Ylang ylang: Nature’s Pheromone

When Coco Chanel set out to define the fragrance of femininity, she circumvented rose and lily essences, instead embracing the scent of the exotic territory that had intrigued her countrymen for years: Indochina. It’s no wonder either. Just as it did in Coco’s era, the region lolls in the sweet, intoxicating perfume of its signature flower, which seeps into the dreams of young lovers and distracts even the most dedicated grumbler. The aroma of the ylang ylang bud is so pervasive that an orchard of its trees can dizzy even a native from miles away.

Centuries before Coco used the inebriating fragrance to celebrate womanhood in Chanel No.5, it had a reputation for seduction. It has long been credited as an aphrodisiac, and Indonesian newlyweds find it sprinkled on their marriage beds. Aromatherapists depend on it to reduce their patients’ blood pressure, while skin care professionals utilize it for acne treatments, as it balances sebum secretions in oily skin.

Despite the power of the fragrance, however, it is difficult to find as a top note. Fortunately, Amrita Aromatherapy offers it in its purest form. The company’s Ylang Ylang Perfume (www.Amrita-Essentials.com, $13.60) combines the essential oil with jojoba and vitamin E to create a wonderful, natural scent that complements spontaneous picnics and strolls down the Santa Monica boardwalk.

Avalon Organics offers an entire bath and shower line that lends its name to the scent. The Glistening Shampoo and Conditioner (www.AvalonOrganics.com, $7.95 each) use moisturizing oils and minerals to strengthen hair and boost its shine. When coupled with the line’s shower gel and hand lotion, the effect is a fragrant wave of fresh, vivifying energy that will attract the delighted sniffs of everyone around you.

For those suffering from sexual anxiety, Blooming Grove, a Garden State-based company that specializes in herbal remedies, offers Poppy Fields Soap (BloomingGrove.net, $4.50). The deliciously heady bar buffs skin to leave it soft and supple, while the orange and ylang-ylang undertones are supposed to improve your spirits and relieve your, well, you know.

It seems counter-intuitive, but Decleor’s Aromessence Purifying Concentrate (Nordstrom and Sephore stores, $62), which combines ylang-ylang with other essential oils, purifies oily and combination skin to give it a balanced, matte finish. Just a few drops twice a day, and you’ll be amazed at the results that come from the gracefully curvy bottle.

Pacifica’s Vietnamese Ylang ylang pillar candle (Whole Foods grocery stores, various sizes) pays homage to the heart—that of the former French colony and the human feeling of amour. It mingles the Southeast Asian flower with lavender, a common symbol of love in its own right, to create an aroma that is perfect for a romantic evening in.