patchouli

noun

patch·​ou·​li pə-ˈchü-lē How to pronounce patchouli (audio)
also
ˈpa-chə-lē How to pronounce patchouli (audio)
variants or less commonly patchouly
: a heavy perfume made from the fragrant essential oil of a southeast Asian mint (Pogostemon cablin)
also : the plant itself

Examples of patchouli in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Salted Muse is in the woody marine family with notes of sea salt, pink pepper, cedarwood, sandalwood and amber; and Blooming Fire is a warm floral with patchouli, Tahitian monoi flower and bergamot. Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024 With top notes of citrus and base notes of amber wood and patchouli, this diffuser will make your home smell clean and fruity. Leonora Epstein, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for patchouli 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patchouli.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Tamil paccuḷi

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patchouli was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near patchouli

Cite this Entry

“Patchouli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchouli. Accessed 31 May. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!