Bad patchouli?

This is somewhat off topic I guess but I thought it would be better answered here. Hope that's ok. if not I'll move it to OT.

I'm just curious. I've heard rave reviews about patchouli soaps so I bought some incense cones labeled patchouli to check the smell. I was going to burn them in the house after its empty to try to give it a sense of relaxed atmosphere. When I opened the bottle it smelled like a combination of wet wood ashes, wet cigarettes, and post game locker room butt.

Is this some manly man thing or did I get a bad lot? I took it back to the store and opened a couple more to smell and they all smelled the same. Then I went to a health food store and smelled the essential oil vials. While the smell lacked the strong smoke and cigarette portion, it still had the post game smell along with a hint of well used unwashed urinal.

I think my olfactory cells are in decent working order. A steak smells like a steak, cedar wood smells like cedar, oak smells like oak, and my wife smells like rose pedals. So what gives? Is it possible I just am smelling in all the wrong places or is this an acquired odor?

I ended up exchanging the patchouli for sandalwood and I bought some dragons blood on the side.

Incense in general smells like a combination of wet wood ashes, wet cigarettes, and post game locker room butt to me. I am not sure how patchouli smells on its own, but you won't be disappointed if you try Colleen's Orange-Patchouli soap. If you're doubious about it, ask for a sample.

:roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao

if you are old enough to remember hippies, that is what they slathered on themselves instead of bathing. my wife loves the smell of it, I don't.
BUT ymmv :shrug:

That sounds like the stuff alright.

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Originally Posted by FUD

... patchouli ...

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gesundheit. :D

X

How can you tell when patchouli's gone bad --- it always smells like it's past its expiration date. Kind of like telling if yogart's gone bad.


Justin

FUD,

Patchouli does smell very earthy and is known as a base note in perfumery. On its own and in high concentrations it is pretty aweful but in combination with other scents it can be very nice. Often it is sweetened by citrus smells, such as sweet orange or bergamot. It can also be used as a base note to offset pungent top note fragrances such as Eucalyptus and menthol.

I am far from being an expert but hope this helps.

Rob

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Originally Posted by jaegerhund

How can you tell when patchouli's gone bad --- it always smells like it's past its expiration date. Kind of like telling if yogart's gone bad.


Justin

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I thought that was cottage cheese.

RT

BAD PATCHOULI?


Is there such a thing as GOOD PATCHOULI?????

(...I think not, thank you very much!...)

-whatever

-Lou

AH--- you say cottage cheese -- I say yogurt --- I believe yogurt is bacterial fermented milk -- some might call that rotten ;)


Justin

I happen to like patchouli. While hippies may have "bathed" in it, I think it was more popular in dorm rooms where an illegal substance was being burned in home rolled cigarettes. I never did that. But I still like patchouli.

RT

Never could stomach the smell of patchouli

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Originally Posted by FUD

When I opened the bottle it smelled like a combination of wet wood ashes, wet cigarettes, and post game locker room butt... it still had the post game smell along with a hint of well used unwashed urinal.

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Nice description.

I came very close to shorting my keyboard; it was difficult to swallow before laughing…

I believe I have a sample of Colleen’s Orange Patchouli, it smells quite pleasant. Primarily one smells the orange, but it is definitely anchored with something more earthly. I think Bobbo was right on the mark with his descriptions, as far as I can tell; I have never smelled the pure fragrance.

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Originally Posted by jaegerhund

AH--- you say cottage cheese -- I say yogurt --- I believe yogurt is bacterial fermented milk -- some might call that rotten ;)

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Its only rotten if it tastes bad and makes you sick. And furthermore, I have heard some stories of what passes for food down in Louisiana…:eek: ;)

-Michael

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Originally Posted by rtaylor61

I happen to like patchouli. While hippies may have "bathed" in it, I think it was more popular in dorm rooms where an illegal substance was being burned in home rolled cigarettes. I never did that. But I still like patchouli.

RT

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It may have smelled a bit better had I burned it but I didn't want to take the chance. The sandalwood and the dragons blood were quite pleasant. I've actually been burning the sandalwood the past couple of days as most of the furniture is already out of the house and I don't have to worry about my wife complaining about the lingering smell of incense in the upholstery.

My wife doesn't understand my like of incense. She thinks it's because I grew up in hippie towns. I say it's because I like the old religious implications like where the priests burned incense with their prayers.

BTW, I don't know if I was too young to notice but I don't recall this odor from any of the hippies in our circles.

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Originally Posted by FUD

... BTW, I don't know if I was too young to notice but I don't recall this odor from any of the hippies in our circles.

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Wannabees.

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Originally Posted by ohlookaneagle

Its only rotten if it tastes bad and makes you sick. And furthermore, I have heard some stories of what passes for food down in Louisiana…:eek: ;)

-Michael

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Actually Michael I really do like yogurt and was just trying to make some vague analogy ---but point taken about the Louisiana food -- just a step away from bush tucker

Justin

CRAWFISH BOIL AT JAEGER-DUDE'S PLACE!!!!!

(....l-o-o-o-v-e that Jaeger-tucker!...)

-whatever

-Lou

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Originally Posted by scarface

CRAWFISH BOIL AT JAEGER-DUDE'S PLACE!!!!!

(....l-o-o-o-v-e that Jaeger-tucker!...)

-whatever

-Lou

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Ahh-- and Lou has pointed out the greatest success of Louisiana cooking --- if you can come up with a process and spice combination for making some weird little mud roach we kindly call a crawfish (mudbug) taste great ----we'll that's genius in the rough .

Next crawfish boil is at Lou's --- minus the potatoes of course --- now that's an image ---beer,crawfish. suasage and a backdrop of Idaho beauty --- heaven I'd say.:)

Justin

P.S. patchouli is still stanky hippie runoff ---- let's get back to that.

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Originally Posted by jaegerhund

P.S. patchouli is still stanky hippie runoff ---- let's get back to that.

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You took the words right out of my mouth Justin!!!

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Originally Posted by JMS

You took the words right out of my mouth Justin!!!

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Mark -- great mouths speak alike --- just an observation --- never could understand covering natural funk with another foreign funk --- but I do think if you could distill a hippie you would be left with a pint of patchouli ;) ---- you can call it musky, earthy, woodsy --- but stanky better be in there somewhere ---

Justin (Pres. of Feed a Hippie Foundation)

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Originally Posted by Bobbo

FUD,

Patchouli does smell very earthy and is known as a base note in perfumery. On its own and in high concentrations it is pretty aweful but in combination with other scents it can be very nice. Often it is sweetened by citrus smells, such as sweet orange or bergamot.

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I am with Bobbo (hey, could be written on a t-shirt), Lavender also combines well with patchouli. Some attribute aphrodisiac qualities to patchouli ... now if that don't make it smell better, I don't know what will :-)

Bill

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Originally Posted by rtaylor61

I think it was more popular in dorm rooms where an illegal substance was being burned in home rolled cigarettes. I never did that. RT

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Well at least you didn't lie and tell us you didn't inhale...

Some people actually like the smell (myself included). Anybody else out there? Perhaps it's my fond memories of the dorms....ah the sound of Pink Floyd on a nice stereo and the tokemaster working it's way around the room....whoa..come back to reality. I'm a very different person now and do regret some of the vast amount of time wasted being wasted.

"Wasted" time in college is never really wasted. Once work starts life gets way too serious. Just my humble opinion..

Yup patchouli smells like dirty hippie.
blecccchhhhhh.

I found some patchouli oil at the Dollar General for $2 in a little bottle.

If you take incense cones and poke them in the neck of the bottle and flip upside down it makes and kind of incense smell nice(assuming you like the stuff)

I don't like the smell so much by itself but putting it on vanila incense does smell better, so I agree that the smell can work well with other scents.

I tried adding a drop to some CS soap while I was melting it in a cup, just a drop mind you.

It BURNED like FIRE !! :cry:

Step away from the patchouli man, it's not worth it!!