Patchouli light Essential oil Indonesia

Patchouli is a tropical subshrub that thrives in Indonesia's fertile, shady soils, its native land. The legendary fragrance is contained in the broad, velvety leaves running up its stems. The name is a tribute to the imposing, precious foliage: "patchouli" comes from the Tamil patch, meaning "green," and ilai, "leaf." The essential oil is produced in the secretory cells of the stems and leaves, with the three youngest leaves having the highest oil content. It is this part of the plant that is harvested and then dried in the shade. The leaves ferment slightly during drying. This process alters the cellular walls of the essential oil glands, which results in better distillation. The "light" quality is from material distilled in stainless-steel stills and therefore colorless.

In the West, in the early 19th century, a mysterious odor appeared, one characteristic of the East. Cashmere shawls from Indonesia and India were imbued with the odor. In 1844, the secret of this fragrance was revealed with the arrival in London of a cargo of patchouli leaves. Thus began patchouli's legend in the West. A fragrant emblem of the Sixties hippie movement, patchouli is synonymous with freedom and sensuality. This material has a cosmopolitan charisma, combining a powerful woody note with a humic, earthy character.

Advised uses : Aromatherapy, Perfumery, Cosmetic, Alimentary