patchouli

noun patch·ou·li \ pə-ˈchü-lē also ˈpa-chə-lē \

variants: or less commonly patchouly

|Updated on: 27 Jun 2018

Definition of patchouli

: a heavy perfume made from the fragrant essential oil of a southeast Asian mint (Pogostemon cablin); also : the plant itself

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Recent Examples of patchouli from the Web

Intoxicating flowers and sharp citrus contribute to the warm feeling Diptyque has channeled into the fragrance, which is composed of orange blossom, angelica root, patchouli, and juniper berry.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "Diptyque’s Latest Additions Will Transport You to a Mediterranean Utopia," 9 May 2018
Essential oils are no longer the domain of hippies who like the smell of patchouli.

— rebecca straus, Good Housekeeping, "6 Times You Should Never Use Essential Oils," 12 Jan. 2017
For skin care: Lavender, carrot seed, rose, rosehip, frankincense, geranium, tea tree, ylang-ylang, and patchouli.

— kaleigh fasanella, Allure, "Essential Oils for Beginners: How to Use Them Safely in Your Beauty Routine," 7 May 2018
Other notes include patchouli, which belongs to the mint family, and vanilla, which adds a feminine touch.

— kara thompson, Town & Country, "Byredo's Bibliothèque Perfume Is Here to Stay," 3 May 2018
Other notes come from orris root blended with patchouli; its inherent headiness is tempered by the freshness of jasmine.

— kavita daswani, latimes.com, "Designers behind Proenza Schouler find fresh inspiration on a road trip from L.A. to West Texas," 19 Apr. 2018
Choose from oil blends such as Pick-Me-Up (essence of peppermint, grapefruit and orange) or Grounding (vetiver, patchouli and lavender).

— kavita daswani, latimes.com, "Heading to Coachella? Here are some packing tips," 7 Apr. 2018
Tempo is a free-spirited blend of patchouli, sage, violet, and maté.

— sarah spellings, The Cut, "A Perfume Professional on What Happiness Smells Like," 2 Apr. 2018
The floral top notes make for an invigorating wake up at first whiff, but the strength of this scent is in its base notes (the layer that sticks around longest) of wood, patchouli, and leather.

— garrett munce, GQ, "The Best Room Sprays Will Cover Your House’s Stank," 29 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'patchouli.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of patchouli

Tamil paccuḷi

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First Known Use: 1845

in the meaning defined above

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PATCHOULI Defined for English Language Learners

patchouli

noun

Definition of patchouli for English Language Learners

: a perfume that is made from the oil of a southeast Asian plant

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