Patchouli growing in my friends garden
Scented plant that has no scent....
What the, she's gone crazy!
Pogostemon cablin or Patchouli as we know it.
Patchouli is a bushy herb with dark green leaves and small, slightly fragrant pale pink-white flowers. It can get to around 1m in height. It loves a warm part sunny position and dislikes cold winters (protect from frost).
While it's flowers do have a slight scent it's the dried leaves that are the most potent. The fresh leaves have no real scent.
My history lesson has always been that dried patchouli leaves were put into the fabric to deter moths... It was so used widely by India’s fabric manufacturers in the 19th century to protect their products from damage while in transit, that it became the signature scent of clothing and fabric exported from India. This unknown scent was believed to have captivated many European women and then became a guarantee of authenticity. For so many the source of the exotic fragrance was a mystery, so fraudulent fabrics were easy to spot because they didn’t have the signature patchouli scent. Now days this scent is associated with the hippie movement of the 60's as it's an ingredient in many incense that became popular in that time.
Did you know that patchouli was also an ingredient in coke and according to Wikipedia In 1985 Mattel used patchouli oil in the plastic used to produce the action figure Stinkor in the Masters of the Universe line of toys!
Patchouli is one of the most common essential oils of today. It is a strong, slightly sweet, intoxicating scent. It described as having a dark, musky-earthy aroma. It is one of my favourite essential oils. Robbi Zeck writes that patchouli "....awakens within the soul, a deep yearning for the comforting presence of peace, bringing spiritual insights to all realms. Patchouli's slow peacefulness brings about a state of mind and wholehearted feeling where unification occurs with the soul on all levels. When the fragments of your spirit have been scattered far and wide, call the peacemaker of your soul to you." How beautiful is this explanation of what a scent can do to your psyche.
Harvested Patchouli, ready for drying
I have a lovely friend who lives in Ipswich that grows amazing patchouli plants. So big she can easily harvest a large amount of leaves each year to dry and hang in her cupboards.
Patchouli grows well in pots or the garden. It does love to be fed. I sprinkle Organic Link every three months over the soil and I liquid feed every fortnight with Triple Boost. Patchouli do not like wet feet, so try not to over water it and if you have clay soil you may be better growing your patchouli in a pot.
Patchouli flowers in summer. If you want to harvest the leaves it is best to do it on a dry morning before the plant comes into bloom.
Maybe it's time we all relived the ☮️ of the 60's and full our homes with this delightful scent.