FYI, This Sneaky Scent Note Is the #1 Reason Perfumes Smell Good

There are certain notes that help give perfume a certain je ne sais quoi. Notes like these are almost never the main event but serve as background characters that make an overall fragrance just work. One of those background characters that works overtime in making a perfume smell good? Ylang-ylang. 

You've probably heard of ylang-ylang before, particularly if you're a frag head like I am. Ylang-ylang is a spindly, yellow, star-shaped flower that comes from the Cananga tree. These are tropical trees that are native to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Queensland, Australia. These flowers have an extremely unique scent, making them the perfect addition to any floral-forward fragrance. Ylang-ylang is a rich, sweet-smelling floral with notes of banana, woods, and sourness. It's unique, and it absolutely comes alive on the skin. Ylang-ylang pairs well with most classic scents, like vanilla, rose, and jasmine.

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(Image credit: @eggcanvas)

Keep reading to find out some of our favorite perfumes that contain ylang-ylang. You might even be surprised that some of these perfumes even contain ylang-ylang, and that just proves how versatile this note is in scents.

Next: Think You Already Have a Favorite Perfume? I Found 9 That Will Change Your Mind

Associate Beauty Editor

Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over Wholesale Replica Bag skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.