PATCHOULI LEAVES (INDONESIA)

Indonesian patchouli leaves give a perfume an earthy, woody reference with possible sweet, mossy and cool camphor facets. IFF identifies leaves and stems of Indonesian Pogostemon cablin as the source of one such distilled oil. Although the label highlights leaves, the resulting smell can be much darker than a fresh green leaf accord. Drying helps develop the familiar patchouli scent before distillation.

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.