At first sight it’s just another bushy herb. But Patchouli, or Pogostemon cablin, belongs to the mint family and carries a cherished history, as pronounced as its characteristic perfume. A native of tropical Asia, its essential oil has a scent that has been used in perfumes for centuries and more recently it has been mixed with incense components. Although it is used particularly in East Asian incenses, Velvet Patchouli’s fragrance is helplessly reminiscent of the incense used in our Italian churches. It’s an olfactory journey that starts with an intense patchouli oil drenched with kephalis scents that blooms into a rich, musky presence. With its strong character, Velvet Patchouli shelters both the Sicilian Baroque and the subtle seduction of velvet itself, softly lingering without overwhelming the senses as the velvet fabric does to the skin. This luxurious fragrance, belonging to the woody chypre olfactive family, recalls exotic lands as well as Italian elements that – like Etna, the Sicilian Volcano - are dominant in their presence and wild as the mist. Tradition and innovation collide in this haute perfumerie fragrance were senses are embraced and amplified for a decadent olfactive experience. Each mist is contained in a heavy glass flacon and is differentiated by the colour of its cap: Velvet Patchouli’s one is inky black.

Written by: Elisa della Barba

Credits: Dolce&Gabbana Perfumes