away and forget about it for a year and go back to it. Try purchasing perfume blends from artisans who specialize in natural perfumes-you may just be surprised and may become a lover.