Ylang Ylang Pure Absolute — Cananga odorata | Flower of Flowers | H Reynaud Fils, Comores

Part of our Professional Perfumers Range — curated for the discerning natural perfumer seeking exceptional depth and rarity.

Ylang Ylang Pure Absolute — The Flower of Flowers in Its Finest Form

Ylang ylang has been called the flower of flowers — a name that speaks to the extraordinary intensity and complexity of its perfume, which has made it one of the most widely used and most beloved floral materials in fine fragrance for over a century. The essential oil is familiar to virtually every perfumer; the absolute is something considerably rarer and considerably more rewarding — a rich, warm, deeply floral material produced in France by H Reynaud Fils, established 1898, from the freshly harvested flowers of Cananga odorata cultivated in the Comores Islands, the world's premier ylang ylang-producing region.

The Comores — a small archipelago off the east coast of Africa — produce ylang ylang of unparalleled quality, the combination of volcanic soil, tropical climate, and centuries of cultivation expertise yielding flowers of extraordinary aromatic richness. H Reynaud Fils select only the finest Comorian material, processed in France to the highest standard. The result is a warm, orange-amber liquid of great tenacity — the ylang ylang note at its most concentrated and most complex, revealing dimensions of the flower that the distilled oil only approximates.

Scent Profile

The opening is rich, intensely floral, and unmistakably ylang ylang — a warm, creamy, banana-custard sweetness intertwined with a distinctive rubbery-floral quality that experienced perfumers recognise immediately as the genuine article. As it develops, narcotic white floral facets emerge alongside a subtle spiciness — clove-like, warm, and slightly animalic — that gives ylang ylang absolute its extraordinary character and distinguishes it from all synthetic approximations. The heart is luxuriant, slightly intoxicating, and deeply beautiful. The drydown is long, warm, and tenacious — a creamy floral base note of considerable staying power that anchors compositions with natural authority over many hours.

Use at conservative concentrations — this is one of the most potent natural florals available and a little goes an exceptionally long way. Overdosing ylang ylang is one of the most common errors in natural perfumery; its beauty is best revealed at modest doses where it enriches rather than dominates.

Perfumery Applications

Ylang ylang absolute is one of the most versatile floral materials in the natural perfumer's palette — equally at home in feminine florals, oriental structures, and masculine compositions where its warm, creamy character adds an unexpected and compelling floral dimension. It formed the original floral heart of Chanel No. 5 alongside jasmine, rose, and lily of the valley — a combination that defined what a great floral composition could be and which remains as relevant and rewarding today.

In oriental compositions its warm, slightly spicy-sweet character bridges floral top notes and resinous bases with exceptional facility. In feminine florals it adds narcotic depth and warmth. In masculine woody compositions its creamy floral character adds a surprising and sophisticated counterpoint. At very low concentrations — well below a threshold where it can be explicitly identified — it lends a quality of warmth and naturalness to compositions that is immediately felt but rarely consciously analysed.

Blending Suggestions

Classic partners include rose absolute, jasmine, neroli, orange blossom, tuberose, bergamot, lemon, clary sage, sandalwood, cedarwood, vetiver, patchouli, frankincense, labdanum, and soft musks. The classic combination with rose and jasmine for a narcotic white floral accord of great richness is particularly recommended. Also outstanding alongside bergamot and cedarwood in a simpler composition where ylang ylang's beauty can be fully appreciated at modest concentration.

Technical Details

• Botanical Name: Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson
• Common Name: Ylang Ylang / Flower of Flowers
• Botanical Family: Annonaceae
• Supplier: H Reynaud Fils, established 1898, France
• Origin: Comores Islands
• Plant Part: Flowers
• Extraction Method: Solvent extraction (absolute)
• Classification: Heart note
• Appearance: Warm orange-amber liquid
• Odour Family: Floral / Creamy / Sweet / Spicy / Narcotic
• Natural: Yes — 100% pure natural absolute

Packaging

1ml sample supplied in a 5ml clear flint glass bottle. 5ml and 10ml supplied in amber glass bottles — all with inbuilt droppers and tamper evident caps.

Safety Information

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas. Not suitable for use on babies, children, pets or broken skin. Avoid use during pregnancy or whilst nursing. Always dilute properly and perform a patch test before first use.

Sample Policy

We recommend purchasing a 1ml sample first before committing to larger quantities. Please note that no refunds can be offered on opened items.

Photo images are for illustrative purposes only.