Ylang 49

  A sumptuous floral chypre with all the moody charisma of a film noir. Like the scarlet-lipped femme fatale with a shadowy past, the enigmatic Ylang 49 starts as a thing of straightforward beauty before leading us down a winding, slightly dangerous path. Ylang 49 opens with a powerful burst of classic chypre elements – a sultry sweet floral heart of gardenia and ylang ylang, countering a pungently earthy patchouli and oakmoss. But just when you think you've got it figured out, the ylang ylang and gardenia meld into a lush, buttery, exotic floral with hints of apricot. The tension between the creamy flowers and dusky oakmoss creates a gingery fizz and the deep thrum of rich sandalwood and resinous benzoin generates a velvety sweetness that highlights the titular ingredient's peachlike aspect. In the center of all this swirling intrigue is a warm, salty skin note that feels both sensuous and modern, provocative yet comforting. Like the mysterious beauty from so many stories, Ylang