Patchouli Essential Oil: Uses, Benefits, and Blends
A
member of the mint family, patchouli essential oil is famous for its
trademark scent. Spicy and seductive, the aroma of patchouli is a
favorite in the fragrance industry?and for good reason! Discover the
calming influence of patchouli oil while enjoying its downright heady
aroma for yourself, today.
Patchouli
grows in many countries around the world, though 90% of patchouli oil
production happens in Indonesia. It is a member of the Lamiaceae family, which you may also know of as the mint, or deadnettle family. Patchouli
oil has a distinct musky aroma, which is why there is such high demand
for it in the perfume industry. More recently, you can also find
patchouli oil in incense, insect repellents, and even industrial
products like detergents.?
Patchouli oil has also long been used for medicinal purposes, due to the biological effects of its components. It contains anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant
properties. One of its major components, patchoulol, is even used in
the synthesis of a common chemotherapy drug. Let?s take a look at the
breakdown of patchouli oil, and see how each of its different parts
contributes to its whole in terms of health and wellness!
Patchouli Essential Oil Benefits:?Component Breakdown
Patchouli Alcohol: Patchoulol is a sesquiterpene, and one of the components used to synthesize the chemotherapy drug?Taxol.
a-Bulnesene: Another sesquiterpenoid, a-Bulnesene occurs naturally in plants. Its industrial role is as an emulsifier
and a surfactant, with a surfactant being a component that helps to
increase the surface tension of liquids. It makes a huge contribution to
patchouli essential oil benefits.
a-Guaiene: Guaienes are a natural
component of plants. Their industrial use is for flavorings and
fragrances, where they offer a spicy, earthy aroma and flavor.?
Seychellen: A naturally occurring compound in plants. A component that’s responsible for many patchouli essential oil benefits.?
Gamma-Patchoulene: Organic plant component.
a-Patchoulene: A sesquiterpene that is natural to the patchouli plant.
Patchouli Essential Oil Uses: For Wholesale Purposes
Perfume
According to this
article, most perfumers use patchouli oil every single day of their
working life. This versatile oil is common in oriental scents, due to
its dark, dusky aroma. It is also gender-neutral, meaning it goes into
scents for both men and women. Another benefit of using patchouli in
perfume is that it is effective in both low and high doses: some
perfumes only contain 0.1% patchouli, where others may contain up to
50%!?
The
scent first became associated with designer fragrances back in the 18th
and 19th centuries. As the oil has insecticidal properties, the Chinese
would layer it onto silk to prevent moths from laying eggs. The
resulting scent led to the link between the scent of patchouli and that
of luxury. Today, many designer fragrances such as CoCo Mademoiselle, by Ch? anel, include the seductive aromas of patchouli oil.?
Aromatherapy
A significant amount of research on patchouli oil in aromatherapy offers us promising results. Studies show that patchouli can help manage stress and anxiety,
while at the same time increasing mental alertness and awareness. In
terms of topical aromatherapy, research indicates that the cooling and
anti-inflammatory effects of patchouli may be able to treat some menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.
Researchers
claim that adding patchouli oil to baths, compresses, massage oils, and
diffusers is the best method of use. If applying topically, be sure to
properly dilute first with a carrier oil to avoid skin irritation.
Insect Repellent
Insect repellent is one of the many patchouli essential oil uses. Studies show that patchouli oil can help to repel mosquitoes
for approximately two hours. The short duration time is due to the fact
the oil is very volatile and diminishes quickly in the air.?
In addition to mosquitoes, patchouli oil shows indications of being an effective repellent against ants, aphids, and termites. History also indicates the use of patchouli as a common insecticide, particularly in the silk market.?
Soap MakingSoap Making
Soap
making is another great one from the patchouli essential oil uses list.
Patchouli is a very powerful oil, with an earthy, dark scent. Because
of this, it is best used in combination with other oils such as the ones
listed below. Certain components in patchouli also act as an
emulsifier, which means soaps containing this oil may help soothe and
soften dry hands.
Patchouli Essential Oil Blends
Patchouli oil blends well with many different oils! Top choices for fragrance combinations include vanilla, cedarwood, sweet orange, ylang-ylang, rose, and jasmine absolute oil.?
DIY Patchouli Perfume
Making perfumes at home is a great way to avoid any synthetic fragrances, and ensure you know exactly what you?re breathing in!?
What you will need:?
10mL amber (or dark glass) roll-on bottle
Carrier oil of your choice (ideally something light and fragrance-mild, such as jojoba, or almond oil)
Essential Oils (3 drops of patchouli oil, 2 drops of ylang-ylang oil, and 5 drops of lavender oil)
Instructions:
Add essential oils to roll-on container and swirl around?Fill with the carrier oil and swirl again to combine
Apply to pressure points and reapply as necessary!
Precautions
At VINEVIDA
we provide third-party lab testing and safety data with all of our
oils. However, to cover the finer points, you should never ingest or
apply patchouli oil directly to the skin. This is because of the high
concentration levels of essential oils. Additionally, patchouli oil may
have an effect on blood clotting. This means individuals with blood
disorders or who are on blood-thinning medications should avoid the use
of this oil.?
Conclusion
Famous
for its down-to-earth, woodsy aroma, patchouli is a favorite of many
perfumers. Its enticingly spicy scent can help reduce feelings of stress
and anxiety, and it shows promise as an effective insecticide,
antioxidant, and antibacterial.
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