Ingredient Library
Patchouli
Pogostemon cablin
Patchouli is an earthy oil traditionally used to comfort and revive mature, dry skin. Grounding and restorative, it suits aging or stressed skin.
A natural history
Patchouli is a leafy aromatic of tropical Asia, its deep, earthy scent unlike anything else in the botanical world. Unusually, its fragrance grows richer rather than fading as the leaves are dried and aged, a trait it shares with treasures like sandalwood.
It carries a charming history. In the nineteenth century, genuine cashmere shawls traded from India to Europe were packed with dried patchouli leaves to keep moths away, and the lingering scent became the very mark of authenticity. Buyers learned to know a true shawl by its perfume, and patchouli went on to become one of the most beloved notes in modern fragrance.
What it does for your skin
Patchouli is a soothing aromatic with real antioxidant character. In an animal study, patchouli oil applied before sun exposure was associated with the look of fewer wrinkles and better preserved skin, which researchers tied to its antioxidant activity.[1] In laboratory work on human skin cells, patchouli extract supported skin cell renewal and lower markers of stress.[2] In a formula, patchouli lends a soothing, conditioning, grounding touch to mature or stressed looking skin. These are early, preclinical findings.
References
[1] Lin RF, et al. Prevention of UV radiation-induced cutaneous photoaging in mice by topical administration of patchouli oil. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014;154(2):408-418. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.04.020
[2] Choo JH, et al. Pogostemon cablin extract promotes wound healing through OR2AT4 activation and exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2024;46(8):9136-9148. doi:10.3390/cimb46080540
Found in these formulas
Questions, answered
It is a soothing, antioxidant aromatic used to lend mature or stressed-looking skin a conditioned, grounded, comforted feel.
Its rich, earthy aroma once marked genuine cashmere shawls, which were packed with patchouli leaves to repel moths, and it became an iconic perfume note.