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Aveda Patchouli Oil
by thehonesttruth
I love aromatherapy oils - I use them quite often to tweak beauty products, or to make massage oils tailored to my particular mood. My friends and family know this, so I was delighted on my birthday last month to recieve a bottle of Aveda Patchouli Oil from a friend to add to my collection.
For many people, the scent of ... Patchouli is something they associate with new age hippies. I'm not entirely sure why this is, but it's an association I also make, as my local new age shop reeks of the stuff. Perhaps this is simply because, as oils go, this has one of the stronger and more distinctive scents, easy to pick out even when blended with other fragrances .
This bottle that my frienc gave me (I believe she paid £12 for 29.6ml) is, I should point out, not an essential oil . It is rather a singular essential oil already diluted in a carrier oil, so is actually safe to apply (should you wish to) directly onto the skin. I however tend not to do this, at least not without some blending,as I find the scent a little too strong alone .
However, Patchouli is a scent that matches well with many others - Bergamot, Clary Sage, Geranium, Lavender and Myrrh to name just a few . Bergamot works particularly well, it's strong citrus scent balancing out the patchouli nicely, leaving a nice energising and awakening scent .
Clary Sage is also a good combination I've personally tried , and the combination results in a rich earthy scent with a hint of spice. It should be noted though that pregnant women should not use clary sage , as there is some indication that it can bring on premature labour .
As well as having a strong and distinctive scent, patchouli like many other oils has many claimed health benefits. I'm not one to believe everything I read online (which is where I look for new ideas of things to try with my scented oils) but apparently it can even be used as a aphrodisiac, and can be used to treat loss of libido and erectile dysfunction. You'll have to take that on trust though, as I've never used it in this way .
I do use it as a perfume mixed with bergamot oil as above, and I also like to drop a couple of drops into a bath at night to help me relax - I find it uplifts my mood, and in fact there are some claims that in can help alleviate depression.
It also has some insecticidal properties - which is why I leave a cotton wool ball with a couple of drops on in my wardrobe, to repel moths .
I don't use this oil as much as I do with other oils, perhaps because as mentioned before the smell is very distinctive, but I do feel it is a good addition to my aromatherapy collection. I like that it is pre-diluted so safe to use directly on skin, and I also like that it comes in a darkened glass bottle, which preserves its integrity .
I do feel however that the price my friend paid, £12, is a little pricey for a dilute oil, when a 10ml bottle of pure oil costs £4.59 in my local Holland and Barrett. I feel it would be better value to buy the pure oil and then dilute it in a carrier oil yourself as and when required!
Still, a welcome gift, 4 stars .
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