Ylang-ylang fragrance: a journey to sun-drenched lands
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Estéban offers us the most paradisiacal of emotional journeys. A collection paying homage to the ylang-ylang fragrance, "the flower of flowers" which, with a fleeting pass under our noses, transports us to a distant paradise. Lounging under exotic foliage, ylang-ylang introduces us to a brand new harmony where the warmth of the sun blends with the caress of sea spray. A journey to the ends of the Indian Ocean from which our senses return transformed...
The tree of earthly paradise
The word Ylang-Ylang is derived from the Philippine "alang–alang", which refers to flowers dancing in the breeze. This flower with golden petals is even nicknamed the "queen of flowers" in Malaysia, as its unique, extremely sensual fragrance is synonymous with femininity.
The tropical tree that produces them is no less fascinating: generous and prolific, it flowers all year round, generously diffusing its sunny fragrance with the wind. The sea air suits it so well that it seems to have inspired the shape of its flowers, whose disheveled petals uncannily resemble the branches of a starfish... An unexpected marriage between sea and nature, for a flower seemingly suspended between two worlds.
Ylang Ylang: A flower like no other
Ylang-ylang has this strange appearance, halfway between a leaf and a flower, which intrigues us as much as it fascinates us. The beautiful ingenue continues her deception even in the choice of her color: green throughout its growth, it only takes on its golden color at the dawn of its maturity. Yet it has not revealed all its secrets, for the beauty harbors in its heart a ring of astonishing color: a fuchsia-tinged red, visible only to attentive observers. Whether by its appearance or its astonishing fragrance, the indecisive ylang-ylang has the air of a young girl: its raw, almost naive scent hides a fascinating subtlety for those who allow it to express itself. A treasure of life and gaiety capable of warming any composition: this is what the flower offers to the perfumer's palette.
Ylang Ylang fragrance: the ray of sunshine in perfumery...
Often used in white flower bouquets (it particularly enhances jasmine), ylang-ylang loves the company of vanilla, with which it shares its "animal" and enchanting facets. From an olfactory point of view, ylang-ylang essence offers fruity tones evoking banana or peach, before revealing a slightly spicy floral heart leaning towards clove. An incomparable scent, between tuberose and jasmine, reminiscent of Tahitian "monoï" with its creamy side and slight leathery inflections. The sweet and powdery scent of ylang ylang fragrance has quickly become an essential ingredient in perfumery, where it instills warmth and the promise of escape by its mere presence.
...reveals its fragrance
The ylang-ylang fragrance is obtained by distillation, a process traditionally carried out in copper vats. Depending on the heating time (the process can last up to 20 hours), several qualities/fractions of essential oil are obtained: the oil collected in the first 2 hours of distillation has a particularly fruity and dense scent. It is this quality of essence, called "the extra", that is recovered for fine perfumery. While Estéban has long included this sunny flower in the composition of its perfumes (Faré Tahitien, Balinese Temple, White Orchid, White Tea & ylang-ylang), "Ylang-ylang" is the first of its creations to be entirely dedicated to it. A clear sign of the richness of its floral heart...
