Patchouli

Patchouli - history

Patchouli has a long history of use in herbal medicine systems of Asia, most particularly being used to treat fevers and headaches, as an antidepressant, as an antiseptic and (so it's claimed by modern sources) as an aphrodisiac. [3]

Patchouli also has a history of use as an insect repellent, and at one time fabrics that originated in India invariably arrived in the West permeated with the scent of Patchouli.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, silks from China were packaged together with Patchouli leaves as a way to protect them from moths that hatched from eggs that may have been laid on the fabric. [3]

Is Patchouli an Aphrodisiac?

A search of Pubmed revealed 58 medical papers mentioning patchouli; however, none of these investigated any aphrodisiac qualities of the plant.

Turning to literature; the earliest references to Patchouli I can find in the western corpus comes from early 19th century France. The 1826 "Journal de Chimie Medicale, de Pharmacie et de Toxicologie, Volume 2" (Journal of Medical Chemistry, Pharmacy and Toxicology") [4] describes the 28th of January's session of the Royal Academy of Medicine (presumably in Paris), where "a plant called patchouli, which can be put in linen to drive away insects, and has a pungent smell" is introduced. It seems clear that it was new at the time and that the Academy had the intention of investigating its properties.

By the 1840's, Patchouli begins to appear in English botanical and medical journals, and is described as being fashionable in perfumery, however at this time, no mention is made of any aphrodisiac quality ascribed to the plant. Indeed, John Lindley's classic "The vegetable kingdom; or, The structure, classification, and uses of plants" makes no mention of Patchouli being aphrodisiac, despite noting ten other plants as being aphrodisiac (interestingly, many of these are not the typical ones listed as such, and so we can't draw firm conclusions from Lindley's omission here; - Lycopodium Phlegmaria [a type of Club Moss], Urtica membranacea [Membranous Nettle], Guarana, Pandanus odoratissimus [a type of Screwpine], Gladiolus segetum, Erythronium Dens canis [Dogtooth Violet], Aleurites triloba nuts [Candlenut tree], Avicennia tomentosa root [White Mangrove], Mandragora, Eryngium campestre [Eryngo].) [5]

Richard Folkard Jr.'s glorious 1884 "Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics: Embracing the Myths, Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-lore of the Plant Kingdom" states that the Mussulmans of India burn ood in all their religious ceremonies - an incense comprised of Sandalwood, Aloe, Patchouli and other herbs.

I can find no mention whatsoever of Patchouli being aphrodisiac prior to 1900, however as we turn to the 20th century, things start to get interesting: Robert William Taylor's 1905 "A Practical Treatise on Sexual Disorders of the Male and Female" states "Several authors, particularly Frenchmen, make the statement... that certain odors of perfume, such as musk and patchouli, cause in them erotic desire." Another; The English Review, Volume 51, of 1930, states "...the erotic motive of scent is so obsolete, or disguised, that aphrodisiac scents with a frankly animal quality, such as patchouli and musk, are disagreeable." Clearly by this time, then, patchouli has been considered to have an aphrodisiac, if not entirely appealing, aroma.

Patchouli's popularity within fashionable subculture, and its reputation as an aphrodisiac, suddenly go through the roof in the 1970's, as far as can be judged from literature. Yet despite trawling through much of this material, I can find no true source reference whatsoever, cited by anyone!

Nancy L. Nickell's 1999 Nature's Aphrodisiacs states boldly: "Patchouli has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries. It was a favorite ingredient for love potions and charms and was reputed to have magical powers... according to aromatherapists, patchouli affects the pituitary gland... patchouli's aphrodisiac properties only work, of course, if both partners like it." Nickell makes no mention of where this information was obtained - and after much research I am daring to venture that it may not exist. I have found no ancient source whatsoever that makes any aphrodisiac claim for Patchouli.

Conclusion

It only takes a moment of searching online to see that nowadays, Patchouli is often considered to be one of the "aphrodisiac scents" - and many web sources reproduce this information without citing where it came from. It's frustrating to the researcher that such statements are accepted and circulated without so much as a cursory investigation as to whether they have any truth to them - but such is the nature of the beast that this web site is attempting to wrestle.

In conclusion, I can find no mythological, old historical or scientific basis either for or against the notion that Patchouli may be aphrodisiac. If it appeals to you as a perfume, by all means enjoy it - but be aware that it is a powerful scent and not universally appealing.

Patchouli is listed in the AHPA's "Herbs of Commerce", p.256. [6]

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