Ylang Ylang has a sweet floral smell. It has sweet undertones of custard, banana, honey, and bubble gum. It features floral undertones similar to exotic jasmine, and spicy aromas of sandalwood and citruses.
Ylang ylang can also smell of rubber due to its unlikely floral dewy scent. Often compared to custard and other popular desserts, ylang ylang (pronounced e-lang e-lang) is a flower that has multiple nuances of sweetness and fewer nuances of bitterness (orange) and spiciness (sandalwood).
Other people compared ylang ylang to the smell of jasmine mixed with mashed banana. No matter the type of ylang ylang people smell, it’s a combination of floral aroma with a fruity aroma that’s mostly used to describe its aromatic potent scent.
The smell itself is quite strong as well. Ylang ylang has a yellow flower and yellow flowers are known for particularity in playful smells. This is also the case here, but with an exotic twist.
Ylang ylang has long been used as an ingredient in perfumery. It turned into essential oil and then mixed with other ingredients for aromatic purposes. You can find it infamous Chanel perfumes as well as in a wide range of best French perfumes as well.
What is Ylang Ylang?
Ylang ylang is the flower of the Cananga odorata or the Cananga tree. It grows in parts of tropical India and it’s a tall fragrant tree with flowers used for their intense pleasant aroma. The Cananga tree is part of the custard apple family. The name of ylang ylang is the reduplication of ilang, translated as wild or wilderness. The Cananga tree grows in the wilderness.
Essential ylang ylang oil is made from the flowers of the Cananga tree. Classic steam distillation is used to create this unique essential oil.
What Does Ylang Ylang Smell Like?
Ylang ylang has then been used in candles for aromatherapy. It was concentrated in all types of other cosmetics. Still, it’s in perfumes where it shines the most. So what is the smell of ylang ylang?
Ylang ylang smell is sweet, floral, and similar to custard. It has hints of neroli, jasmine, and rubber. The scent is very heavy but pleasant to people who like the sweet odors.
Ylang ylang smells sweet
The ylang ylang flower smells sweet, almost honey-like. This is a type of rich sweetness that is almost unlike anything else you’ve smelt in flowers. The excessive sweetness here is somewhat reminiscent of the smell of jasmine. While both exotic, ylang ylang smells a bit sweeter than jasmine.
The sweet quality of the smell is unique as it is also comprised of various fruity undertones. There’s a bit of a custard smell in there mixed with the smell of banana. A rubber-like undertone makes the ylang ylang scent smells creamy. This is one of the nicest sweet floral scents that doesn’t smell like vanilla.
Ylang ylang smells floral
Ylang ylang is a flower of a tree. It has a very potent floral scent to it. The flower shines in tropical climates of India and Australia, much like sandalwood does. However, its intense floral smell can rarely be matched. The smell of lilac is mildly similar in its profile.
The sweetness of ylang ylang mainly makes it a feminine scent. However, there are a few very good cologne for men that are made with ylang ylang. Some of the best ylang ylang perfumes are selling a lot, which means this is a scent that both women and men alike.
Ylang ylang smells like custard and bananas
The sweetness of the ylang ylang scent is influenced by a custard undertone often compared to bananas. These two aromas are closely tied and they offer a further glimpse into how ylang ylang smells like. Classic custard can smell gourmand and this is a quality this flower has as it can almost smell edible.
Ylang ylang smells slightly spicy
The flower of ylang ylang also smells mildly spicy. The spices here aren’t intense but they may differ from one flower to another. The more the flower picking is delayed the less intense this spiciness becomes.
Ylang ylang smells like a bubble gum
All of these smells are very familiar to modern products. They have been associated with sweet bubble gum smell. However, the comparison is slightly incorrect since ylang ylang does smell like bubble gum, but it also smells like a delicate flower.
Ylang ylang smell is deep and long-lasting
One of the most pleasant surprises of the smell is its longevity. This floral scent lasts a long time given its potent sweet nature. You can smell it on your skin hours after you apply ylang ylang essential oil or after you apply a perfume that smells like ylang ylang on your skin.
The ylang ylang chemical composition behind the strong scent
P-cresyl methyl ether (p-methylanisole), methyl benzoate, benzyl acetate, and geranyl acetate are responsible for the intensely sweet floral scent. Since there are multiple types of ylang ylang (ilang ilang, alang ilang), they might also contain floral β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, and α-farnesene.
Why the smell of ylang ylang is a big deal in perfumes?
Many assume the floral note of ylang ylang is relaxing, this is not the case. Ylang ylang has a harmonizing effect which makes it a bit different from other floral notes. While its smell does reduce blood pressure and heart rate, it has been also associated with increased alertness. From here, many go on to perceive it as a sexual scent.
The current research on ylang ylang also notes how the interpretation of the scent is so vastly different from one person to another. Everyone seems to have a personal experience with the note and it might be worth testing it out, especially if you’re planning to make your ylang ylang perfume.
Does ylang ylang smell like rubber?
One of the discussions around this fantastic smell is its rubber undertones. This is confirmed by science. Ylang ylang smells like rubber and custard (milk cooked with egg yolk).
I wouldn’t classify ylang ylang smell as romantic based on these interpretations. There’s no evidence to support the idea the flower influences the cardiovascular system beyond subjective results.
Ylang Ylang Benefits
The sweet floral playful smell of ylang ylang has many benefits. We’ve seen in being studied over and over. Here’s a summary of what studies say about its effect on people.
- It has a relaxing effect
The first effect of ylang ylang smell is relaxing. It relaxes the senses as a pleasant floral note. Its sweet aroma helps those who smell it relax and become a bit calmer. The same can be said when wearing a fragrance with ylang ylang, the effect is there.
- It acts as an aphrodisiac smell
The smell of ylang ylang acts as an aphrodisiac on the smeller. People wear it to become more attractive. Women who wear ylang ylang perfumes, men, like tend to get a bit more attention. Men who wear perfumes, women, like sometimes don’t even know they also smell like ylang ylang as the note is gaining popularity in the fragrance world.
- It makes you smell sweet and inviting
Nonetheless, the smell of ylang ylang is inviting and not off-putting. It’s great to wear at work or to use a home fragrance to make the entire house smell good.
FAQ
What smells similar to ylang ylang?
Ylang ylang is often compared to jasmine. Both are exotic floral scents with a degree of syrupy sweetness. Ylang ylang is sweeter, however. Jasmine is a bit more floral and not as custard-smelling as ylang ylang.
Does ylang ylang smell like vanilla?
No, ylang ylang smells sweet like honey, banana, and custard. But it doesn’t smell like vanilla. This is why ylang ylang is used in sweet floral perfumes that aren’t made with vanilla or together with vanilla to add a different layer of sweetness.
Does ylang ylang smell bad?
Ylang ylang doesn’t smell bad. It’s one of the exotic floral scents that smells very good when worn as a fragrance. Ylang ylang is one of the most expensive essential oils in the world and it’s used either on its own or mixed with other essential oils in aromatherapy and perfumery.
How do you pronounce ylang?
Ylang is pronounced ee-lang. It translates as wilderness and its name is derived from an international attribute even if it comes from India.
Is ylang ylang spicy?
Ylang ylang is a bit spicy. The spiciness in the scent resembles sandalwood spiciness. Limited spices work to enhance its sweet and floral nature. Ylang ylang pairs well with spicy notes of cinnamon, sandalwood, and cloves as a result.
What blends well with ylang ylang?
Ylang ylang is best paired with sandalwood and black pepper. It combines well with white flowers of neroli and jasmine. It works well with green notes and spicy citruses such as bergamot. Ylang ylang is an oriental smell that also mixes well with other oriental smells such as frankincense or with intense floral notes such as lavender.
Is ylang ylang good for anxiety?
Yes, ylang ylang has been shown to considerably reduce anxiety. It has a calming effect on all people smelling it. You can wear ylang ylang perfumes for a relaxed mood and lower blood pressure.
Is ylang ylang relaxing?
As seen from the studies linked above, ylang ylang is not necessarily relaxing, certainly not compared to other floral scents.
Is ylang ylang safe?
Ylang ylang is safe to use after the distillation process with a carrier oil if you want to make perfume at home.
What smells good with ylang ylang?
Sandalwood, vetiver, bergamot, and other deep woody notes such as cedar smell good with ylang ylang.
What are a few ylang ylang perfumes worth sampling?
The following list selects ylang ylang perfumes for men and women.
| Perfume brands | Ylang Ylang perfume name |
| Chanel | No.5 |
| Nina Ricci | L’Air du Temps |
| Nicole Miller | Frenzy Perfume |
| Givenchy | Amarige |
| Hermes | Bel Ami |
| Amouage | Silver Man |
| Acqua di Parma | Mandorlo di Sicilia |
| Dior | J’adore |
| Guerlain | Samsara |
| Diptyque | Eau Moheli |
| Annick Goutal | Songers |
| Maison Francis Kurdijan | Apon Pour Femme |
| Le Labo | Ylang 49 |
| Aerin | Tuberose Le Soir |
| Tom Ford | Jasmine Rouge |
| Paco Rabanne | Pure XS |
| Clive Christian | Noble VII |
| Roja Parfums | Haute Luxe |
| Etat Libre d’Orange | Bijou Romantique |
| Penhaligon | Ostara |