Kandra is so very excited! Why? Because Patchouli is her favorite aroma… and we’ve had multiple requests for a patchouli soap recently. That means the soap studio will be filled with that sweet sweet aroma for a few days for us to enjoy. âš
Now, the big question… what color should the soap be? Use the form below to submit your color choice, and we’ll whip up a batch of patchouli soap next week with the most requested color.
Here’s a photo with just a few color options from Kandra’s book on using natural ingredients to color soap. Each color is created from botanicals, teas, and infusions (you know, things like carrots, indigo, charcoal, and other flowers and roots.) ð
In case you’re wondering, here’s a quick primer on patchouli:
Patchouli is a herbal green bush, related to the mint family, and grows to about 3 feet. The essential oil is extracted from the leaves and stems, and it’s native to tropical areas of southeast Asia.
While patchouli is often associated with the counter-culture revolution of the 60s, it’s not just an aroma for anti-establishment hippies.
The west was first introduced to the aroma as textiles, spices, and other objects making their way along the trade routes were packed with patchouli leaves to protect against moths and other insects. This led the intoxicating aroma to be linked with exotic objects of the Far East, and for consumers to expect real silk to smell like patchouli, least they be swindled!
The aroma is relaxing and sedating, making it a prime choice for meditation practice. Others find the deep musky scent arousing and promoting a sense of confidence and freedom. The essential oil is both cleansing, and fortifying for the skin as it’s assumed to balance out the skin’s sebum production. That, and you might just enjoy a reminiscent trip to a dead show where you danced the days away with your Uncle and his warf rat friends… oh wait, that’s Kandra’s memory!
