GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Patchouli Dark Indonesia
Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.
Chemotype: patchoulol / alpha-bulnesene / alpha-guaiene type
- PLANT PART
- leaves
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- base
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 70 / 100
- Note layer
- base
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- 76%
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- low
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No phototoxic restriction was identified for this steam-distilled patchouli oil. The reviewed 2026 IFRA certificate lists Category 5A body creams, oils, and lotions at 76.00% and Category 4 fine fragrance as not limited.
Contraindications & cautions
- mildNo pharmacological contraindication is documented for patchouli in Tisserand & Young's Essential Oil Safety, but the supplier's safety guidance advises consulting a healthcare professional before use during pregnancy and nursing as a general precaution.
- moderateDo not use patchouli essential oil on children under 3 years old.
- severeExternal use only; not for internal use. May be fatal if swallowed and enters the airways (aspiration hazard); if swallowed, contact a poison center or doctor immediately and do not induce vomiting.
- moderateDo not use undiluted on the skin; dilute in a carrier oil before topical application.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This profile is anchored to a directly readable 2025 GC/MS report (Shay and Company, Lot 13559) for Indonesian dark patchouli oil and a 2026 IFRA certificate for Patchouli (Dark) Indonesia. The batch is sesquiterpene-dominant, led by patchouli alcohol with alpha-bulnesene, alpha-guaiene, beta-caryophyllene, and beta-patchoulene as recurring markers. Additional named peaks from the same GC/MS report (seychellene, alpha-patchoulene, pogostol, beta-elemene, alpha-humulene, beta-selinene, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, beta-pinene, nootkatene, gamma-gurjunene, alpha-pinene, gamma-eudesmol, germacrene D, alpha-muurolene, valencene, limonene) were added to raise mass-balance closure; the source report itself totals only 91.81% identified compounds (many minor peaks reported as 'Unidentified'), so closure for this record is capped below 0.95 by the source data itself, not by omission.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patchouli alcohol | 30.02% | 30.02–30.02% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (Patchouli alcohol 30.02%) |
| alpha-Bulnesene | 17.57% | 17.57–17.57% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (alpha-Bulnesene 17.57%) |
| alpha-Guaiene | 14.01% | 14.01–14.01% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (alpha-Guaiene 14.01%) |
| beta-Caryophyllene | 3.11% | 3.11–3.11% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (beta-Caryophyllene 3.11%) |
| beta-Patchoulene | 3% | 3–3% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (beta-Patchoulene 3.00%) |
| Seychellene | 6.84% | 6.84–6.84% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (Seychellene 6.84%) |
| alpha-Patchoulene | 4.7% | 4.7–4.7% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (alpha-Patchoulene 4.70%) |
| Pogostol | 2.28% | 2.28–2.28% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (Pogostol 2.28%) |
| beta-Elemene | 1.1% | 1.1–1.1% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (beta-Elemene 1.10%) |
| alpha-Humulene | 0.54% | 0.54–0.54% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (alpha-Humulene 0.54%) |
| beta-Selinene | 0.41% | 0.41–0.41% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (beta-Selinene 0.41%) |
| Spathulenol | 0.5% | 0.5–0.5% | oxygenated sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (Spathulenol 0.50%) |
| Caryophyllene oxide | 0.39% | 0.39–0.39% | oxygenated sesquiterpene | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (Caryophyllene oxide 0.39%) |
| beta-Pinene | 0.18% | 0.18–0.18% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (beta-Pinene 0.18%) |
| Nootkatene | 0.16% | 0.16–0.16% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (Nootkatene 0.16%) |
| gamma-Gurjunene | 0.1% | 0.1–0.1% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (gamma-Gurjunene 0.10%) |
| alpha-Pinene | 0.08% | 0.08–0.08% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (alpha-Pinene 0.08%) |
| gamma-Eudesmol | 0.06% | 0.06–0.06% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (gamma-Eudesmol 0.06%) |
| Germacrene D | 0.06% | 0.06–0.06% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (Germacrene D 0.06%) |
| alpha-Muurolene | 0.03% | 0.03–0.03% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (alpha-Muurolene 0.03%) |
| Valencene | 0.03% | 0.03–0.03% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (Valencene 0.03%) |
| Limonene | 0.02% | 0.02–0.02% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceShay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559 https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf (Limonene 0.02%) |
| Cycloseychellene | 0.65% | — | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourcePogostemon cablin EO GC-MS, PMC6630315 (2019) Table 1 (atypical/oxidized sample, a-bulnesene only 4%); only stable minor sesquiterpenes borrowed |
| Aciphyllene | 0.54% | — | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourcePogostemon cablin EO GC-MS, PMC6630315 (2019) Table 1 (atypical/oxidized sample, a-bulnesene only 4%); only stable minor sesquiterpenes borrowed |
| Viridiflorene | 0.57% | — | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourcePogostemon cablin EO GC-MS, PMC6630315 (2019) Table 1 (atypical/oxidized sample, a-bulnesene only 4%); only stable minor sesquiterpenes borrowed |
| 9-epi-(E)-Caryophyllene | 1.24% | — | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourcePogostemon cablin EO GC-MS, PMC6630315 (2019) Table 1 (atypical/oxidized sample, a-bulnesene only 4%); only stable minor sesquiterpenes borrowed |
| Elemol | 0.16% | — | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourcePogostemon cablin EO GC-MS, PMC6630315 (2019) Table 1 (atypical/oxidized sample, a-bulnesene only 4%); only stable minor sesquiterpenes borrowed |
| Humulene epoxide II | 0.72% | — | oxygenated sesquiterpene | View sourcePogostemon cablin EO GC-MS, PMC6630315 (2019) Table 1 (atypical/oxidized sample, a-bulnesene only 4%); only stable minor sesquiterpenes borrowed |
Profile source: Shay and Company GC/MS Report - Patchouli EO Dark Lot 13559; Patchouli (Dark) Indonesia product page; Patchouli (Dark) Indonesia IFRA-6552 · https://shayandcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patchouli-Essential-Oil-GCMS-Shay-and-Company-Lot13559.pdf; https://shop.perfumersapprentice.com/p-6552-patchouli-dark-indonesia.aspx; https://shop.perfumersapprentice.com/Documents/IFRA-51/6552.pdf
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- traditionally used in aromatherapy for grounding, calming effect
- reported to support relaxation and easing of occasional stress
- used in perfumery as a rich, earthy, musky-sweet base note and fixative
- traditionally associated with promoting sensuality and emotional balance
- used in skin-care and massage blends for its warm, woody-earthy aroma
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 2 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- The 0-100 odor_intensity value is a normalization of the public qualitative aroma-strength descriptions for dark Indonesian patchouli rather than a source-native numeric measurement.
- Mass-balance closure (sum of pct_typical) is approximately 0.852 (85.19%) even after adding all corpus-matchable named peaks from the Shay and Company GC/MS report; the underlying report itself only identifies 91.81% of total peak area, with the remainder split across dozens of sub-0.1% and unidentified sesquiterpenoid peaks that either lack an existing constituent_id in this corpus (e.g. cycloseychellene, aristola-1(10),8-diene, aciphyllene, D-norpatchoulenol, palustrol, juniper camphor, longifolol, cyperadione, phytone, delta-elemene) or were left unidentified by the analytical lab. No further named, corpus-matchable constituents remain to add without inventing new constituent rows or numbers.