Patchouli Oil is a strange perfume; it's outdoor, musty, and exotic. It evokes memories, and relaxes the troubled mind. It takes me back to when I was in my early 20's, when life was never taken seriously, and all experiences were to be grasped with both hands.
It comes in many forms and price ranges. The small lying down (almost empty) bottle I bought in Marrakesh, it's very pure and very haunting, and came from a rather exclusive shop. The middle one was from Lady M, and is an absolute classic organic fragrance. And the one at the rear is proper cheapo rubbish, as seen in youthful markets and small mumbo-jumbo shops everywhere; not recommended.
Rather like the spice Cummin, the aroma of Patchouli is never forgotten. When I was very first introduced to its charms, I was certain that we would remain friends forever. And we have!
Patchouli, now that takes me straight back to my youth, of strolling through little Hippie stores in Sydney while the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Stones and many more great bands were playing in the background,Cheese cloth tops and bell bottom jeans... ahhh lost youth :o) ha ha, I can hear the kids now...Get a grip Mum :o)
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Hello:
ReplyDeleteVery exotic - a scent of the Orient! Lovely.
It is the favourite in our home too,takes you to anywhere you want to be with its gorgeous fragrance..
ReplyDeleteMy god, Cro - don't you realise what it was designed for? It was to disguise the stench of rotting corpses by being sprinkled over shallow graves in India! Every time I smelt it, I almost retched even in the 60s and finding out why it was made didn't help.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it was also incorporated into the plaster of ancient mosques.... and the aroma still lingers. I hope they sprinkle it over me when I'm dead!
ReplyDeletePatchouli and Pot. A combination not to be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteLove-n-marriage. Peaches-n-cream....
ReplyDeleteI remember wandering through Yorkville in Toronto late at night. You could get high just breathing normally. A whole other world in the midst of that great city and the first thing that alerted you to the difference was the smell. Thanks for the memoruy.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much for perfume, but I've gotta say, patchouli has got to be at the bottom of my list. When our daughter was still living at home, she used to drench herself in that stuff. To me, it smelled like rotten potatoes. It got so we ended up telling her not to put that stuff on in the house, so she'd carry it with her. Funny thing is, when she moved out on her own, she accidentally spilled a vial of that stuff on the front seat of our Suburban. No matter what we did, we could NOT get rid of that smell. It was even worse on a hot day, and we have a LOT of hot days here in Georgia. When we sold that car, it still reeked. (I guess the buyer must've like the smell ... or maybe it was the cheap price we gave him just to get rid of it!)
ReplyDeleteSusan, I've never thought of it as a female perfume, and its use should be very discreet. I agree that if used incorrectly, its aroma can be overpowering.
ReplyDeleteAh I adore patchouli and always choose scents which contain patchouli and sandalwood. A friend once said to me "you like perfumes which clobber people over the head!" I'm very gentle with the use of patchouli oil on it's own now but it's evocative scent will always be a huge favourite. :)
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful that you still love the scent after all those years. I agree that early scents can linger with us through our lifetime.My first perfume was Apple Blossom by Helena Rubenstein. It was a combo of lily of the valley, apple blossom and spring blooms. Must research if still available and would be interesting if I still like it. It is also the beautiful memories that are connected to perfumes which move us.
ReplyDeleteHelen
I hate the smell
ReplyDeletereminds me of a heavy rocker "friend" of mine who is probably a serial killer by now!
I used to love wearing perfumes, but as I grew older I became sensitive to other peoples allergies. Now I just smell of soap.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember Patchouli, but I might have worn it at some time as I did a lot of perfume experimenting in my youth. I was especially into musk and exotics.
SO. Patchouli and Musk always seem to go together. And, as Grouchy remarked above, usually with some Pot thrown in for good measure!
ReplyDeleteLike you Cro...Patchouli is one of my favourites...in teeny-tiny doses. It's usually the incense of choice I burn.
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful. Mind if I come up close for a little sniff? I'm wearing Acqua di Parma today.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline. My favourite 'African' incense is called Black Coconut. Wonderful; the house is filled with it.
ReplyDeleteWillow. Would we clash? Aqua di Parma is delicious.
It reminds me of my old college boyfriend, who is now a Catholic priest! Back then, he was a jazz drummer and we live on an organic farm.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this post and everyone's replies - perfume is so evocative. The favourite perfume of my youth was 'Shocking' by Schiaparelli. It didn't matter that a boy friend once announced that he thought it smelt like cat piss! Now I like a good splash of 4711 or if I'm going out, Jo Malone's 'Pomegranate Noir' with gualacwood which contains vetiver, patchouli, clove and cinnamon. Sounds good enough to eat!
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