Ylang-ylang or flower of flowers is an aromatic plant with a floral note. Some may associate its odor with Sampaguita flower scent because some Sampaguita garlands were made with Ylang-ylang on them. If I will describe what scent Ylang ylang perfectly resembles With I’d say it’s Amazon lily.
Ylang Ylang’s aromatic descriptions
Different articles and papers talk about the therapeutic and cosmeceutical properties of Ylang ylang. Also, ylang ylang’s scent is described in some blog posts. Some of the descriptions sound enticing to others because nice words are used. Some of the descriptions used are ‘mustard,’ ‘tangy rubber,’ ‘reminiscent of ripe banana, nail varnish, or celluloid note.’ Some of these words sound foreign to me, not because I don’t know them but because I just don’t know what they smell like. I am not saying that their descriptions are inaccurate. Maybe this is how others imagined and interpreted how Ylang-ylang smelled. However, it’s not just the way I interpreted the scent of Ylang-ylang. For example, some used the words creamy and animalic, but I can’t see any trace of creaminess not animalic odor on it. Hence the description does not seem to reflect how I remember the smell of Ylang ylang. This made me think for a moment that the description pertains to other flowers. The description sounds not relatable to me, because I am familiar with the scent of real Ylang ylang hence I was looking for a description that is on point as to how I know Ylang-ylang smells. I thought that if it will be described in a way that will be associated with a certain odorous thing, it should be accurate, or at least its scent is close to the scent of Ylang Ylang.
Since I am so curious why Ylang Ylang has been described the way it was described in some posts, I opted to analyze the aroma of Ylang Ylang. I know that Ylang ylang has a floral scent, but I have to refresh my memory on how it accurately smells. It took a while before I understood and figured out its exact scent. I realized that while some of the descriptions may sound unrelatable to the real scent of Ylang-ylang, you have to read the complete description to see that it’s not unrelatable. Reading them thoroughly made me notice and found the accurate details in the description. Hence I understood why they were described the way they were described.
Analyzing Ylang-ylang’s scent
While others have their interpretation of how Ylang ylang smells, I wanted to write my interpretation of how Ylang Ylang smells to me and its effect on me.
I’ve always known that Ylang-ylang essential oil is an ingredient in perfumes. It is usually mixed with oils such as Lavender. Both of these flower essential oils are aromatic hence I know that they will smell good when they are combined. Since it is always blended with aromatic oils, I also wondered how Ylang ylang essential oil would smell when it’s pure so I would know the effect when I will already combine it with aromatic oils such as Sweet Orange and Lavender.
I used two methods to analyze the scent of Ylang ylang One is through ‘direct inhalation’ which is smelling the essential oil directly from its bottle, and the second is by diluting it using witch hazel in a small amber bottle. I put six drops of Ylang Ylang oil and 40 drops of witch hazel. I know that this is not the standard ratio or measurement for dilution or making perfumes, but since I am in the process of playing with my oil so I can be familiar with the scent, I thought and said to myself “You are playing now, but when the time comes you have to make your own real Ylang Ylang perfume, you to have to follow the accurate measurements to make a really good smelling perfume.”
The gentle aroma of Ylang Ylang
I used diluted Ylang-ylang like a perfume. I applied it on my wrist at 3 pm and I kept on sniffing it whenever I want to. Even when I was riding the jeepney, and was wearing a mask, there were times I would smell my wrist with Ylang Ylang. Since my activity for that day was to find and shop for a few gifts, I touched different items. When I smelled my wrist at 4:27 pm I thought I wanted to reapply the diluted Ylang Ylang again because I like smelling its scent. Aside from rubbing it on my wrist, I’ve also applied it at the sides of my neck and the lower back part of my ears.
What I like about Ylang Ylang essential oil is that it smells gentle. It’s not the kind of scent where you will be too overwhelmed by it. You will like to keep on sniffing it. There are synthetic oils that mimic Ylang-ylang scent, however, they smell too artificial and chemical and do not exactly smell like Ylang-ylang. Moreover, the aroma of ylang-ylang essential is perfect for people who appreciate modesty and being understated. I don’t like scents that are too pungent because they can cause a headache. When you experienced dizziness or any discomfort because of a specific odor, you only remember it’s undesirable effect on you hence you don’t want to smell it again. I prefer scents that are gentle and mild. That kind of scent makes me want to keep on sniffing it.
Familiar scent
Ylang Ylang essential oil smells comforting and can cause you to feel some nostalgia. I’ve already known ylang-ylang since I was a kid. Hence, when I smell the odor of ylang-ylang oil it reminds me of my grandparents. When I was a kid, I used to tag along with my nanay always. My grandparents used to buy Sampaguita garlands with ylang-ylang on it. The garland is made of Sampaguita flowers that are connected by a string hence serving like lace and the ylang-ylang is like the pendant. Hence whenever my grandparents or parents would buy that I would be able to smell Ylang ylang. That’s how I first learned about ylang-ylang. The good thing about knowing that garland is that I became familiar with Ylang Ylang and it’s the reason why I can write about why I love Ylang ylang’s aroma and why I am inspired to keep on writing about Ylang Ylang.
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil Preserved Scent
I’ve always liked aromatic flowers, so I love to preserve their scent. However, I know I am limited and don’t have the knowledge and tools to preserve it, but because there is Essential Oil, it enables me to keep on holding to the preserved scent of Ylang ylang. I am grateful that Essential Oils makes it possible for people like me to continue having a preserved scent of Ylang Ylang essential oil and help me to keep focusing on making more perfumes with Ylang-ylang Essential Oil.
Sense the scents 💋❤
Oil Therapy 