What does ylang ylang smell like in perfume? Ylang ylang smells creamy, sweet and exotic, with hints of banana, custard and soft spice. It brings a sunny, tropical richness to the heart of a fragrance.
| Botanical name | Cananga odorata |
|---|---|
| Plant part | Flowers |
| Origin | Madagascar and the Comoros |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Note | Heart |
| Scent family | Florals |
| Odour | Creamy, exotic and sweet, with banana-like, spicy and floral facets |
| Perfume uses | Florals, ambers and tropical blends |
| Key molecules | Linalool, germacrene D, benzyl benzoate, p-cresyl methyl ether |
| Odour impact | High |
| Odour life on a strip | Long: a day or more |
| Found in | Jacinth Jonquil, Paper Flower Fan, Pizzicato Bliss |
Used within IFRA limits. Impact and odour life are our own studio guide, judged on a smelling strip.
What Is Ylang Ylang?
Ylang ylang comes from the yellow, star-shaped flowers of Cananga odorata, a tropical tree grown in Madagascar and the Comoros. The oil is distilled in stages: ‘extra’ is the first and finest fraction, followed by grades I, II and III, each heavier and woodier.
What Does Ylang Ylang Smell Like?
Here is how strongly each facet of ylang ylang comes through, from our own smelling-strip notes.
Floral
Lush, sweet petals.
Creamy
A soft, custard-like richness.
Fruity
A banana-like, tropical note.
Spicy
A clove-like warmth.
How Perfumers Use Ylang Ylang
Perfumers use ylang ylang to give florals a creamy, luminous heart. It pairs naturally with jasmine and other white flowers, and adds warmth to citrus and spicy blends.
The meaning of its name
Ylang ylang is often said to come from a Tagalog phrase meaning ‘flower of flowers’, a fitting name for one of perfumery’s most generous blooms.
Smell Ylang Ylang in Prosody London Perfumes
For ylang ylang at its most expressive, try Paper Flower Fan. Ylang ylang leads the heart with clove and cabreuva after a bright citrus opening, at its most luminous. You will also find ylang ylang in Jacinth Jonquil and Pizzicato Bliss.
Paper Flower Fan
Jacinth Jonquil
Pizzicato BlissWhat Blends Well With Ylang Ylang?
Questions About Ylang Ylang
What does ylang ylang pair with?
Jasmine, clove, vanilla, citrus and sandalwood.
Is ylang ylang strong?
Yes, it is rich and used carefully, especially the ‘extra’ grade.
Is ylang ylang safe in perfume?
Yes, within IFRA limits. Some of its natural molecules are listed as allergens.
Explore all of our natural perfume ingredients.
