Patchouli is mainly extracted from patchouli plant which is prevalent in many countries including India, China, West Indies and Indonesia etc. It is basically an herb which belongs to the mint family.
Patchouli plants grow up to height of four meters and generally it is pruned around 4-5 times in a year, so as to harvest its leaves in order to manufacture essential oil. These leaves are turned almost daily and they are then dried over a period of some days. During this process, natural fragmentation takes place. When the leaves are dried properly it improves the yield as well as the quality of patchouli oil, which is then extracted by steam distillation method. The dried leaves are processed immediately or they are made to store in silos.
This essential oil is known world over for its superb fragrance. In simpler words, patchouli oil is a perfume on its own. The scene of patchouli oil is strong and everlasting and it has been used in perfumery industry since quite some time now as a fixative. Another added advantage of using patchouli is that it blends amazing well with others essential oils like Lavender, Clary Sage, Rose and Frankincense etc. Even some small experimentation with this oil can produce some new oils which are more reliable and aromatic.
Its fragrance develops in course of time due to the oxidation process and this is the reason why you will find many takers of the older patchouli oil. This thin and freshly distilled oil becomes more and thicker with time, thereby imparting a rich, smoother fragrance to this oil. You will see that patchouli oil comes in few colors and it ranges from being reddish brown to pale yellow in colors. Try to go for darker shades of the oil, as they are of superior quality. This however is not proved, just a notion.
This oil is derived from more than one variety of the plant. Thus, you will find a wide variety of patchouli oil. However, the one which is derived from Pogostemon cablin is of the best quality. Just make sure that the seller who is selling this variety is authentic and licensed. There are many fakes in the market and you should avoid them.
Patchouli oil is also used as a home therapy kit. It is used in aromatherapy and also to treat a variety of medical disorders. This oil has got anti inflammatory, anti fungal and antiseptic qualities and it also helps in the re-generation of skin cells. This oil is highly effective in case of first aid treatment and is used effectively against cuts, abrasions, acne, insect bites etc. Just dilute the oil and apply it to a cotton ball and just rub in the affected area. Patchouli is also found in many forms like soaps and shampoos. Even if you are not a very fond admirer of patchouli’s fragrance, you should buy it because of the various other benefits involved.