Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
Patchouli is a deep, earthy single oil long used in skincare and perfumery for its ability to ground floral or citrus blends.
How to use it
2–3 drops is plenty; patchouli works best as a background note rather than the star.
Dilute to 2–5% in a carrier oil — a classic base note in DIY perfume recipes.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- Dilute in a carrier oil for skin
- Phototoxic
- No
- Generally gentle and well tolerated; dilute before topical use.
- Not phototoxic. Patchouli oil actually improves with age, unlike citrus oils.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Sources: van Beek & Joulain (2010), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Composition & chemistry
Aggregated from 24 GC-MS samples across 11 peer-reviewed open-access studies (2019–2025). Figures are the distribution across those samples — median with interquartile range — not a single reading.
- Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon 56%
- Oxygenated sesquiterpene 41.9%
- Unclassified 1.8%
- Monoterpene hydrocarbon 0.3%
| Constituent | Median | Typical range | Max | Detected in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| patchoulol ↗ C15H26O | 33.3% | 30.8–37.4% | 38.1% | |
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| α-bulnesene ↗ C15H24 | 11.3% | 6.0–18.3% | 21.0% | |
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| α-guaiene ↗ C15H24 | 8.3% | 2.3–15.1% | 17.1% | |
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| seychellene ↗ C15H24 | 6.7% | 4.6–8.1% | 12.7% | |
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| α-patchoulene ↗ C15H24 | 5.5% | 4.7–6.5% | 13.4% | |
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| β-caryophyllene ↗ C15H24 | 3.6% | 3.1–4.9% | 6.5% | |
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| β-patchoulene ↗ C15H24 | 3.1% | 2.4–3.3% | 5.3% | |
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| β-elemene ↗ C15H24 | 1.2% | 1.2–1.5% | 1.5% | |
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| α-humulene ↗ C15H24 | 0.6% | 0.5–0.8% | 1.2% | |
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| caryophyllene oxide ↗ C15H24O | 0.4% | 0.3–1.3% | 3.9% | |
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+ 40 more compounds reported across the dataset.
11 peer-reviewed sources behind these figures
- Muhammad S, H P S AK, Abd Hamid S, Danish M, Marwan M, Yunardi Y, Abdullah CK, Faisal M, Yahya EB. (2022). Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Patchouli Extracted via Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SC-CO2) Extraction. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Scheau C, Pop CR, Rotar AM, Socaci S, Mălinaș A, Zăhan M, Coldea ȘD, Pop VC, Fit NI, Chirilă F, Criveanu HR, Oltean I. (2024). The Influence of Physical Fields (Magnetic and Electric) and LASER Exposure on the Composition and Bioactivity of Cinnamon Bark, Patchouli, and Geranium Essential Oils. Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Hikal WM, Baz MM, Alshehri MA, Bahattab O, Baeshen RS, Selim AM, Alhwity L, Bousbih R, Alshourbaji MS, Ahl HAHS. (2023). Sustainable Pest Management Using Novel Nanoemulsions of Honeysuckle and Patchouli Essential Oils against the West Nile Virus Vector, Culex pipiens, under Laboratory and Field Conditions. Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Smith H, Assagaf M, Suwarda R, Budiyanto A, Adinegoro H, Manalu LP, Rienoviar, Rosniati, Manoi F, Loppies JE, Ramlah S, Sunarmani, Widayanti SM, Setyadjit, Marwati T, Setyawan N, Tjahjohutomo R, Syaefullah E, Risfaheri, Arif AB. (2024). The Flow Rate of the Condenser Cooling Water in the Distillation Process Increases the Quality and Quantity of Patchouli Oil. TheScientificWorldJournal.
- Manjesh K, Kundu A, Dutta A, Saha S, Neelakanthaiah BS. (2022). Bio-Insecticidal Nanoemulsions of Essential Oil and Lipid-Soluble Fractions of Pogostemon cablin. Frontiers in plant science.
- Zhou Y, Pei T, Zhou X, Xu ML, Gao H, Wang L, Gao Y. (2025). An Investigation into the Biological Activities of Four Lamiaceae Essential Oils Against Thrips flavus, Crops, and Weeds. Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), Villa RE, Azimonti G, Bonos E, Christensen H, Durjava M, Dusemund B, Gehring R, Glandorf B, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, Marcon F, Nebbia C, Pechová A, Prieto-Maradona M, Röhe I, Theodoridou K, de Lourdes Bastos M, Brantom P, Chesson A, Schlatter J, Westendorf J, Manini P. (2025). Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the leaves of <i>Pogostemon cablin</i> Benth. (patchouli oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl). EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority.
- Khairan K, Hasan M, Idroes R, Diah M. (2023). Fabrication and Evaluation of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Corn Starch/Patchouli Oil Hydrogel Films Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized in Pogostemon cablin Benth Leaves' Extract. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Tan W, Zhang N, Wang J, Pu T, Hu J, Li C, Song Y. (2023). Fumigant activity and transcriptomic analysis of two plant essential oils against the tea green leafhopper, Empoasca onukii Matsuda. Frontiers in physiology.
- Hong SJ, Cho J, Boo CG, Youn MY, Pan JH, Kim JK, Shin EC. (2020). Inhalation of Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin Benth.) Essential Oil Improved Metabolic Parameters in Obesity-Induced Sprague Dawley Rats. Nutrients.
- Lima Santos L, Barreto Brandão L, Lopes Martins R, de Menezes Rabelo E, Lobato Rodrigues AB, da Conceição Vieira Araújo CM, Fernandes Sobral T, Ribeiro Galardo AK, Moreira da Silva de Ameida SS. (2019). Evaluation of the Larvicidal Potential of the Essential Oil Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth in the Control of Aedes aegypti. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland).
Every figure above traces to a named table in one of these open-access papers. How this was built →
- Patchoulol (patchouli alcohol) — the dominant, long-lasting sesquiterpene alcohol behind patchouli's earthy aroma and fixative quality in perfumery van Beek & Joulain (2010), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Unusually for an essential oil, patchouli actually improves with age, growing smoother over time.
What the research says
An honest read of the published research — what has actually been studied, at what stage. Not medical advice or a promise of results.
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Patchouli oil has been studied for antimicrobial activity in the laboratory, consistent with its patchoulol content. This is an in-vitro finding, not proof of a health benefit.
Swamy & Sinniah (2023), International Journal of Secondary Metabolite
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Patchouli's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
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Patchouli oil is a heavy sesquiterpene oil defined by patchoulol (patchouli alcohol), which anchors its deep, earthy scent.
van Beek & Joulain (2010), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Frequently asked questions
Why does patchouli smell better as it ages?
Unlike citrus oils that degrade, patchouli's heavy sesquiterpenes mellow and round out over time, so well-aged patchouli is often prized. Store it sealed and it will keep for years. van Beek & Joulain (2010), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Is patchouli oil safe on skin?
It's one of the gentler oils and is widely used in skincare and perfume, but as with any essential oil you should dilute it in a carrier before applying.
Is patchouli phototoxic?
No — it's a leaf-distilled oil with no phototoxic constituents, so there's no sun-exposure concern.
Gallery
The plant & source
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) is a bushy herb in the mint family, native to tropical Southeast Asia and grown across the Philippines, Indonesia, and India. Its dried leaves have a long trading history: in the 19th century, patchouli-scented Indian shawls and fabrics became fashionable across Europe, in part because the plant’s strong aroma also helped deter moths during long sea voyages — a scent so distinctive that European buyers reportedly used its presence to judge whether textiles were genuinely imported from the East.
How it’s extracted
The leaves are dried and partially fermented before steam distillation — an extra step, compared with most leaf oils, that deepens and mellows the aroma rather than keeping it green and sharp.
Aroma
Thick, earthy, and slightly sweet. Unusually for an essential oil, patchouli actually improves with age, growing smoother and rounder over time rather than fading. The scent became closely associated with 1960s counterculture, a reputation it’s never entirely shaken.
Traditional & everyday uses
In the diffuser: 2–3 drops is plenty; patchouli is potent and works best as a background note rather than the star of a blend.
On skin: dilute to 2–5% in a carrier oil. Patchouli has a long history in skin-care formulations aimed at supporting calm, balanced-looking skin, and it’s a classic base note in DIY perfume recipes thanks to how well it grounds lighter florals and citrus oils.
Found in these blends
Patchouli is one of the oils inside 6 Young Living blends.