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Mmm... It's so fragrant!

Ylang-ylang flowers are used in aromatherapy and to make perfumes

Differentiating the climbing ylang-ylang (Artabotrys uncinatus and the ylang-ylang tree (Cananga odorata), both belonging to the family Annonaceae can be puzzling at times. The ylang-ylangs produce highly fragrant flowers that are widely used in aromatherapy and in perfumery.

Climbing ylang-ylang

Popularly known as `Manoranjitham', Artabotrys uncinatus, a native of India and Sri Lanka, is a fast growing, dense evergreen, strong and woody climbing plant with long drooping branches. It is called climbing ylang-ylang, since the plant attaches itself to nearby supports with the help of hooks developed on the pedicels of flowers. The creamy white to canary yellow or light green flowers are extremely fragrant and are borne on hooked peduncles. Their fragrance is absolutely intoxicating and long lasting. The flowers have six petals arranged in two whorls of three each. Although the flowers are not showy, the plant is often grown in gardens for its pervading fragrance. A single flower produces a bunch of aggregate fruits. It is said that the glossy green, gland dotted leaves have an anti-fertility property.

Ylang-Ylang

Cananga odorata (karumugai), a native of Indonesia and Malaysia is a medium-sized tree with simple alternate leaves. The genus name Cananga is adapted from the Malaysian name of the plant `kananga' which means `flower of flowers', referring to its fragrant blooms, that produce the essential oil and the species name `odorata' denotes the strong fragrance of the flower. The highly fragrant yellow flowers have elongated, narrow petals, which are often soaked in coconut oil to make a pleasantly perfumed body lotion that is believed to ward off malevolent spirits. The flavour blends well with lemon, eucalyptus, clove, orange, ginger, sandalwood, rosewood, rose and jasmine. The flowers are gathered in the dark or at dawn to conserve the fugitive scent which rapidly dissipates in heat after sunrise. The oil obtained by the distillation of fresh flowers is supposed to be an excellent anti-depressant and hypotensor because of its soothing, sedative properties. It is also said to help reduce blood pressure, palpitation, insomnia, nervous tension and stress-related disorders. However, too much of floral scent can cause nausea or headache to some.

PAULINE DEBORAH & RIDLING WALLER

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