In comparison to your regular gourmand and floral scents, patchouli perfumes may not be the most obvious addition to a fragrance wardrobe. But trust me when I tell you that every perfume veteran has a soft spot for patchouli, and for good reason too. Countless fragrance houses have been adding this charming ingredient into their best-selling perfumes since the dawn of time (case in point: Chanel No 5?) to add depth for a more complex profile.
You know that feeling when someone on the street/tube/at a cafe taps you on the shoulder and asks you something along the lines of “oh my god, you smell amazing, what perfume are you wearing?”. I think my fellow fragrance lovers would agree that nothing gives you a bigger confidence boost quite as much as that kind of a compliment from a stranger (totally in a non-creepy way, of course). Well, that’s exactly what you can expect from wearing a patchouli perfume.
For the uninitiated, patchouli is a type of a flower plant that is native to Indonesia. It’s largely used in aromatherapy and perfumery, thanks to its rich earthy, woody and musky tones – all of which are known as firm favourites among fragrance enthusiasts. In fact, patchouli is also considered a libido-boosting aphrodisiac scent, which adds to its addicting nature.
Best patchouli perfumes at a glance:
There’s a patchouli perfumes out there for every taste and preference. Whether you tend to gravitate towards sweet fragrances, refreshing florals or citrusy scents, darker oud-y eau de parfums or if you’re a gourmand girlie through and through, patchouli can be found in virtually any fragrance imaginable.
To help you narrow down your pick, we’ve rounded up the very best patchouli scents around, according to the perfume-obsessed GLAMOUR beauty team, who have collectively tested hundreds of fragrances. We made sure to add everything from cult-favourite scents such as the YSL Black Opium, as well as newer launches, including the Maison Margiela Replica On a Date (released just earlier this year). You’ll find affordable gems as well as more premium buys if you’re in the mood to splurge and treat yourself to a new luxe perfume. So sit back, and scroll away…
Looking to upgrade your perfume collection? Make sure to check out our guides on best long-lasting perfumes, best rose perfumes and best perfume for women (of all time). For more makeup, skincare, haircare and wellness content from Glamour UK Beauty Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Instagram @deniseprimbet.