Patchouli oil has been used for centuries in China and Japan to address various inflammatory skin issues. The oil contains several unique organic compounds that are responsible for its scent as well as its anti-inflammatory activity. One of these, a sesquiterpene alcohol referred to as patchouli alcohol or PA, is used in the production of the chemotherapy drug Taxol.
In the 1800s, the scent of patchouli oil emanating from imported fabrics from the east became a marker of quality. So much so that European exporters scented their products with patchouli oil to instill confidence in their quality. The oil is still used today to deter moths and other pests from infesting fabrics while in shipment.
In ancient Rome and Egypt, patchouli oil was considered so valuable that it was once literally equal to its weight on gold. It was apparently a particular favorite of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, better known as King Tut, whose body was reputedly laid to rest in a tomb containing 10 gallons of patchouli oil.
