Patchouli is Misunderstood
by MookFish
There is no doubt that we already have an idea in our head about patchouli, and our memories are probably connected to high school or college, whenever it was that we were first fascinated by eccentric things. Maybe it was a darker or more artistic edge that brought out our liking to the scent, but we certainly used it incorrectly regardless of why we enjoyed it.
It was always strong and overpowering. We applied it to our skin as an oil from a small blue witchy tube with a little plastic ball in the front. We probably also wore thick hemp necklaces around that time, and for whatever reason I still associate them with my own memories of patchouli. We were so cool with our wide-bottomed, flaired pants, whatever they were called. They were always dragging around in puddles, getting wet. I guess I associate that phase of my life with patchouli as well.
It’s unfortunate that patchouli has gathered such a poor reputation. It’s actually quite a lovely scent when applied correctly. That’s where patchouli and sandalwood soap by Earth Berry Apothecary comes in. It’s got that earthy scent of incense, but it’s dosage is much, much more tolerable. I think it’s the level of fragrance we were going for back in the day, but again, we applied it incorrectly as oil.
It doesn’t just stop at soap with EBA. Everyone knows she was a candle company first, and her use of patchouli has been very tasteful over the years. Check out Gnome Home.
If you’re interested in the crackling wood wick version, check out Mushroom Hunting. It’s pretty much the exact same scent, but it has that awesome audio appeal that comes with wood wick candles.
All of these products are great. I’ve been using them frequently lately and I was catching myself caught up in all sorts of nostalgia from their scent. When I realized it was the patchouli giving me this effect, it actually gave me some fond smiles of a time from many years ago when I wore hemp necklaces and walked home from school, my jeans dragging in puddles.