Patchouli Poll

[dharmama]

So....you guys....do ya LOVE or HATE patchouli???

There doesn't seem to be any in- between...so I'm just wondering where you fall....

When I was in college a girl who lived down the hall from me BATHED in patchouli and I used to HATE it when she walked down the hall.

Then I met DH and started going to Dead and other shows with a patchouli wearin' crowd and I started to like it.

Now...many years later....I bought my first bottle of patchouli oil. I have been using it in my cleaning solution, in massage oil and sometimes I dab a little on myself. : But I'm sort of wondering if the people at work are like I was in college "oh no here comes that smelly girl walking down the hall".... :

~Erin

[BusyMommy]

Well, yeah sure I love it, but I sure wouldn't wear it to work. Ya just assume everyone assumes things about your lifestyle then.

[N2theWoods]

I voted love it - and I DO (that said, I do NOT love it when folks use it instead of deodorant, nor do I love folks who bathe in it. Patchouli is a great scent, but it's super strong and a lot of folks wear TOO much. I don't like too much of any perfume when folks pile it on - you should smell it when you're in close conversation with someone. I shouldn't be able to tell you walked through the hallway 10 minutes ago. And, if you're going to a crowded theatre especially in summer - give up the perfume completely.

Removing herself possibly not too adroitly from atop her soapbox,

Margo (who actually is a HUGE Sandalwood fan!)

[sea island mama]

I voted "what's patchouli?", although I have heard of it. I just wouldn't know it if I smelled it. If it's an essential oil, I'll check it out next time I'm at the store.

[JessicaS]

Patchouli smells like dirt.

While I don't usually use Patchouli by itself (I do sometimes though, I like it ) in blends it is awsome and often used to anchor scents.

[PurplePixiePooh]

I love it, and use it in a blend to promote intamacy, for some reason if I blend it with ylang-ylang, musk, and sandalwood it gets us thinkin of lovin!!!

I do wear it alone occasionally, but only in small amounts, eith on my wrist or between my breasts.

[dharmama]

Well....I bathe regularly (in water not patchouli :LOL), wear deodorant and I only use a small amount of patchouli occasionally so I think I should be okay.

BusyMommy ~ I hear ya...but I'm sure people I work with already make assumptions about my lifestyle based on other stuff. :

Margo ~ Mmmmmm....sandlewood.

abimommy ~ I agree about the blend thing. I have been mixing a few drops of patchouli with orange oil in my vinegar/water cleaning mixture. Very nice.

mama2nicola ~ Yup...it's an essential oil. It's very strong in the bottle...mellows out nicely though.

mamaof2 ~ I agree!! We like a patchouli, orange and cinnamon massage oil blend.

~Erin

[Mallory]

My father is a construction worker, and usually smells bad. But the 5 times a year he is going to shave, dress up and go out (like to my graduation or a funeral or something) he wears patchouli.

So I like it because it reminds me of my dad, but I don't really like the smell.

[3boysmom]

I voted hate it - it smells like dirt or a musty basement to me. Yuck!

[lilyka]

I don't like it streight but I do like it in soap and stuff and incense. I like that it workss equally well for men and women. and I like the left over smell from it (like the scent that settle on things and you can still smeel a couple of weeks after the inscence has been burned.)

[JessicaS]

That sounds great mamaof2! What ratios do you use? I was planning on ordering some musk soon but I have the others.

mammawannabe, I agree, patchouli is a great anchor for citris oils which tend to fade on their own.

[ceciclem]

this is such an interesting poll to me because I DO love it but have sometimes held off on wearing it because it is so well recognized as "that hippie smell" and sometimes just don't want to be categorized quite that quickly. the same reason I'll sometimes not wear my nosering. on those days i'll opt wear sandalwood or nag champa both of which are just as earthy and wonderful to me but not as quickly stereotyped.

jmho

[Piglet68]

I hate it simply b/c for a while *everybody* was using it on themselves and in their homes and I just plumb got sick of it.

[Marco Esquandolas]

it here! I make a nice patchouli solid perfume (anyone want any samples ) and scented lotion for dh b/c he loves it too! It always reminds me of being in a lot/on tour I don't mix it with any cleaning solutions. I remember one time I goofed and used the eo accidentally instead of frag oil so it was at the strength for frag oil in a batch of lotion...whole house smelled like patchouli for over a day...had to take the boys outside and open the windows and air out the house!

[mama_kass]

I love it alone or mixed with sandlewood or vanilla. It smells so earthy and sexy.

[Liz]

I voted love it although I don't wear any scent myself. My husband LOVES it though and my FIL had a patchouli plant and we believe that under his rough tough gruff exterior he was a sucker for a patchouli wearin' woman.

[mamarsupial]

i voted love it, although i can't ever wear it, since dh hates it! hee hee.