Dried Patchouli

Dried patchouli leaves are frequently employed in the creation of incense and perfumes, and also have spiritual and healing applications in practices such as meditation, Wicca, and witchcraft. They are often used for purification, cleansing, and healing purposes.

In this blog post, we will discuss various methods for drying patchouli leaves and highlight some of the top quality dried patchouli leaves available for purchase online.

Dried Patchouli

When first picked, patchouli leaves contain a lot of moisture. The leaves can be used fresh like this for making herbal teas or in other culinary uses as seasonings and flavorings, but to use specifically for their fragrance the leaves need to be dried.

Patchouli: Dried Leaves

The dried patchouli leaves are used in potpourri or ground into a powder for making incense either as incense sticks, incense cones and coils or just as powdered incense, burned on charcoal tablets in censers.

The powdered leaves are also used in herbal medicine treatments to treat common ailments and have long been a feature of Chinese medicinal recipes.

Below are some of the best dried patchouli leaf packs [*Amazon]:

Picture	Product Link [*Amazon]
	Patchouli Herb – Dried Pogostemon cablin
	1 Oz Patchouli Leaf Cut Herb
	Herbs for Incense: Patchouli and Sage
	Herbs: Patchouli Dried Herb

Oil from Dried Patchouli

Dried patchouli is also used to make patchouli oil, which is extracted from the dried leaves by steam distillation.

Dried leaves are used rather than fresh leaves because the drying process breaks down the cell walls of the leaves allowing the steam to penetrate the leaves where the oils are stored.

Steam is forced through the dried leaves and into copper tubes where it condenses into oils and is collected in a container as patchouli oil.

How to Dry Patchouli Leaves

To get the best yield of essential oils from the patchouli leaves, they need to be dried to remove any water and moisture, and then the oil can be extracted from the dried leaves by steam distillation.

Care has to be taken not to expose the leaves to excessive temperatures during the drying process which should be done at around 40 degrees C to 45 deg.C.

Shade Drying

The most common method of drying patchouli leaves is shade drying, over the course of two days in well-ventilated rooms. The leaves are spread out in thin layers over a hard surface or on a screen raised off the floor to allow good air circulation.

During the drying process the leaves are regularly turned over to allow even drying and to prevent the leaves fermenting while they still retain moisture.

This is the traditional method of drying patchouli leaves that has been used over the centuries but it can sometimes be difficult in humid conditions during the monsoon season.

Mechanical Drying

Mechanical dryers are sometimes used where they are available. The patchouli leaves are placed in a drying chamber and hot air is forced through the chamber by blowers.

This method is a lot faster, drying the leaves in about five hours and it is easier to control the drying temperature.

In fact, drying by forced hot air blowers produces more oil content from the leaves and does not adversely affect the quality of the oil’s aroma.

However, most growers prefer the method of shade drying because that is traditional for them and has a lower cost in terms of investment in equipment.

Home Drying

If you have your own patchouli bush you can dry the leaves yourself. There are two main methods of drying plants at home. Firstly by using a similar method to the patchouli growers.

Spread a single layer of fresh cut leaves on a screen, making sure the screen is supported off the ground to allow airflow under and around the leaves.

This should be done in a shaded, well ventilated space, like a car garage for example, in a warm temperature, but not hot. Keep checking them and turning them over, and the leaves should dry out in five to seven days.

The second method is the same as is often used for drying plants and herbs. Cut off whole branches of leaves and tie them together in a bunch by the stems, then hang them in a warm dry room, with a good airflow all around them and they will dry out in about seven days.

Parting Words

The aroma of dried patchouli is sweet and earthy, which makes it a popular choice among perfumers looking to create a desirable scent.

In aromatherapy, patchouli is often used to soothe the senses and alleviate stress. It is commonly used as a base note in combination with other essential oils.

Patchouli leaves have also been utilized as a traditional medicine for centuries in Asian countries.

Indian and Chinese traditional medicine use it to treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

In conclusion, I hope this post on dried patchouli has been informative and helpful to you.

If you have any questions or comments about drying or using dried patchouli, please feel free to leave a comment below, and I will do my best to provide answers.