Think earthy forest floor. This extract from a leaf, which is part of the mint family, is one of the deepest of notes. Historically, dried patchouli leaves were packed in trunks with precious textiles when shipped to Europe and America from Asia, to ward off moths. In the 1960s it became synonymous with the Hippie Trail, representing a ‘real’, authentic aroma for young people reacting against their parents’ taste in scent. It remains an indispensable element of the palette. In recent years new materials have been released which offer the ballast and endurance of patchouli but with more clarity and brightness.