The 7 Virtues | Patchouli of Rwanda

Launching today to happily coincide with, as well as in honour of International Day of Peace, Patchouli of Rwanda from The 7 Virtues® is the latest fragrance created from the Canadian brand with the most beautiful mission ever: “Make Perfume Not War” (to make rebuilding more exciting than destruction) – the words of wisdom that founder Barb Stegemann has been actively embracing since the day she began her company. What makes this brand stand head & shoulders above so many others, is the love instilled within each and every bottle, along with Barb’s personal interest in helping war-torn and impoverished nations, rebuild. The way this noble pursuit is being achieved, is by the flexing our buying power: in purchasing essential oils directly from farmers who are trying to rebuild, it not only encourages further fair trade, but helps them to support their families, educate their children, and frees them from the tyranny of poverty.

But in tandem with all the good, there’s even more: the AMAZING scent of Patchouli of Rwanda itself – something that absolutely needs to be personally experienced.

The 7 Virtues | Patchouli of Rwanda

Background information on Rwanda: After the war and genocide of 1994 which claimed the lives of approximately 800,000 individuals, Rwanda continues to stabilize politically and economically. The country’s first legislative and presidential elections were held in 2003.

Rwanda is the only country in the world with a female majority in government and and they are passing laws to ensure genocide never happens again. Despite progress, poverty remains higher than pre-1994 levels. In a country where more that 90 per cent of the population is tied to the agricultural sector with a high dependency on subsistence farming, introducing profitable cash crops (such as patchouli) is critical to the continued development of Rwanda’s economy.

How The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc. works with Rwanda farmers: The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc. buys patchouli oil from a Rwanda company called Ikirezi, which represents four associations/cooperatives made up of more than 500 farmers. Widows and orphans comprise 80 per cent of current members, as Ikirezi is dedicated to working in partnership with Rwanda’s poorest and most vulnerable populations.

The 7 Virtues | Patchouli of Rwanda

Patchouli of Rwanda Eau de Parfum Spray (50 ml/1.7 fl oz CAN $70.00) | A refreshing yet haunting unisex fragrance with lasting notes of patchouli oil. The rectangular glass bottle with its square acrylic cap, is both elegant and modern – a beautiful addition to anyone’s vanity table. According to the company, “soothing green hibiscus, red grapefruit, cedar flower and freesia notes compliment the earthy patchouli that has been harvested with love”. As with all the other fragrances from The 7 Virtues®, Patchouli of Rwanda is Vegan, as well as Paraben and Phthalate Free, with the patchouli coming from farms that practice organic farming methods (FACT: when Barb Stegemann visited the Rwandan patchouli farmers, she could hear birds singing in the fields – a clear sign of organic farming).

A far cry from the raw patchouli oil that was all the rage in the free-loving hippie days of the 70’s, Patchouli of Rwanda fragrance elevates this spicy, earthy, and musky oil to smoothly sophisticated levels. Never cloying or sickly sweet, it starts off with fresh and crisp green notes clearly present upon first spritzing, which give way a short while later to a soothing, warmer, and slightly caramel-like tone. On me, the patchouli notes emerge rather quickly and stay evident throughout the wearing, although this bouquet is tempered by the floral undertones in the mix that merge with my own body chemistry to create a uniquely redolent fragrance; at once sexy, fierce, powerful and somewhat masculine-leaning; as in the ‘wearing your man’s shirt and being enveloped by his scent’ kind of way. Which I so totally love.

The 7 Virtues | Patchouli of Rwanda

Having recently become acquainted with the fragrances from The 7 Virtues® (I’ll be reviewing the rest of the collection in an upcoming post), I cannot help but be so completely and thoroughly impressed with every facet of this brand. Owner Barb Stegemann, is the recipient of numerous awards (too many to list here), a mother of two, as well as a best-selling author (The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen), but above all that, she is one of the nicest and most genuine people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Her latest creation, Patchouli of Rwanda, continues the incredible work of her mission in the most fragrant way possible, and if you’re a fan of unisex scents like I am, I strongly encourage you to check it out – and in so doing, help make the world truly a better place (sounds cheesy, but happens to be 100% true in this case).

Available now exclusively in Canada through Hudson’s Bay (Lord & Taylor and online in the US), find more information via: