How Do You Distill A Patchouli Plant For Essential Oil?
Patchouli, which many people associate inextricably with the hippie movement, in fact boasts a long history as a perfume fixative and textile preservative. Because the fresh leaves of the Pogostemon patchouli plant yield a somewhat displeasing sharp scent when used in fragrance formulas, perfumers generally distill dried leaves in order to make patchouli essential oil. Patchouli grows best as a tender perennial. In warmer climates the shrubby herb stays in the ground year-found, but in colder zones it’s best grown in pots and brought indoors for the winter. Harvest the plant in mid-morning, after the dew dries. Prune several patchouli plants by cutting them down almost to the base, leaving several inches to regrow. Hang the plants, in bunches, in a shady, dry area for several weeks. Separate the leaves from the stems and reserve the stems for another use, such as adding fragrance to a fire. Place a heat-proof grill or canning rack at the bottom of a large stockpot. Put a clean brick or
