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Definition of patchouli

patchouli

/pəˈtʃuːli/
patch · ou · li
Plural:patchoulis
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patchouli Lexical Profile

patchouli Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A strong, earthy, and pungent essential oil derived from the patchouli plant, widely used in perfumery, incense, and traditional medicine.

Example

"The distinct, musky scent of patchouli lingered in the small bohemian boutique long after the customers had left."

2

A bushy, tropical plant of the mint family native to Southeast Asia, characterized by its fragrant, soft, and fuzzy leaves.

Example

"The farmer cultivated a large crop of patchouli to supply the local botanical extract distillery."

Word Nuance & Usage

In Western contexts, the scent of patchouli is heavily stereotyped and culturally associated with the 1960s and 1970s hippie counterculture, which can give it a polarizing connotation.

• Rhymes for patchouli

• Nearby Words

patcher
patchily
patchiness
patchouli
patchwork
patchy
patdown

Word Origin & Etymology

Mid 19th century: from French, ultimately derived from the Tamil words 'paccai' (green) and 'ilai' (leaf).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Patchouli. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/patchouli
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