Patchouli (Pogosteon
patchouli, Pogostemon cablin)
Patchouli
is, at least in my opinion, one of the most valuable and versatile herbs to
have in your magickal cabinet; both in herb and oil form. It’s peculiar in that
most people have a very definite feeling about the herb; one way or the other. Many
people have very strong feelings about the scent of patchouli and to be sure it
does have a very strong and particular scent. Few are ambivalent about it; most
either love it or hate it. The bad thing is that those who love it generally
assume that everyone loves it as much as they do. I’m sure many of you know exactly
what I mean; that guy who douses himself with an incredible amount of the
strongest patchouli oil he can find knowing to his core that it drives women
crazy. Funny thing is they don’t seem to get that it’s not the kind of crazy
they’re looking for. Don’t get me wrong, I love patchouli for a variety of
reasons and a variety of uses but I am the first to say that more often than
not people who wear it as a personal scent tend to wear WAY to much of it.
In
the 1960’s and 70’s patchouli was a favorite scent among the “generation of
love” earning it a deserved reputation as a hippie scent. Used to cover the aroma of unwashed bodies and marijuana it is perhaps through this overuse in
these times that some people became so passionate about their love or hate for
the scent. Even today it still has the reputation as being an effective
disguiser of the scent of marijuana. Just a few years ago I was driving through
Utah on my way to a trade show in Colorado when we got pulled over by the
highway patrol. Our van was full of product samples for the show and you could
smell the patchouli. That smell had the direct result of having the whole car
searched as the barely pubescent officer explained to me that patchouli was
used to cover up the smell of marijuana so he suspected that we were
transporting the illegal herb.
Unless
you live in a tropical rainforest or jungle you won’t really be able to
cultivate the plant. Of course a good quality greenhouse would do the job but
due to the ease of acquiring both the herb and the oil growing it to use as an
ingredient isn’t really practical although if you live in South Florida you
might be able to give it a go. About ten years ago I actually acquired a
seeding of my own. I still lived in Los Angeles and I was hoping to be able to
grow it just for my own personal satisfaction. I nursed it and loved it and it
did very well until one night the whole of the plant was ravaged by horde of un-merciless
slugs. All that was left after their onslaught was but the twig of the main
stem covered in unmistakable slug slime.
Traditional
lore as well as my own personal experience has it that patchouli is good for
love, lust and prosperity. It’s an herb of attraction to be sure and one that
is often used in conjunction with other herbs or oils. Both the herb and the
oil have a wonderfully rich and earthy scent that blends well with many other
botanicals. It’s also effective in fertility workings and can be used as a substitute
when a spell calls for graveyard dirt. Another use is in jinx or spell breaking
formulas. The Elemental association is Earth but there do seem to be those who
associate it with Fire. From my own extensive personal experience I will tell
you that it is definitely an Earth herb; I don’t understand how anyone can
smell its aroma or hold the herb in your hand and say that it’s not an Earth
herb. It’s feminine and associated with the planet Saturn.
If
you like to mix your own oils don’t be afraid to try some patchouli oil in your
blends even if you think you hate it. When the earthy and sometimes even sharp
scent blends with other oils it adds a wonderfully deep and almost musky
quality to the blend not to mention it’s very potent energetically. Patchouli
is one of those wonderful oils that work not only energetically but also
emotionally making it all the more valuable. It’s also used in holistic
aromatherapy for skin care, nerve stimulation and endocrine issues among other
things. It’s also an effective insect repellant and has been used for centuries
for that purpose.
Once
upon a time the oil was quite inexpensive but the last ten years or so the
price has fluctuated quite a bit. The essential oil price can vary depending on
the country of origin as well as the age. Patchouli is one of those oils that
actually improve with age. That being said, even expensive patchouli isn’t that
expensive when you compare it to the price of some other essential oils. Sadly
it’s also often mislabeled in that it’s sometimes labeled as natural when in
fact it’s not or it’s highly diluted. Many companies mix patchouli oil with
either other natural oils or even synthetic ones to lower the price and soften
the sharpness of a young oil. There are also lots of synthetic patchouli oils
out there too and to the unfamiliar nose it may be hard to tell. Your best shot
at getting true, undiluted essential oil is to buy it from someone you trust.
The
herb on the other hand is relatively inexpensive and is a wonderful addition to
incense and charm bag herb blends. I’ve even used it in magickal potpourri. Using
the herb in a bath infusion is a great rejuvenator and can help clear confusion
while easing a troubled mind. The Chinese use patchouli herb in a number of
their over the counter patent remedies including one that I am never without
that is wonderful for all sorts of digestive system issues.
At
Raven’s Flight we sell the cut & dried herb in both ½ oz and 4 oz sizes. We
sell the pure, undiluted and unadulterated essential oil in 1 dram and 2 dram
bottles. I also make a house blend of patchouli and honey amber that is very
popular called Royal Patchouli that is available as an oil, stick and cone incense,
soap, lotion, body wash, room & body spray and candles. All patchouli products
are 20% off from Sunday, March 31, 2013 through Saturday, April 6th,
2013. No promo or coupon code needed. So if you've never used it now's a good time to try some and if like me you use it a lot now's a good time to stock up!
Happy
Crafting!
Raven
Womack
Raven’s
Flight
The
Magickal Apothecary
