The 15 Best Patchouli Perfumes for a Sweet, Sultry Scent
Sam Peters
·15 min read
15 Best Patchouli Perfumes to Spice Up Your LifeNordstrom,
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For a long time, I solely associated patchouli perfumes with the strong, musky scents popular during my grandmother’s generation (Chanel N°5 being the most famous and distinct patchouli perfume among them). But after challenging myself to dip a toe into today’s vast offerings, I’ve totally changed my tune. The best patchouli scents are diverse enough to win over fresh, floral, and sweet scent enthusiasts, too, who traditionally love softer fragrances like the best citrus, rose, and vanilla perfumes.
“Patchouli is incredibly faceted, so there’s really a patchouli fragrance out there for everyone,” explains Diptyque Director of Marketing Eduardo Valadez. “It can take on many different olfactive personalities and pairs wonderfully with so many other raw materials. One may interpret patchouli as intense, earthy, and camphorous, while others read it as sweet, amber-like, and woody.”
Ahead, I’ve culled a few of my go-tos, scoured customer reviews, and tapped ELLE editors for their all-time favorite patchouli scents. Plus, I spoke with Valadez and French perfumer Guillaume Flavigny for their top recs. Whether you’re seeking something dark, rich, and spicy or a lighter, subtler version, these are the 15 best affordable and splurge-worthy patchouli perfumes that will add unmatched dimension to your scent collection.
Woman in Gold Refillable Perfume
Kilian’s take on patchouli perfume is just as dynamic and opulent as the famed painting it’s named after. At first whiff, you’ll be met with a cocktail of citrusy bergamont, rich rose, and warm tonka bean, followed by a smooth drydown of vanilla absolute and patchouli.
An ELLE editors says: “Kilian Paris’ Woman in Gold exudes grown woman status. It’s an elegant blend that stays in the room even after you leave.” — Danielle James, ELLE.com Beauty Director
If you gravitate towards citrusy perfumes, this best-selling Diptyque fragrance will become a staple. Herbaceous angelica root, pine-y juniper berry, and earthy patchouli ground juicy orange blossom for an invigorating fresh-off-the tree scent.
Our experts say: “I may be biased, but I am going to be drawn to the number one Diptyque fragrance in France, Eau des Sens. It is a perfect blend that’s designed to be both mouthwatering and fresh…a composition that stimulates and simultaneously confuses the senses.”— Eduardo Valadez, Diptyque Director of Marketing
This isn’t the saccharine vanilla perfume you wore as a teen. Kayali’s Vanilla Royale offers a deliciously sophisticated upgrade while having undergone 64 iterations—per the number on the front of the bottle—to help ensure it’s well balanced.
Key scent notes: Golden rum, vanilla surabsolute, sugared patchouli
Size: 0.34 oz.-1.7 oz.
An ELLE editor says: “I like my fragrances how I like my drinks—spicy, seductive, and with a tinge of sugar. This perfume uses patchouli, soaks it in booze (specifically rum), and swirls it around sugary vanilla and oud for a sultry, grown-up spin on its predecessor, Vanilla 28.”— Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com Beauty Commerce Editor
Looking to impress on date night or during a night out? This seductively bold medley of rich scents like Bulgarian Rose, patchouli, cloves, and praline is sure to stop anyone dead in their tracks.
Our experts say: “The Harmonist’s Hypnotizing Fire is the pinnacle of sexy. I love it for its mysterious dark sensual gourmand and rich church-inspired scents such as frankincense, balsam, and Myrrh from Somalia.”— Guillaume Flavigny, French perfumer working with The Harmonist
Meet your new favorite summer perfume, which uplifts a hearty base of patchouli, amber, and sandalwood with a light and refreshing finish. Since this scent is made with a blend of essential oils, it’s designed to offer peak aromatherapy benefits, too.
Key scent notes: Cassis, rose geranium, patchouli, peony
Size: 0.33 oz.-1.7 oz.
Our editors say: “While patchouli is still the star of the show in this perfume, it’s the other notes that make it feel unique and signature. Fresh peony and mandarin give it a summery and warm feel.” — Margaux Anbouba, ELLE Beauty Editor
Mugler’s iconic Angel perfume is not for the faint of heart, but once you get hooked, you’ll never go back. Its potent sweet notes will instantly delight any candy lover’s senses, while quickly raising an eyebrow with supporting smoky and spicy additions.
Key scent notes: Bergamot, red fruits, patchouli, praline
Size: 0.3 oz.-3.4 oz.
Our editors say: “Like many great perfumes, you either love or hate Angel, but you never forget what it smells like. Designer Thierry Mugler changed the perfume world forever, with this fragrance which ushered in the current gourmand scent wave that we’ve been in for multiple decades. With a laundry list of sweet ingredients including cotton candy, coconut, and melon which would make a dentist cower in fear, the patchouli gives all the sweetness to this fragrance, an added, smoky, mysterious air. It’s a very strong and long-lasting scent, which is probably why many powerful women such as Hilary Clinton and Jerry Hall have been rumored to wear Angel.” — Kathleen Hou, ELLE Beauty Director
This sweet-meets-sensual perfume has the smoky, ambery depth you’d want in a nighttime fragrance, but isn’t too heady thanks to notes of warm vanilla and bright orange blossom.
Our editors say: “Henry Rose’s Char is dark without being overpowering and gives me a sort of confidence the best LBD couldn’t. All it takes is one sniff and you’ll know what I’m talking about.”— Bianca Rodriguez, Hearst Commerce Manager
Backed by legions of fans, this ultra-feminine scent is at once classic and complex. A blend of six aromatic florals is offset by earthy patchouli and creamy vanilla, creating a decadent, long-lasting effect.
My review: “Floral fragrances are my bread and butter, but I never like anything overly sweet or predictable. Viktor&Rolf’s buzzy Flowerbomb earns a seal approval from even a picky nose like mine. It makes you smell like a luxurious bouquet of flowers while revealing subtly sensual undertones of patchouli and musk the longer you wear it. I can easily sport this perfume all day long, and it always fits the mood of the occasion.”
Also from Kayali, founded by beauty moguls Huda and Mona Kattan, Utopia Vanilla Coco is another ELLE-editor favorite. This warm floral fragrance opens with notes of jasmine, coconut, and vanilla bourbon, while offering a subtly fruity twist of honeysuckle, pear blossom, and tangy Italian lemon.
Our editors say: “My favorite kind of fragrances are the ones that take you places. One spray of this and I’m suddenly transported to my mother’s vanity where I’d awe in wonder at her beauty collection. Her vibe has always been sweet with a side of spice, otherwise known as what you’ll find in this bottle.” — Bianca Rodriguez
Courtesy of Krigler, storied fragrance dynasty, this rich patchouli scent is complemented by warm leather, amber, sweet vanilla, and fresh bergamot. Though it’s one of the most expensive perfumes on the market, it’s distilled like a fine wine and rests for up to two years before being bottled. Not to mention, it’s made with up to 90 percent natural ingredients and produced in limited batches—giving it an air of “quiet luxury.”
Key scent notes: Amber, musk, patchouli, red fruits, vanilla
Size: .06 oz.-3.4 oz.
Our editors say: “Undoubtedly, the best patchouli fragrance is Lovely Patchouli by Krigler. I had an opportunity to speak with Ben Krigler himself and deep dive into this sweet, spicy scent. ‘It’s more of an attitude,’ he revealed to me in Monaco. It’s mixed with an amber vanilla, so the scent isn’t typical to the one you get with patchouli. I know you’ll love it at first sniff, but if you want even more convincing, this was the signature scent of Jackie Kennedy.” — Danielle James
Every evocative D.S. & Durga Scent will take you on a journey, and Pistachio is certainly no exception. The nut-inspired scent is playful though not as straightforward as it sounds, so be prepared for endless inquiries of “What are you wearing?” and “How can I get it?”
Our editors say: “This perfume was originally made as a limited edition, or a B-side, in music terms. Musician-turned-perfumer David Moltz made 100 bottles on a flight of fancy, calling pistachio ‘an elegant nut’ (and he’s right, Prada does make a pistachio cake, after all). It turns out that people went nuts for deez nuts, and the perfume is now a permanent scent fixture. This scent is unabashedly sweet, creamy, aromatic, powdery, earthy, and spicy at the same time. It won’t smell like pistachio ice cream—it’s more complex and less childlike than that, but it’s for the adult with a taste for an interesting yet sweet scent.”— Kathleen Hou
Byredo’s Velvet Haze may sound like the name of a Taylor Swift song, but its aroma is altogether grungier. With notes of patchouli, coconut water, cocoa, and mixed musks, it’s a rich, smoky, and slightly sweet concoction perfect for anyone who likes fuller, more androgynous-leaning scents.
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I owned a purple velvet Biba suit in the ’90s; this perfume would have worked so well with that suit. It’s a different scent, heady, chocolate, smooth smoky, and deep. Excellent longevity and silage, totally addictive. Comforting and not like anything else I own. I can’t stop smelling my wrist while wearing this.”
Elorea’s Heaven is probably unlike any other floral fragrance you’ve ever smelled. Inspired by the elements, the Korean scent stars freesia, jasmine, and rose at its heart as well as top notes of fresh bergamot, spicy pink pepper, and soothing green tea sourced from South Korea. Finally, a base of patchouli, amber, musk, and vanilla wrap you in a warm, cozy hug.
My review: “Although only a year old, burgeoning fragrance brand Elorea is certainly one to watch. My favorite scent from the label is its more fruity-floral Inflorescence, but this best-selling version from its Elements collection is perfect for when I want a slightly edgier floral fragrance. I love to wear it on days I’m really feeling myself, as it’s soft with a noticeably woody kick.”
Another great floral perfume, this nuanced Gucci fragrance has all the trappings of a year-round signature scent—complete with bright magnolia, dewberries, and a tinge of patchouli essence.
An ELLE editor says: “Gucci Beauty recently launched the third fragrance, Gorgeous Magnolia, in their Flora collection. Yes, it has that fresh floral magnolia scent (you know, the exact smell that hits your nose when you walk into The Plaza in NYC), however, perfumers Daphné Bugey and Marie Salamagne mixed dewberries and patchouli into the formula to strike a balance between the playful and sensual scent. This scent is light and airy while giving you the sweet darkness of patchouli intertwined with the juicy dewberries and fresh magnolia essence.” — Danielle James
Patchouli purists will want nothing but this Escentric Molecules perfume on their makeup vanity. On top of starring patchouli oil, it stays in the same fragrance family by featuring Iso E Super—a synthetic, cedarwood-scented molecule that’s fragrant yet not overpowering.
Key scent notes: Iso E Super (cedarwood), patchouli
Size: 0.25 oz.-3.4 oz.
An ELLE editor says: “Patchouli is often paired with sweetness, its earthiness and slight ‘dirty’ aspect making it the yang to a sweet yin. Without any sweet notes, this scent allows patchouli to really shine on its own and be its own star, without being relegated to being a supporting act. I like that this scent has a slight woodiness to it (via cedarwood), but there’s a light airiness and transparent feeling to this perfume that you don’t often get with patchouli fragrances.” — Kathleen Hou
“While patchouli is technically an herb, its powerful scent lends more to something quite woodsy,” explains Valdez. “It is often described as deep, earthy, sometimes spicy, and slightly sweet.”
Flavigny adds that this fragrance family is generally ideal for someone seeking something “vibrant, mysterious, long lasting, and somewhat dark.”
A bit of background about patchouli: The flowering plant originated in tropical Southeast Asia, before making its way around the world as a popular herbal remedy for various health concerns and a spicy-sweet fragrance. Notably, patchouli was beloved by hippies in the ‘60s and ‘70s for its intense and musky aroma. However, the scent is now often mixed with a range of other complementary notes to give it a softer and more eclectic vibe.
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What scents pair well with patchouli?
“The pairing possibilities with patchouli are practically endless,” says Valadez. “It’s excellent and unexpected with bright citrus notes like grapefruit, lime, and bergamot, but also pairs beautifully with raw materials that are classic and beloved in perfumery, like rose, lavender, and peppermint. I tend to be drawn to scents that are more Ambrée, so combining patchouli with scents of vanilla, cinnamon, or amber is heavenly. Finally, patchouli is perfectly matched with other woody/earthy scents like clary sage, cypress, and sandalwood,” he adds.
If you prefer your scents on the sweeter side, look for options with vanilla as well as other common gourmand notes like nuts, cotton candy, and fruit.
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What to look for in the best patchouli perfumes
“At the end of the day, finding a patchouli fragrance that uses only the highest quality of raw materials and expert processes will deliver the best perfumes,” explains Valadez. “The steps for harvesting and distilling patchouli are intricate, and caring for the craft can really make or break a fragrance. Additionally, knowing that patchouli is famous for its intensity, choosing the best patchouli perfumes should boil down to how they make you feel when they are on.”
And because every perfume has a story to tell, “the more emotion and memories a patchouli scent can evoke for a wearer, the better it is,” says Flavigny.
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Meet the Experts
Guillaume Flavigny is a world-renowned French perfumer who works with The Harmonist.
Sam Peters is a seasoned commerce writer and editor with over five years of experience covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle topics. She has tested a number of patchouli scents, and interviewed two perfume experts as well as ELLE staffers to uncover some of the best and longest-lasting versions on the market. She also scoured customer reviews to find those with the highest ratings. A diverse range of patchouli scents, including formulas across various price points, were included.
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