Aromatherapy Scent

Admirers of the patchouli bush say it is the most distinct herb in the botanical kingdom in terms of fragrance and aroma. One whiff of patchouli oil is forever embedded in the olfactory memory. The bush has an impressive list of long distance relatives that include rosemary, lavender, and other aromatic plants that grow in the temperate regions. Patchouli likes the steamy jungles, while its cousins like the Northern Mediterranean.

Botanists in the Philippines were the first group to write about patchouli. That was in 1845, but the oil had been used for centuries. The bush flowers, but it does it reluctantly. The hairy stems distinguish it from Java patchouli, which has smooth stems and flowers.

The oil from Java patchouli has an inferior aroma, but it does show up as an essential oil, so it is important to recognize the difference, especially when the oil is used to treat thyroid issues or when it is used to regenerate damaged cells. Herbs labeled Pogostemon cablin may actually be Pogostemon heyneanus, and those herbs are not as potent.

Asian cultures have been using patchouli oil as a moth repellant for centuries. The Europeans followed suit in the 19th century. The aroma of the oil gave oriental goods a mark of distinction back in those days so the perfume industry started using it in the mid-1800s. Sneaky London merchants started to use the herb to scent their own goods so they smelled like expensive imported merchandise.

Adulteration of the oil is less common with patchouli oil; it’s easy to cultivate and the yield is better than other essential oils. There is a temptation to dilute, but a strong cedarwood smell or a spicy clove scent may indicate the oil has been tampered with, especially when demand outweighs the supply.

An aromatherapy oil blend of the patchouli and, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, rose, and vetiver can definitely inspire clarity and a harmonious flow of energy that interacts with thyroid glands and balances hormone secretion. When patchouli oil is combined with clary sage, rose, lavender, neroli, and geranium the regenerative properties of the oil are triggered. Wounds heal faster, the immune system is reinforced, and damaged cells in the organs are brought back to normal or new cell growth occurs.

The intriguing properties of this thick, sticky, viscous and slow to volatize oil get better with age so aromatherapy treatment can take place years after the oil is distilled. The benefits in terms of thyroid stimulation and skin regeneration are as good as or better than they were when the oil was first distilled.

Clary sage is one of those ancient herbs that worked magic when it was put into the eye to relieve mucous, or when it was combined with Muscatel wine to produce a heightened level of intoxication. That ability earned it the title of “muscatel sage” in Germany. During the Middle Ages it was called “Oculus Christi” because it had the ability to clear foreign objects out of the eye and increase vision. In the 16th century England it replaced hops in the beer brewing process.

The clary sage plant is native to Southern Europe, but it grows in the US, Russia, Morocco, England, and Central Europe. The plant has large heavy green leaves with a hint of purple, and the plant produces small flowers that are either blue or purple. The essential oil is obtained by processing the leaves and flowers using the steam distillation method. The essential oil may have a yellow-green appearance, but it can be clear with a nutty-herbaceous as well as sweet scent.

The composition of clary sage oil is unique since it has a high content of esters like lavender and petitgrain. Seventy-five percent of the ester is linalyl acetate. Esters are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, and they compliment rather than impede the nervous system. One of the most unique qualities of clary sage is that it blends well with other oils like cedarwood, bergamot, lavender, geranium, sandalwood, roman chamomile, jasmine, orange, rosewood, neroli, and ylang-ylang.

The essential oils that result from various clary sage combination’s produce some powerful aromatherapy treatments that help alleviate an assortment of physical and mental aliments. The rich portions of linalyl acetate as well as other photochemicals like diterpene, sclareol, myrcene, flavonoids, and rosmarinic acid, make the oil an excellent fragrant compound.

The calming parasympathetic nervous system reaction to clary sage, especially when it is diluted in a warm bath, has been well documented in cultures around the world. This versatile aromatherapy oil has a compound similar to estrogen in its chemical components so it balances hormone secretion, and that has a positive effect on the hair growth cycle. Clary sage oil helps reduce excess hair oil, and it stimulates dormant hair follicles so they return to the anagen (growing) stage in the hair growth cycle.

Clary sage oil is also used as an antiseptic for surgical incisions, wounds, and post natal injuries. It is also a depurative agent that helps remove toxins from the blood through sweating. The oil is classified as an oral toxin so it should be used with care It should not be used during pregnancy since it contains camphene and camphor. But, this powerful oil has the ability to help heal a variety of skin, hair, respiratory, and mental issues when it is used responsibly.