Patchouli, or 'Patch' as it is sometimes lovingly called, is generally thought of as 'that Hippy smell'.

It really is so much more than that. True, the 60's had an overdose of Patchouli, but most people who think they know what it smells like (and automatically think they hate it) haven't smelled a quality Patchouli Essential Oil.

Patchouli is earthy, musky, woodsy, with a hint of dark cocoa. Relaxing or energizing depending on the concentration, Patchouli is used in skincare, haircare, as a moth repellant & as a fixative for other oils.

An excellent combination of essential oils for skin conditions ranging from acne, to dryness & flakiness, eczema, dandruff, inflammation, and athlete's foot is Patchouli, Palmarosa & Lemon. Safe and effective, and smells good too! For dry skin, use 10% Avocado, Evening Primrose or Rose Hip Seed oil in Apricot Kernel Oil, for oily skin, use Grapeseed oil on its own. Use a Patchouli / Palmarosa / Lemon ratio of 1/1/2 and add a total of 8 drops for every 30 mL of the carrier oil of your choice.

For use on hair, add some Patchouli to an unscented shampoo or conditioner (Mix well!) and use as usual. If you are really adventurous, put a drop or 2 on your comb and comb through well, starting at the hair ends. Be prepared for some commentary though!

Patchouli is also great as an insect repellant, so if you have a moth problem, use Patchouli & Cedarwood on some tissue and leave the tissue in the places you want to be cleared. You can also use it in a diffuser to scent an entire room. Patchouli is synonomous with India because all the fabrics from India have always been stored with Patchouli Leaves to keep moths and other insects away.

Patchouli essential oil has a remarkably strong, penetrating & lasting scent, so you don't need much to achieve a certain aroma level. When you mix Patchouli with other oils that don't last so long, such as citrus oils, it actually grabs hold of that oil and makes it last that much longer. Oils that have the tendency to hold other oils are said to be fixatives. Other fixatives are Vetiver, Benzoin and Cedarwood.

Patchouli essential oil is obtained from the steam distillation of the leaves of the Patchouli plant. If the distillation is done in an iron vessel, the Patchouli oil will have a beautiful golden brown colour (Patchouli Dark), and if the distillation is done in Stainless Steel, the Patchouli will be much lighter (Patchouli Light). I have experience with the Dark version only, because I envision that the dark Patchouli has been distilled by a wise old man (or woman), the same way as he or she has done for generations. I prefer to patronize small family farmers as opposed to multinational corporations with enormous stainless steel vats! Patchouli essential oil is one of those oils that definitely improves with age. I have had some Patchouli for over 4 years now, and I like it more & more. So, when you see a good price on a quality Patchouli oil, don't be afraid to invest, because it will last you for many years to come. Unless of course you are addicted to it!

To use Patchouli as a perfume, you can choose either liquid or solid. For a liquid perfume, use a Roll-On Glass Bottle and a carrier oil. Scent the oil to your heart's delight and put it in the Roll-on. For a solid perfume, melt some cocoa butter & a little Shea butter for softness, then add the Patchouli. If you add too much Patchouli (ie. its not solid enough), remelt it and add some more Cocoa butter.

Are you ready to try some Patchouli? You can purchase it at our store: www.clearwatersoapworks.com Be sure to request your coupon by sending us your email address using the feedback box above.

I love exploring new (& old) essential oils! Although I have been using essential oils for almost 4 years now, I find out new things about them all the time. For instance, this month I have rediscovered the beauty of Mandarin essential oil.

Long known for its gentleness, Mandarin essential oil can be used by anyone, including children and pregnant women.


Sweet, fresh Mandarin essential oil has an incredible relaxing effect, making it perfect for stressful times. Diffuse it in your house to restore calm and order if you have unruly children, or your work life leaves something to be desired.
For pregnant women, Mandarin essential oil can be a godsend, but not just for its relaxing affects...If used along with a carrier oil such as Sweet Almond or Apricot Kernel oil, it can help prevent stretch marks. For this to work, you must start massaging the oil gently into the abdomen before you begin to show, and must be done regularly. All in all, a fantastic and safe oil for pregnant women!

Buy Mandarin essential oils from this great source

What other oils go well with Mandarin essential oil? Well, a little trick I picked up on is that if you blend equal amounts of Petitgrain (Another citrus essential oil) with Mandarin, you get a blend that is very similar to the very expensive but exquisite Neroli!

Besides this Neroli smell alike, what other oils work well with Mandarin? Well pretty much any other essential oil you can think of! You have to consider whether you want to blend just for scent, or for other aromatherapy benefits. For instance, say you want to make a blend that is ultra-relaxing, then you would pick other oils that have similar properties. Vetiver, Lavender, Spikenard, Patchouli & Peru Balsam would be good choices.

If you like to remain in the citrus realm and make a blend a little more energetic, besides Petitgrain, you can also add Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lime, & Lemon with confidence.

You can also spice it up with Black Pepper, Sweet Fennel or Anise for a warming blend.

The remarable versatility of Mandarin essential oil makes it not only a great value, but one of the safest choices you can make. Buy it at Clearwater Soap Works today!