Ylang ylang-it sounds like a children's game or a toy. It's not, but it is one of the most important essential oils used in perfumes. The oil comes from the flowers of a ylang ylang tree or, cananga odorata, and has had many uses in different cultures over the centuries. In many places today, ylang ylang is symbolic of sensual pleasure and seduction. The tongue-twisting name means "flower of flowers" in Malay. The Philippine origin of the word comes from alang ilang, which means "flowers that flutter in the wind." People have used ylang ylang in a variety of ways throughout history. Muslim women would burn the oil to scent their harems, which in Muslim society, is the part of the house or palace that is reserved for women. In China the fragrance was used to purify the robes of the mandarin (a member of an elite or powerful group or class). The purified robes were then placed into a chest made from fragrant wood. Only when a special occasion required their use did the robes come out from the chest. When they were removed, the scent was still strong, in fact, some of these chests have been found in modern times, and the scent, although faint, can still be detected centuries later. In Indonesia there is an ancient tradition that continues today of spreading the ylang ylang flowers across the beds of newlywed couples.

Ylang ylang did not find its way into modern European perfumery until the 19th century. It surfaced there first as an ingredient in macassar oil. This oil was a highly popular hair preparation product that was used primarily in Victorian times (c. 1840-1900). There are several different types of ylang ylang trees. A cultivated tree will grow to about 60 feet, while wild trees can grow upwards of 80 to 95 feet. They have long hanging stems with about 18 leaves on each stem. If you want to produce the oil, the tree requires a tremendous amount of care. Every two months workers must prune the branches. In the fall, when the flowers are ready, they are handpicked, so as not to lose any of the precious fragrance. The timing of the harvest is very important. It is important that the flowers are picked at the time when they will yield the greatest amount of oil. The fragrance of the flower is narcotic, floral, sweet and jasmine-like. However, the aroma of the flowers is not evident until 2-3 weeks after they have blossomed. The color of the flowers can be pink, mauve (pale bluish purple), or yellow. The yellow flowers are considered the finest for extracting the oil because they yield the most and best quality oil. The flowers are ready to be harvested when the yellow of the flower is at its most extreme and a slight red tinge emerges in the middle of the petals.

Ylang ylang trees are native to Indonesia and the Philippines. The oil is generated primarily in Madagascar, Reunion, the Comoro Islands and Sumatra. Steam or water distillation is the technique used to detach the oil from the freshly picked flowers (yield: 1.5-2.5 percent).Ylang ylang oil is extracted into different grades. Ylang ylang extra is the name of the first distillate. This is the grade used in many high-class perfumes. Grades 1, 2 and 3 are the names of the three following distillates. Blending ylang 1 and ylang 2 together produces a 'complete' oil. Different grades of ylang ylang have different uses. You can find ylang ylang 3 in soaps and detergents, for example. Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and desserts also use ylang ylang as an ingredient. Ylang ylang oil can be very expensive because, like many other essential oils, it takes many flowers to extract a small amount of oil. In fact, it takes about 350-400 kilos of flowers to extract one kilo of oil, and each tree renders only about 10 kilos of flowers per year.

Ylang ylang extra is a pale yellow, oily liquid with a sweet floral-balsamic and slightly spicy scent. It blends well with many other essential oils including rosewood, jasmine, vetiver, bergamot, mimosa, and rose. Perfumers use it as a top or middle note with a moist, grounding disposition. You can find ylang ylang in many of the floral fragrances that are on the market including Poison by Christian Dior, Champs-Elysées by Guerlain, Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani, and Escape by Calvin Klein. Perfume is not the only use for ylang ylang oil. Many people use the oil to help with a number of ailments. It is said to help reduce high blood pressure, can alleviate anxiety and tension, and help with heart palpitations. It also can help against depression, impotence, insomnia, insect bites, and hair growth. However, aromatherapists warn that ylang ylang should be used in moderation because it can cause headaches and nausea in some people.