Patchouli drought this Xmas

The drought in parts of Indonesia this year is being blamed for a sharp rise in the price of patchouli oil -- an essential ingredient of many fragrances.

Traders say the cost of patchouli has increased more than ten time in the past year A drought in the main growing area -- the Indonesian island of Medan -- was made worse by farmers switching from patchouli to the more lucrative palm oil.

One result is that the soaps and perfumes given as Christmas gifts could cost more this year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service