Ylang-ylang is a tropical flower from Madagascar and the Comoros that smells like jasmine crossed with banana custard: rich, creamy, golden, slightly rubbery in isolation and glorious in a blend. Classic perfumery adored it, it is baked into No. 5's floral chord and J'adore's warmth, and modern noses still use it whenever a bouquet needs body rather than freshness. Black Orchid drags ylang into darker territory, where its creaminess turns almost boozy. On skin it amplifies with heat, making it one of the few lush florals that genuinely loves summer nights. If your florals always feel thin or soapy, a proper dose of ylang-ylang is usually exactly the richness that was missing.
Designer fragrances built with Ylang-Ylang. 8 perfumes that feature the note, from top to dry-down.