Patchouli, also known as puchaput, is a shrub-like perennial in the
mint family that is native to and widely cultivated throughout tropical
Asia, including India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the
Philippines. It is prolific plant, growing up to three feet in height
and providing enough foliage that its leaves and shoots can be harvested
two or three times each year.
The patchouli plant is highly fragrant owing to potent volatile oils,
such as patchoulol and norpatchoulenol. The former is attributed to the
herb’s pest deterrent properties and is also used to synthesize the
chemotherapy agent Taxol. The latter is responsible for the sweet,
earthy fragrance that is characteristic of patchouli.
