**Patchouli oil wholesale for perfumery means bulk Indonesian _Pogostemon cablin_ selected for its fixative power and patchoulol (PA) content. Fine-fragrance houses buy high-PA and molecularly distilled (MD) grades in 180-200kg drums, backed by GC-MS and COA. FOB runs USD 45-90/kg for commercial PA grades and USD 100-200/kg for high-PA/MD as of 2026, moving with harvest and PA%.**
Indonesia sits at the center of this trade. Industry sources through 2023-2025 credit the country with over 80% of world patchouli oil supply and annual output near 1,000-1,200 metric tons. For a perfumer, that concentration matters: the material that anchors your base almost certainly begins its life as _nilam_ leaf in Aceh, North Sumatra, or Sulawesi.
Why does patchouli anchor a perfumer’s base?
Patchouli is a fixative and a base note in one. It slows the evaporation of lighter materials and lends a woody-balsamic, sweet-herbaceous, earthy, spicy signature that a formula rarely gets from anywhere else. The botanical is _Pogostemon cablin_ (leaf), CAS 8014-09-3, FEMA No. 2838. It is soluble in alcohol and oils, insoluble in water, and its color runs from light-yellowish-brown to dark red-brown depending on grade and processing.
The character that fine fragrance chases lives in the patchoulol. Sumatra and Aceh oils are prized for strong aroma and high PA, which is why chypre, oriental, and modern woody accords lean on them.
Which grades do fine-fragrance houses actually specify?
Perfumers do not order “patchouli.” They order a grade family and a PA floor. Indonesian oil typically runs 28-34% PA and is often described in the 30-40% range. The four families below cover almost every brief.
| Grade family | Processing method | Typical PA% | Color / character | Common perfumery use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark | Steam distillation | 28-34 | Deep red-brown, high tenacity | Rich chypre, oriental base |
| Light | Steam distillation, lighter cut | ~30 | Paler, cleaner top | Fresh woody, fine fragrance |
| Iron-free | Steam distillation + de-ironization | 30-32 | Lighter, more stable color | Pale formulas, cosmetics |
| MD (molecular) | Steam distillation + molecular distillation | 30-34 | Clearest, brightest | Modern, transparent accords |
Named grade families give a useful shorthand for a spec. From the Indonesian exporter grade families (2022-2025), buyers reference lines such as Sumatra MD Min 32 PA, Sumatra MD Min 30 PA, Sulawesi MD Min 30 PA, Sumatra MD Min 34 PA, Sumatra Dark Premium Min 34 PA, Sumatra Dark Min 32 PA, and Sumatra Iron Free Min 32 PA. Sumatra grades often quote PA 30-32 with an acid value of 4-6; Sulawesi grades quote around PA 30 with acid value 8-10, and an acid value under 8 is cited as a marker of excellent storage stability.
What does perfumery-grade patchouli cost wholesale in 2026?
Price tracks PA content and processing more than anything else. Use this single band as your planning reference. These are FOB indicative figures for 2026 that move with harvest and PA content; a final quote confirms grade, PA%, documents, and MOQ.
| Grade / PA band | FOB indicative 2026 (USD/kg) | What sits here |
|---|---|---|
| PA under 30% | 35-55 | Lower-PA commodity lots |
| PA 30-35% (commercial) | 45-90 | Standard Dark / Light |
| Premium PA above 35%, iron-free, MD, or organic-certified | 100-200 | Fine-fragrance selections |
Two honesty notes. First, a harvest-failure spike can push even 30-32% PA material toward about USD 100-130/kg, so a “commercial” grade does not always price like one. Second, the one explicit dated public figure in the sourced material is a North Sulawesi (Manado) trader listing IDR 2,000,000/kg domestic FOB Manado, marked “Price June 2025” and noted as varying with quantity and market. These are indicative numbers, not a contract, and we do not attach specific prices to any named company.
Market context reinforces caution. Late 2025 reporting describes a structurally firm market, historic-high prices, scarce material, and farmers switching to corn, cocoa, and palm because patchouli returns are too thin to break even. That points to continued supply risk and volatility into 2027.
How do you read a COA and GC-MS before you commit?
Any specific number, PA%, specific gravity, refractive index, or optical rotation, is a real claim only when it comes from an actual batch COA or GC-MS. Treat catalogue minimums as targets, then verify the drum in front of you.
Documentation routinely supplied on request includes:
- COA stating the batch PA%
- GC-MS profile for the same batch
- TDS and SDS/MSDS for handling and formulation
- Certificate of Origin, plus Kosher, Halal, COSMOS, or FSSC 22000 on lines that carry them
EU buyers commonly require CAS 8014-09-3 and REACH-style documentation. Published COAs have shown retest or best-before dates as far out as April 2027, which helps when you are pricing a long-term contract.
Is patchouli oil wholesale for perfumery IFRA-compliant?
We can pass through IFRA and allergen statements where the producer documents them, and premium lines often carry them. That is document transparency, not a compliance guarantee. Your regulatory or QC team stays responsible for the final IFRA assessment against your specific formula and target market. We will tell you exactly which certificates a given batch does and does not carry.
How does a perfumery RFQ work?
The process is built for evaluation before commitment.
- Send your RFQ. Specify grade family, PA floor, target volume, and the documents you need (COA, GC-MS, IFRA/allergen, organic).
- Receive an indicative quote within 24 working hours, with available COA and GC-MS for the offered lot.
- Order a sample. Evaluate on smelling strips and in a trial base before you scale.
- Confirm the batch. Lock grade, PA%, and document set; typical MOQ is 100-1,000 kg.
- Pack and ship. Bulk goes in export drums around 180-200 kg (smaller ~25 kg drums appear in some trade postings), moving via Belawan, Surabaya, or Makassar.
We arrange supply through vetted partners; we are the concierge desk, not the asset owner, and we do not guarantee customs clearance or outcomes.
Talk to the desk
Ready to price a grade or request a sample? Reach the Bali Premium Trip concierge directly.
- WhatsApp: 6281128590000
- Email: sales@balipremiumtrip.com
- RFQ form: send your grade, PA%, volume, and required documents, and we reply within 24 working hours with an indicative FOB quote and available lab papers.
Tell us the accord you are building and we will point you to the grade family that fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What PA% should a perfumer order for a base-note fixative?
Most fine-fragrance bases work well at PA 30-34%, the typical Indonesian range. For a cleaner, brighter fixative in modern accords, perfumers often specify molecularly distilled (MD) grades at Min 32-34 PA. Darker, higher-tenacity effects come from Sumatra Dark lots. Confirm the exact figure against a batch COA and GC-MS before you lock a formula.
Can you match a specific Indonesian exporters or exporters grade?
Often yes. Catalogue references like Sumatra MD Min 32 PA or Sumatra Dark Premium Min 34 PA give us a clear target for origin, method, and patchoulol. We source to that spec through vetted partners and confirm every batch with its own COA and GC-MS. We never restate another lab’s numbers as our guarantee.
Do you supply IFRA and allergen documentation for wholesale patchouli?
Premium lines can carry IFRA and allergen statements, plus SDS, TDS, and Certificate of Origin. We pass through whatever the batch and producer actually document; we do not issue a compliance guarantee ourselves. Your regulatory or QC team stays responsible for final IFRA assessment against your formula and market. Ask for the exact document set in your RFQ.
What is the minimum order for perfumery-grade patchouli oil?
There is no single official MOQ. In practice, bulk perfumery lots trade from about 100 to 1,000 kg, packed in export drums around 180-200 kg (smaller ~25 kg drums appear in some postings). Sampling first is normal, so you can evaluate on smelling strips before committing a full drum. Export usually ships via Belawan, Surabaya, or Makassar.
How long does a wholesale patchouli order take to quote and ship?
Our desk replies to RFQs within 24 working hours with an indicative FOB quote and available COA and GC-MS. Sample dispatch, batch confirmation, and drum packing follow once you approve grade, PA%, and documents. Actual transit depends on port, volume, and season, and prices move with harvest, so treat the quote as current, not a fixed contract.