Perfume tree / Ylang Ylang

Seeds: 10  / Botanical name: Cananga odorata

Jasmine-scented blossoms - the basis of famous perfumes

It is considered the most precious plant in the world, because the intoxicatingly jasmine-scented ylang-ylang oil is extracted from the blossoms of the ylang-ylang (Malay: blossoms that sway in the wind). This oil, along with sandalwood, forms the basis of many perfumes, most notably the famous Chanel No. 5. Cananga odorata grows as a slender tree with tiered branches, and from its third year onward, it displays numerous, twisted blossoms up to eight centimeters in diameter, which are particularly fragrant at night. The flowers begin white, quickly turn greenish-yellow, and eventually orange-red, so that different flower colors can often be found on the same tree. The tree thrives in containers, reaching a height of up to two meters.

Natural Habitat: Ylang-ylang originally comes from tropical Asia – the Philippines and Indonesia. Today, however, it is also cultivated in tropical regions of Africa.