What is Patchouli?

Sure, you’ve heard of it, but what is it? Maybe you think of Jackie O on one end of the spectrum, or hippies on the other? Patchouli is an aromatic flowering plant of the mint family. It is a plant native to tropical regions in Asia. Patchouli has a strong, slightly sweet, intoxicating scent. It is dark, with a musky-earthy aroma profile, reminiscent of wet soil. Steam distillation is used to extract the essential oil from the patchouli plant. The essential oil extracted from its leaves is used as a fragrance in many products, including perfumes, detergents, cosmetics, deodorants, and natural soaps. Usually, patchouli is not the only fragrance in these products. It has a pleasant, musky tone, and compliments other fragrances well, so it is often part of a fragrance blend. Have you tried Vela Bath and Body’s Hemp and Patchouli Classic Blend bar soap?