ESSENCE DE PATCHOULIA slightly faded photo shows two young men on their trip to Benares, India. Both have long hair, centre partings, and are smiling happily in their colourful outfits. They returned with small glass bottles filled with a dense, dark oil [travel notes] Of eastern origin and known since antiquity, patchouli from patchai ellai, green leaf is a Labiatae, a close relation of mint, sage, basil and lavender, once used by silk merchants as a moth repellent.