Patchouli: the official scent of every metaphysical shop you’ve ever walked into and the reason your friend Jeremy’s place smells like a Phish concert. It’s an herb that divides people—some say it’s earthy and grounding, others say it smells like wet dirt and regret.
Love it or hate it, Patchouli is a staple of the spiritual scene. It says to the world, “I meditate 30 minutes a day and hold very strong opinions on Mercury Retrograde, and Twin Flames.” A perennial with a musky scent that lingers long after you’ve left the room, Patchouli is the herbal equivalent of a house guest who overstays their welcome. A house guest who hasn’t bathed in a fortnight and was sprayed by ferrets.
Patchouli is associated with the element Earth, which is fitting because it literally smells like someone bottled up a freshly dug manure and said, “Yep, this’ll do.” It’s connected to love, money, and fertility, so if you’ve ever wanted to manifest romance while also attracting cash, Patchouli is your herb. It’s also tied to prosperity, sensuality, and grounding, which sounds great—if you’re okay with smelling like a 70s commune.
There are no deities that are traditionally associated with patchouli (unless Jerry Garcia and Bob Marley count), although many modern-day witches attribute and offer patchouli to Dionysis, Pan, Cernunnos, and Gaia.
Patchouli’s magic game is strong, but you’ll have to get past its intense scent to harness its power. Whether you’re manifesting abundance or channeling love, here’s how to make Patchouli work for you (and your nasal passages):
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
Dave's been slinging tarot cards since landline phones were still a thing—1979, to be exact. As a fully initiated Olocha, Ngangalero, Wiccan, animist, and Chaos Magician, he’s basically got the metaphysical equivalent of a black belt in spiritual badassery.
Dave is the author and artist behind the Tarot of the Unexplained (Weiser Books, 2024), and the Magical AI Grimoire (Weiser Books, 2025).