confused by patchouli

[kindkit]

I hate patchouli. Except, apparently, when I love it.

Much of my experience with patchouli comes from encountering people drenched in it, and in those circumstances it literally makes me queasy. So, as I explore perfumes, I thought that hating patchouli gave me a guideline.

However, some years back I had a sample of BPAL's Mary Read, which is sea salt and "ocean" and rum and a pretty significant dose of patchouli. I liked it, but I thought I liked it despite the patchouli.

Recently I got a new sample, and now I love it, and what's more, I'm pretty sure I love it because of the patchouli. And yet the patchouli-soaked hippies I deal with at work still make me gag. I'm baffled!

So what's the difference between the nice patchouli and the rank stuff? Is it the quality of the patchouli itself? The amount (but I put on quite a bit of Mary Read and still loved it)? Is it the fact that Mary Read is made with aged patchouli?

I googled around a bit looking for articles but didn't find much. I did see the post at Kafkaesque with recs for patchouli scents she recommends, but it seemed written more for enthusiasts than skeptics. Can anybody point me towards some info? And I'd also welcome recs for perfumes with a patcholi presence but where the patchouli is smooth, gentle, not dirty.

Thanks!

Comments

[kindkit]

Mmm, that sounds like a good combination. Since I posted, I've tried another BPAL with patchouli (Voodoo) and not only liked it, I actually found myself thinking "I wish this had a little more patchouli." So my mind/taste seems to be changing.

[rydra_wong]

I've had the same experience, where a note seems weird/offputting/unpleasant to me for ages and then I encounter it in a context which works for me and it's like I've learned how to "read" it -- "Oh, this is how it can fit into a perfume, this is how it can work" -- and then I get much more into it (including sometimes being able to enjoy it in perfumes I didn't like before).