A herbaceous plant native to Indonesia, it has oval, broad, serrated leaves. No odour is released when it is fresh, only its fermentation allows aromatic molecules to be obtained. An essential oil discovered in Europe by perfumers in the mid-nineteenth century, it is also associated with the great wind of freedom that blew during the hippie period. Its round, warm and bewitching fragrances invite you to travel to the East.
This lamiaceae (or labiatae) native to Asia produces a fairly thick essential oil, composed mainly of sesquiterpenols (patchoulol in the lead) and sesquiterpenes.
Patchouli essential oil has a decongestant effect which allows it to be incorporated into synergies for heavy legs, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It can also be used as a skin tonic for suffering or tired skin. It can also be used as a scalp tonic, particularly when the hair is fine and lacks body. In small doses, patchouli stimulates the nervous system. In higher doses, the effects are reversed and it becomes sedative.
The aroma that emerges is musky, oriental, persistent, more or less woody depending on its origin. It is specifically suited to daydreamers, to those who feel detached from their physical reality, uninterested in the carnal aspects of life.
The following summary is given for information purposes: it is a synthesis of the properties described in recognised aromatherapy books and/or in accordance with ancestral and popular traditions. The properties* presented are taken from the book ‘Aromathérapie Corps et Ame’ by André Bitsas, published by Amyris. It is in no way a medical information or a list of indications.
