How is this ylang ylang oil extracted, and which method is preferred?
Ylang ylang oil is obtained exclusively by steam distillation of fresh flowers, and — uniquely — the same distillate is collected in successive fractions to produce the graded oils (Extra, I, II, III) defined by ISO 3063.
Extraction Method
| Step | Process |
|---|---|
| 1. Harvest | Flowers picked by hand at dawn, before the sun volatilizes the oils |
| 2. Charging | Fresh blossoms loaded into the distillation still |
| 3. Distillation | Steam distillation over 12-20 hours (complete grade) |
| 4. Fractionation | Oil collected in successive fractions over the run |
| 5. Grading | Fractions become Extra, 1st, 2nd, 3rd grades; Complete = all fractions recombined |
- Yield: very low — roughly 1-2% of the flower weight, i.e. 1 kg of oil needs ~100-200 kg of fresh flowers
- Early fractions (Extra grade) contain the precious floral top notes (linalool, benzyl acetate, methyl benzoate); later fractions are heavier and more woody/creamy
- The "Complete" grade is the entire distillate recombined — the closest to the flower itself, and our standard offering
- Steam distillation is the only genuine method — solvent extracts are called ylang ylang absolute and are a different product
- Extraction grade and parameters are recorded and stated on the COA
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This article was published on 2026-09-07, and last updated on 2026-09-07. The article will be continuously updated.
