Ylang Ylang: Discover the Beauty of Madagascar
Ylang Ylang, or Cananga Odorata, is a tree native to the humid tropical zones of India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Today, it has become one of the most symbolic flowers of the Great Island. It is one of the treasures to discover during your stay in Madagascar.
The Ylang Ylang tree (Cananga Odorata) has a widespread crown. Its flowers are yellow, golden, and star-shaped. But as they mature, they turn. The petals of the flowers are red. The name Ylang-Ylang means flowers of flowers. This particular aspect makes it very famous and sought after, and is used in perfume production.
Its yellow flowers hide a precious, sweet, intense, and lush scent. The trees grow very quickly in the first few years and can grow 2 to 5 meters per year. Cananga Odorata mainly grows in humid forests with high rainfall. These trees were introduced around the 20th century in the Indian Ocean, first in Madagascar and then in the Comoros and Mayotte.
Nosy Be and Ylang Ylang: hence the perfume island
In Madagascar It is in Nosy Be where there are more plantations of Ylang Ylang, which is why Nosy Be has become famous as the “Island of Perfumes”. It is now even the most important agricultural resource of the island.
It should be noted that Madagascar produces more than 25% of the world’s Ylang Ylang production.
The tree blooms all year round, especially between November and March, as this is the rainy season. Generally, it is the 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 9 am. A
The Ylang-Ylang plant can produce 3 to 4 kg per day.
However, to have the right quality, it is necessary to spread the harvest every 3 days for a week. The Ylang-Ylang tree can reach a height of up to 30 m, but to facilitate picking, it must be kept at a height of 2 or 3 m.
Its characteristics and qualities.
Ylang Ylang is particularly famous in the world of perfumery thanks to the sweet and sensual aromas of its flowers. Its aromas are extracted through the complete distillation of the flowers with steam. 
This process can take dozens of hours. Stainless steel is still used as the material for this.
But in addition to its aromas, the essential oil extracted from Ylang-Ylang is also known for its various effects. Rich in esters and especially in linalool, it acts as a heart sedative and hypotensive, as well as an excellent nerve balancer. On the digestive level, Ylang-Ylang essential oil is highly toning, mainly for stimulating appetite and treating a range of digestive disorders. For well-being, it is also used in various ways for hair and skin.
