Ylang Ylang or Cananga Odorata is a tree native to the humid tropical zones of India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. But nowadays, it has become one of the emblematic flora of the Great Island. It is one of the treasures to discover during your stay in Madagascar.

Ylang Ylang features a widely spreading crown. Its flowers are yellow, golden and star-shaped. But at maturity, the bases of the petals take on a reddish hue. The name Ylang Ylang means flower of flowers. It is precisely this part that makes it highly famous and highly sought after.

Its yellow flowers hold a precious suave, intense and voluptuous fragrance. They grow very quickly in the early years and can gain 2 to 5m per year. Cananga Odorata thrives especially in humid forests with high rainfall. It was introduced to the Indian Ocean around the 20^th century, beginning with Madagascar and then spreading to the Comoros archipelago and Mayotte.

Nosy Be and Ylang Ylang: How the Island of Perfumes Got Its Name

In Madagascar, it is in Nosy Be where there are the most Ylang Ylang plantations, hence its nickname "the island of perfumes". It is even the main agricultural resource of the island. It is worth noting that Madagascar produces more than 25% of the world's Ylang Ylang production.

It flowers year-round, especially between November and March, as this is the rainy season. Generally, it is women who harvest the Ylang Ylang flowers. To preserve the aromas as much as possible, they pick the flowers very early in the morning until 9am. A single Ylang Ylang tree can produce 3 to 4 kg per day. But to achieve good quality, harvesting must be spaced out every 3 days over a week. The Ylang Ylang tree can reach up to 30m in height but to facilitate harvesting, it should be kept at 2 or 3m.

Its Properties and Virtues

Ylang Ylang is especially famous in the world of perfumery thanks to the sweet and sensual aromas of its flowers. The extraction of its aromas is done through total steam distillation of the flowers. This can last dozens of hours. To do this, a stainless steel still is the equipment used.

But beyond the aromas, the essential oil obtained from Ylang Ylang is also well known for its multiple virtues. Being rich in esters and especially in linalool, it is effective as a cardiac sedative and hypotensive agent, and also an excellent nervous system balancer. On the other hand, Ylang Ylang essential oil is strongly tonic on the digestive level, especially for stimulating appetite and treating a range of digestive disorders. For wellbeing, it is also used in various ways whether for hair or for the skin.