Patchouli Powder, Indonesia

Now that I’ve distilled about everything I could lay hands on, the time for greater challenges have arrived.  There are materials I’ve had a little fear about; frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli. There are others but these are the ones that need long distillations and as the distiller who’s mastered short, fragrant distillation with flowers that should have never been inside a still, the thought of tending a still for 24 hours or more terrifies me a little. And yet, it makes no sense that I’ve amassed a substantial collection of resins, powdered sandalwood and an inexplicably large amount of patchouli from our producer in Indonesia. Patchouli is polarizing. Those who love it can’t exist without out patchouli and those who don’t, hold it with the same contempt as a durian slaughterhouse. There’s no in between with this plant. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to have patchouli powder for distillation, tincturing and dusting body parts when hundred degree heat hits like a saharan blanket. For years, I asked for patchouli powder from our Indian producers who were not able to acquiesce for reasons I was never sure of. I bought samples here and there and was never happy because I know how witchy and rich and completely consuming the profile can be; for me – so much so that I now grow the plants. The good stuff is aromatic crack.

When this 10 kilo lot arrived a few months back from Indonesia, I thought I would have some relatively decent fresh ground powder to play with in the still and maybe be a little fearless, maybe make some incense, tincture a little for fun but that’s hardly what arrived. I received a patchouli to be feared, to be mindful with in the still and far too marvelous to burn in incense. My reluctance to share it in the apothecary has been strong, my willingness to sample out in orders, unyielding. Yet, aromatics are not meant to be hoarded. They are meant to be ritualized, tinctured, distilled and dusted on the body – all in adoration.