Fragrance note
Patchouli Perfumes
A patchouli perfume is a fragrance whose character is defined by patchouli – earthy, woody, slightly camphoraceous and with a dark, almost chocolatey sweetness. The oil is distilled from the dried leaves of a plant in the mint family, the same family as mint and lavender.
More about Patchouli Perfumes
Knowledge
How the note behaves
Earthy & woody
Patchouli with vetiver, cedarwood or moss. Dry, powerful and close to nature.
Rose & patchouli
A classic: dark rose meets earthy depth. Elegant and mysterious, for evenings.
Gourmand & warm
With vanilla, cocoa, caramel or tonka. Soft, sweet and surprisingly modern.
Curious factBefore Europe knew patchouli as a perfume, it knew the scent of cashmere shawls: they were packed with dried patchouli leaves to keep moths away. The smell became proof of authenticity – and it was only around 1826 that French perfumers traced where it came from.
Knowledge to share
Myth or truth?
Statement 1
Patchouli is related to mint.
True. Pogostemon cablin belongs to the Lamiaceae – the same plant family as mint and lavender.
Statement 2
Patchouli only became known through the hippies.
Myth. As early as the 19th century, European fashion smelled of patchouli – thanks to cashmere shawls packed with the leaves to keep moths away.
Statement 3
Patchouli oil is obtained from flowers.
Myth. The oil comes from the leaves, which are dried or lightly fermented before steam distillation.
Your result
DISCOVER PATCHOULI PERFUMESFrequently asked questions
Does patchouli always smell like the hippie era?
No. The image dates from the 1960s and 1970s, when patchouli oil became popular with the hippie movement. In fine perfumery, patchouli is often fractionated and paired with rose, woods or vanilla – the result feels elegant, clean and grown-up.
Where does patchouli come from?
The plant is native to tropical Asia. More than 90 per cent of the oil is now produced in Indonesia; the most common varieties come from Sumatra and Sulawesi.
When should I wear a patchouli fragrance?
At its finest in autumn and winter and in the evening. Lighter, fractionated versions with citrus or rose also work by day. It is best to test it on your own skin: with every bottle from 30 ml, we include a 2 ml sample of the same fragrance.
2 ml samplewith every bottle from 30 ml
Free shippingto Austria and Germany from €200
Boutique Bregenzevery fragrance to try
