Native to Asia, patchouli now experiences extensive cultivation for both personal and commercial use throughout many nations of the continent as well as in West Africa. This bushy little plant is actually an herb that belongs to the mint family and its lovely fragrance has made a popular ingredient in perfume for centuries. It now experiences a wider use for its fragrance as well as for its diverse qualities.

The plant is marked with nicely scented and beautiful purple flowers of a delicate nature that produce seed for further planting. As the seeds are fragile and easily crushed, a patchouli plant can also be grown by taking a cutting from the mother plant. Patchouli oil was used historically to repel moths from silk in China and thus the scent became associated with luxury.