2010-08-22, 07:55 PM
Patchouli
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008)
Patchouli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Pogostemon
Species: P. cablin
Binomial name
Pogostemon cablin
Benth.
Synonyms
patchouli
patchouly
pachouli
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth; also patchouly or pachouli) is a species from the genus Pogostemon and a bushy herb of the mint family, with erect stems, reaching two or three feet (about 0.75 metre) in height and bearing small pale pink-white flowers. The plant is native to tropical regions of Asia and is now extensively cultivated in China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Philippines, West Africa and Vietnam.
The scent of patchouli is heavy and strong, used for centuries in perfumes. The word derives from the Tamil patchai (Tamil: பச்சை
(green), ellai (Tamil: இலை (leaf) [1]. In Assamese it is known as xukloti.
Pogostemon cablin, P. commosum, P. hortensis, P. heyneasus and P. plectranthoides are all cultivated for their oils and all are known as 'patchouli' oil, but P. cablin is considered superior.
Contents [hide]
1 Cultivation
2 Extraction of essential oil
2.1 Aroma profile
3 Uses
3.1 Perfume
3.2 Medicinal
3.3 Insecticide
3.4 Incense
3.5 Hair conditioner
4 Notes and references
5 External links
[edit]Cultivation
Patchouli grows well in warm to tropical climates. It thrives in hot weather but not direct sunlight. If the plant withers due to lack of watering, it will recover well and quickly after it has been watered. The seed-bearing flowers are very fragrant and bloom in late fall. The tiny seeds may be harvested for planting, but they are very delicate and easily crushed. Cuttings from the mother plant can also be rooted in water to produce additional plants.
[edit]Extraction of essential oil
Extraction of patchouli's essential oil is by steam distillation, requiring rupture of its cell walls by steam scalding, light fermentation, or drying.
Leaves are harvested several times a year, and where dried may be exported for distillation. Some sources claim a highest quality oil is usually produced from fresh leaves distilled close to where they are harvested;[2] others that baling the dried leaves and fermenting them for a period of time is best.[3]
[edit]Aroma profile
Germacrene-B [4][clarification needed]
Patchoulol [5][6][7]
Norpatchoulenol [7][clarification needed]
[edit]Uses
[edit]Perfume
Patchouli is used widely in modern perfumery and modern industry to scent products such as paper towels, laundry detergents, and air fresheners. Two important components of its essential oil are patchoulol and norpatchoulenol.
[edit]Medicinal
In several Asian countries, such as Japan and Malaysia, patchouli is used as an antidote for venomous snakebites. The plant and oil have many claimed health benefits in herbal folk-lore and the scent is used to induce relaxation. Chinese medicine uses the herb to treat headaches, colds, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Patchouli oil can be purchased from mainstream Western pharmacies and alternative therapy sources as an aromatherapy oil.
[edit]Insecticide
The patchouli plant is claimed to be a repellent potent against the Formosan subterranean termite.[4]
One study suggests patchouli oil may serve as an all-purpose insect repellent.[8]
During the 18th and 19th century silk traders from China traveling to the Middle East packed their silk cloth with dried patchouli leaves to prevent moths from laying their eggs on the cloth.[citation needed] Many historians speculate that this association with opulent eastern goods is why patchouli was considered by Europeans of that era to be a luxurious scent. It is said that patchouli was used in the linen chests of Queen Victoria in this way.[citation needed]
[edit]Incense
Patchouli is an important ingredient in East Asian incense. Both patchouli oil and incense underwent a surge in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s in the US and Europe, mainly due to the hippie movement of those decades.[citation needed]
[edit]Hair conditioner
Patchouli oil has also been used as a hair conditioner for dreadlocks.[citation needed]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008)
Patchouli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Pogostemon
Species: P. cablin
Binomial name
Pogostemon cablin
Benth.
Synonyms
patchouli
patchouly
pachouli
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth; also patchouly or pachouli) is a species from the genus Pogostemon and a bushy herb of the mint family, with erect stems, reaching two or three feet (about 0.75 metre) in height and bearing small pale pink-white flowers. The plant is native to tropical regions of Asia and is now extensively cultivated in China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Philippines, West Africa and Vietnam.
The scent of patchouli is heavy and strong, used for centuries in perfumes. The word derives from the Tamil patchai (Tamil: பச்சை
(green), ellai (Tamil: இலை (leaf) [1]. In Assamese it is known as xukloti.Pogostemon cablin, P. commosum, P. hortensis, P. heyneasus and P. plectranthoides are all cultivated for their oils and all are known as 'patchouli' oil, but P. cablin is considered superior.
Contents [hide]
1 Cultivation
2 Extraction of essential oil
2.1 Aroma profile
3 Uses
3.1 Perfume
3.2 Medicinal
3.3 Insecticide
3.4 Incense
3.5 Hair conditioner
4 Notes and references
5 External links
[edit]Cultivation
Patchouli grows well in warm to tropical climates. It thrives in hot weather but not direct sunlight. If the plant withers due to lack of watering, it will recover well and quickly after it has been watered. The seed-bearing flowers are very fragrant and bloom in late fall. The tiny seeds may be harvested for planting, but they are very delicate and easily crushed. Cuttings from the mother plant can also be rooted in water to produce additional plants.
[edit]Extraction of essential oil
Extraction of patchouli's essential oil is by steam distillation, requiring rupture of its cell walls by steam scalding, light fermentation, or drying.
Leaves are harvested several times a year, and where dried may be exported for distillation. Some sources claim a highest quality oil is usually produced from fresh leaves distilled close to where they are harvested;[2] others that baling the dried leaves and fermenting them for a period of time is best.[3]
[edit]Aroma profile
Germacrene-B [4][clarification needed]
Patchoulol [5][6][7]
Norpatchoulenol [7][clarification needed]
[edit]Uses
[edit]Perfume
Patchouli is used widely in modern perfumery and modern industry to scent products such as paper towels, laundry detergents, and air fresheners. Two important components of its essential oil are patchoulol and norpatchoulenol.
[edit]Medicinal
In several Asian countries, such as Japan and Malaysia, patchouli is used as an antidote for venomous snakebites. The plant and oil have many claimed health benefits in herbal folk-lore and the scent is used to induce relaxation. Chinese medicine uses the herb to treat headaches, colds, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Patchouli oil can be purchased from mainstream Western pharmacies and alternative therapy sources as an aromatherapy oil.
[edit]Insecticide
The patchouli plant is claimed to be a repellent potent against the Formosan subterranean termite.[4]
One study suggests patchouli oil may serve as an all-purpose insect repellent.[8]
During the 18th and 19th century silk traders from China traveling to the Middle East packed their silk cloth with dried patchouli leaves to prevent moths from laying their eggs on the cloth.[citation needed] Many historians speculate that this association with opulent eastern goods is why patchouli was considered by Europeans of that era to be a luxurious scent. It is said that patchouli was used in the linen chests of Queen Victoria in this way.[citation needed]
[edit]Incense
Patchouli is an important ingredient in East Asian incense. Both patchouli oil and incense underwent a surge in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s in the US and Europe, mainly due to the hippie movement of those decades.[citation needed]
[edit]Hair conditioner
Patchouli oil has also been used as a hair conditioner for dreadlocks.[citation needed]