Hello and happy fall! Summer sure flew by, but it was a hot one and I'm so glad fall is here. As I write this, it's a dark, rainy day here on the coast, but I'll take it. I have most of my end of summer work done outside and I needed a day to get myself organized inside. The only things left in my gardens are a few cherry tomatoes and my turnip and carrots. I always wait to pull them after the first frost; I think it makes them sweeter.
Some of the indoor things on my 'to do' list are wrapping all my fall soaps. This year I am offering Witch's Brew (pictured below), Creamy Nutmeg, Falling Leaves, and Vanilla Spice. The curing room sure smells good! They'll be added to the website soon so stay tuned.
We recently added more essential oils to our aromatherapy line. Included in those are patchouli, peppermint, and sweet orange. Patchouli is one of my favorite oils, but it's not for everyone. It's similar to cilantro - you either love it or hate it. I decided this blog post would be all about patchouli.
Pogostemon cablin, or patchouli, is in the mint family. It loves rich soil in a humid climate, so it grows well in Asia. There are somewhere around 40 species of the patchouli plant.
Patchouli oil is amber in color with a sweet yet deep earthy scent. It is very grounding and considered a base note. It blends well with top notes such as lavender, orange and grapefruit. One of my favorite soap and lotion scents is patchouli and grapefruit.
An excellent anti-inflammatory, patchouli oil can help heal scars from acne or skin wounds, and it is touted to reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well. If you are going to use this oil on your skin, be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil like avocado, sweet almond, or even jojoba oil; I use a 1:1 ratio. But be careful not to ingest this oil and keep it away from your pets.
So do you like patchouli? I'm taking an informal poll so let me know in comments below. As always if you have a topic you'd like to read more about send me a message. Until next time, stay healthy and enjoy the fall.
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