Byrdie / Alli Waataja
Patchouli is one of those scents that has a lot of mystery. Once considered a pungently sweet fragrance worn by flower children in the 1960s, you can now find patchouli in some of the world’s most popular luxury perfumes. Patchouli is a type of plant (classified as part of the mint family) and has an earthy, spicy, and sweet scent. And the perfume industry isn’t the only one on board with patchouli; it’s used in spiritual and alternative medicinal practices and as a natural bug repellent.
To help you narrow down the best patchouli perfumes, we tapped several scent experts and tried top-rated options for ourselves. We paid special attention to the top, heart, and bottom notes and even considered each fragrance’s longevity, dry down, and sillage—the result: An expertly curated list of patchouli perfumes.
Best Overall
Perfumehead Extrait de Parfum
Boozy and earthy
Smells understatedly expensive
Editor-favorite
Not the most affordable
Fragrance Family: Spicy | Key Notes: Coriander, cumin, patchouli, Peru balsam, tonka bean | Sizes: 1.7 oz
Boozy and earthy are two words Byrdie associate editor Alyssa Kaplan used to describe this fragrance upon first whiff. “It reminds me of a jazz club or a chic boutique hotel,” she explains, which makes sense, given that neither has much in common except for being synonymous with understated luxury. Perfumehead’s Canadian Tuxedo is opulence in a bottle; and at almost $500, it should be. Top notes of coriander, orange flower, and bay leaf introduce the fragrance before it dries down and highlights the heart notes of cumin, patchouli, and cedarwood, and leaves behind a sillage of tonka bean, Peru balsam, and cistus absolute.
Best Woody
Byredo Bibliothéque
Velvety and woody
Subtle patchouli notes won’t overpower the rest
Great for fall
Can skew powdery
Fragrance Family: Woody | Key Notes: Plum, cinnamon, leather, violet, birch wood, patchouli, vanilla | Sizes: 1.7, 3.4 oz
Initially released as a candle, fans of Byredo’s Bibliothèque begged for it to be released in perfume form. They got their wish—and turned this fragrance into one of the brand’s top-selling perfumes. What sets this scent apart from other patchouli fragrances is its unique can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on-it notes that create a sexy cross between flowers and leather-bound books. Top notes of plum and cinnamon lend a sweet touch to the otherwise woody and intense blend of leather, violet, birch wood, patchouli, and vanilla, capturing the attention of anyone you pass by. Take our word for it, a spritz or two of this perfume will attract compliments and admirers.
Best Fresh
Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne
Fresh and fruity
A great signature scent
Layerable and versatile
Patchouli can get lost underneath the top notes
Fragrance Family: Fruity floral | Key Notes: King William pear, freesia, patchouli | Sizes: 1, 1.7, 3.4 oz
Described as a traditional chypre fragrance—one that is warm, dry, and built around a woody, mossy accord (in this case patchouli)—Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia is great for those who love brighter, fruitier scents. It highlights top notes of King William pear, which offers a mellow yet juicy scent, and crisp, clean freesia. Fresh and invigorating, this fragrance is a lot lighter than the other options on this list and lends itself well to summer, sunshine, time spent outside, and sophistication.
Best Floral
Gucci Perfume
Strikes a perfect balance between fruit, florals, and patchouli
Comforting, familiar, and feminine
Gorgeous bottle that comes in four sizes
Might be too sweet for some
Fragrance Family: Fruity floral | Key Notes: Italian mandarin, white gardenia, jasmine, frangipani flower, patchouli, brown sugar | Sizes: 0.25, 1, 1.6, 3.3 oz
Encased in a gorgeous (pun intended) new bottle, Gucci’s Flora Gorgeous Gardenia has received quite the makeover. When associate editor Caitlyn Martyn first sniffed this perfume, she said was instantly struck by a feeling of Y2K nostalgia. “After a quizzical text to my mom, she reminded me that this is very similar (if not identical) to the brand’s original Flora fragrance that she wore often when I was a child,” she explained. The fragrance is built entirely around the gardenia flower, which has long been admired as a source of elixirs and magic potions. This modern floral features top notes of Italian mandarin, blossom accord, and red berries, along with heart notes of white gardenia, jasmine absolute, and frangipani flower. In terms of base notes, the perfume includes a touch of patchouli and brown sugar accord, adding a subtle sweetness and lots of depth to its sillage.
Best Earthy
Henry Rose Dark is Night
Starts off earthy but turns sweet on contact with skin
Complex and smells different on everyone
Unisex
Doesn't last as long as we'd like
Fragrance Family: Earthy | Key Notes: Green grass, vetiver, freesia, patchouli, vanilla bean | Sizes: 0.27, 1.7 oz
With just the right amount of patchouli, Dark is Night from Henry Rose is one of our favorites in this category. This scent leans on the woodiness of patchouli while notes of green grass, vetiver, freesia, and vanilla bean round it out and make it complex yet not overpowering. It smells the best once it’s had time to meld with your skin—doing so makes it feel like the fragrance is tailor-made just for you.
Best Fruity
Tom Ford Eau De Parfum
Sensual yet sweet
Unique note pairing
Pretty lacquered bottle
Can be very strong if too much is used
Fragrance Family: Fruity | Key Notes: Peach of the grapevine, blood orange, patchouli | Sizes: 0.33, 1, 1.7 oz
Another great option for those who love sweeter scents, Tom Ford’s Bitter Peach is intoxicating and addicting. Featuring pêche de vigne (aka peach of the grapevine), a very rare type of peach that flourishes during the last weeks of summer in France, plus Sicilian blood orange oil, this perfume is as juicy as it gets. What’s more, notes of rum-infused davana oil, patchouli, and sandalwood offer a sultry, sensual vibe that’s completely unmatched.
Best Smoky
Le Labo Eau de Parfum
Very potent, so a little goes a long way
Has an impressive sillage
Iconic fragrance beloved by editors and experts
Opens up slowly
Fragrance Family: Woody | Key Notes: Leather, Patchouli, Birch, Tar, Vanilla | Sizes: 1.7, 3.4 oz
Despite being a key olfactory note, patchouli goes under the radar in this perfume from Le Labo. Instead, a smoky blend of leather, birch, and tar takes the lead, making this a heavier, more sensual scent. But if you’re not into that kind of thing, don’t worry; to sweeten things up, vanilla makes an appearance. This is really one of those scents that surprises you when you first smell it—because yes, you pick up that smoky black tar—but it opens up slowly to this sweet, complex fragrance that you’ll never get tired of. Plus, it comes in two sizes: a standard 1.7-ounce bottle and a larger 3.4-ounce bottle that, we swear, lasts forever.
Best Unisex
Diptyque Eau de Parfum
Woody and classic
Mysterious but inviting
Bottle enhances any vanity
Can be intense
Fragrance Family: Woody | Key Notes: Patchouli, maté, clary sage, violet | Sizes: 2.5 oz
Honoring the roots of patchouli, Diptyque’s Tempo contains three different patchouli extracts, giving it an elegant and woody smell that’s hard to ignore. All of that could be intense, but thanks to violet leaf, it’s a little more complex and multidimensional. It has a cool aesthetic that looks great on any vanity or countertop and each spritz offers a mysterious aura that’s nothing short of inviting.
Best Eco-Friendly
Eau So Vert Patchouli
Biodegradable and sustainable
Boozy, citrusy, and striking
Light and fresh, making it a great option for summer
Might lean powdery to some noses
Fragrance Family: Woody spicy | Key Notes: Italian bergamot, lemon, pink pepper, neroli, patchouli, Turkish rose, amber | Sizes: 1.7 oz
Powered by patchouli and a squeeze of citrus, this must-try fragrance from Eauso Vert is striking. It’s rich, woody, and spicy while also being incredibly light thanks to a twist of lemon, making it a spectacular starting point for someone looking to dip their noses into the world of patchouli. As if there wasn’t already so much to love, the brand also utilizes a “luxury that gives a damn” philosophy that ensures the formula, packaging, and supply chain practices are done with sustainability in mind. This particular fragrance boasts 97.8% biodegradable elements and a recyclable glass bottle. We’re also huge fans of experiences, so the fact that the brand curates Spotify playlists to suit the vibes of each perfume only makes us love it more.
Best Perfume Oil
Lumira Tobacco Perfume Oil
Affordable and travel-friendly
Unique and detectable
Sustainably sourced
Not as long-lasting as eau de parfum
Fragrance Family: Smoky | Key Notes: Cardamom, clove bud, tangerine, tobacco, patchouli, musk | Sizes: 0.3 oz
In order to truly appreciate this perfume oil, allow me to paint you a picture. Imagine you’re standing in Havana, breathing in smoky cigars, eyeing playful colors, and sensing the ghosts of the area’s glamorous past. If you could bottle that up, it would smell vibrant, intoxicating, and worthy of obsession, right? Well, that’s where Lumira’s Cuban Tobacco Perfume Oil comes in. This sustainable perfume oil captures the energy of Cuba with warm notes of cardamom and clove bud, while tangerine gives it a little tang. Once the oil has had time to mingle with the skin, it mellows down and offers a subtle hint of tobacco, patchouli, and musk. “It has a great balance between freshness and spice,” Kaplan says. “I use it as a nighttime fragrance year round.”
Best Affordable
Snif Sweet Ash Eau de Toilette
Great trial period
Smells more expensive than it is
Woody and rich with a sweet finish
Doesn’t last as long as some other fragrances
Fragrance Family: Earthy | Key Notes: Juniper, bergamot, fir balsam, tonka, vanilla bean, white moss, Patchouli | Sizes: 0.3, 1 oz
Fragrances are a luxury item, but that doesn’t always equate to spending a ton of money. Sweet Ash from Snif is a fantastic budget-friendly option that smells a lot more expensive than it actually is. The sweet yet rich and woody perfume is one of Martyn’s favorites, and it’s because of how complex the fragrance is. When spritzed, the perfume is inviting and warm thanks to notes of moss, patchouli, and fir balsam, which are balanced by hints of tonka and vanilla bean. As the day goes on, the fragrance gets sweeter and subtler, she says. The cherry on top is the brand’s free trial period, which allows you to test out the fragrance in your own home before buying it.
Best Sweet
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
Subtly sweet and sophisticated
Unique citrus and floral blend
Fresh take on iconic Chanel No. 5
Can be overwhelming for some
Fragrance Family: Floral | Key Notes: Orange, patchouli, Turkish rose | Sizes: 1.2, 1.7, 3.4 oz
Coco Mademoiselle is like the cooler little sister of Chanel No. 5. It’s fun and flirty while being simultaneously grown-up and sophisticated—a quality the brand sums up as “spirited.” If you prefer a sweeter fragrance, Mademoiselle won’t disappoint. It opens with a bright note of juicy orange, followed by a bouquet of florals including patchouli and Turkish rose that lingers for hours. This fragrance really shines on hot and humid summer days thanks to its light, clean, and perfectly sweet dry down.
Best for Evening
Tom Ford Noir De Noir
Great for date night
Unique blend of powdery, floral, and gourmand notes
Deep, dark, and seductive
Too strong and dark for daytime
Fragrance Family: Warm floral | Key Notes: Black rose, black truffle, patchouli | Sizes: 1.7, 3.4 oz
Looking for the ultimate date night fragrance? The search ends here. Tom Ford’s Noir de Noir is a sophisticated, seductive perfume that smells warm and inviting on the skin—the kind of scent that will make your companion lean in. Like many of Ford’s fragrances, it has a gender-neutral vibe that blends a powdery soft floral touch with a hint of black truffle before drying down to a dark, leathery finish. A spritz of this perfume is perfect for a dimly lit cocktail bar but comes across as a little too intense for casual daytime wear.
Best for Daytime
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb
Lightweight and bright enough for daytime use
Soft, feminine, and sophisticated
A classic and easy-to-wear patchouli option
Skews sweet and youthful
Fragrance Family: Floral | Key Notes: Vanilla, jasmine, orange blossom, patchouli | Sizes: 0.33, 0.68, 1, 1.7, 3.4, 5 oz
Viktor&Rolf’s Flowerbomb is a classic floral fragrance that’s been a bestseller since it launched in the early 2000s. Light and feminine, it starts with a gentle herbal note of green tea before evolving to soft florals, including jasmine and rose. Base notes of patchouli, musk, and vanilla come through at the end, giving Flowerbomb a sophisticated feel (although it’s undeniably a youthful-smelling perfume). If you’re looking for a soft and pretty scent you’ll want to spritz on most days before leaving the house, this is a great choice.
What to Look for When Buying a Patchouli Perfume
- Type of Fragrance: There are different categories of fragrances, each with distinct scent concentrations. Parfums have the highest scent concentration, followed by eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne. Perfume oils have high scent concentrations but don’t last as long and are more potent for the wearer than for those around them.
- Notes: One of the most important factors to consider before buying perfume is the notes. Within the world of fragrance, scents are categorized as fruity, floral, woodsy, or clean, and the notes you’re most drawn to are ultimately up to you. While, obviously, all of these fragrances feature patchouli, the other notes in a perfume differentiate them from one another. “Patchouli is an unsung hero that can be paired with most types of accords, from a floral all the way to a spicy or musk,” says fragrance expert Keta Burke-Williams. To get a better idea of which fragrances smell best to you, try a sample first or sniff the fragrance in a store.
- Quality: Perfumes are definitely a luxury item, which means the price you pay depends on the ingredients and factors like packaging (or even the brand name itself). Less expensive perfumes often contain fewer notes (and lots more sweet-smelling florals, which are easy to source, and thus, cheaper to create). Pricier options lean on rare essences that are harder to extract and distribute. While I love a good dupe, alternatives almost never replicate the scent just right, and if they do, the staying power isn’t usually as long-lasting.
Why Trust Byrdie
Caitlyn Martyn is an associate editor at Byrdie, where she covers all things beauty and style. She is an avid product tester who likes to try the latest and greatest in makeup, skincare, fragrance, and fashion to let readers know what’s worth it and what’s not. She tested all of the fragrances on this list over the course of two weeks. She spoke to several experts, including:
- Keta Burke-Williams is a fragrance expert, founder and CEO of fragrance brand Ourside, and brand consultant.
- Nina Friede is a fragrance expert with experience in luxury scents, specifically for retail, hospitality, and personal use.
- Guillaume Flavigny is a luxury perfumer who has worked on fragrances from Tom Ford, Valentino, Guess, and more.
This story was checked and updated by Esme Benjamin, a writer/editor and Byrdie contributor. She loves a good fragrance and appreciates a patchouli base note.