PATCHOULI LEAVES

Patchouli leaves suggest earthy wood with a subtle sweetness and a cool, sometimes camphor-like edge. The name points to the foliage of Pogostemon cablin, not timber. Fresh leaves have relatively little smell: Givaudan describes drying as the stage when the familiar patchouli character develops. A leaf note therefore need not resemble crushed green foliage or fresh-cut grass.

The essential oil is distilled from dried leaves, often with small stems or twigs. Further processing changes the balance: Robertet describes a fractionated oil as less earthy than the starting material. Patchouli can give floral notes depth or set a dry contrast against sweet amber and fruit. The chosen grade and complete formula determine how earthy, smooth or prominent it feels; the name alone does not guarantee a heavy perfume or a fixed wear time.