Ylang 49

Flower of Flowers Originating in the Philippines, ylang ylang means “flower of flowers” or “fragrance of all fragrances.” This fragrance is traditionally used in aromatherapy to sharpen the senses and to temper depression, fear, anger - in fact, Ylang ylang has several other benefits proven by scientific research, such as alleviating anxiety and lowering blood pressure in some people. Who new? If Ylang is the Flower of Flowers, then this is the Ylang of Ylang's. Both, for Ylang lovers and Ylang newcomers - this is a baptism. As such, This scent is vastly underrated. Both as a ylang scent and as a Chypre. Ylang is a beautiful note that is actually a difficult one for me to wear. In general I have heard about many perfumers who have difficulty with this note. Not here though, if you remove ylang from this chypre it doesn’t work. At the same time, this ylang is different than many other ylang scents and as such - is in its own league and definitely for me the best Le Labo creation, a house which is rich in luxury and reputation. Now as a chypre, there is tremendous competition against many masterpieces but again, this stands alone. It is a modern chypre, earthy, bright, blossoming and sweet all at the same time. This masterpiece is masterfully blended. It will change with the weather and season. When I wear this at times colours that come to mind are Gold and Crystal, at times I see Green and Gold or Grey and Yellow. Finally, I would like to thank a friend of mine on fragrantica for recommending this to me. I don't think I would have found it on my own but good thing we are never alone. "After women, flowers are the most lovely thing God has given the world." - Christian Dior 4.91/5

What!!!! I haven't reviewed this until now???? What is going on??? I think it's a reflection on just how much I overlook this brand as a collection primarily about gimmick and marketing, not that there's anything wrong with that, but Le Labo were somewhat of a trendsetter and many, many, lesser pretenders to he minimal, laboratory aesthetic were spawned due to their success, but in fairness the fragrances are remarkably good and pretty original on the whole. This is one Ylang 49, upon a recent (probably 2-3 years ago lol) return to trying them again, turns out to be one of the best. It's like an energized, vibrant topped, classic, chypre type perfume but with a kind of exoticism about it. Like many Le Labo perfumes, the name is often a red herring and might discourage people who think they don't really like Ylang or at least don't think they want a Ylang centric perfume, even if they do like it, (I find Ylang supporting role more crucial as a rule) wouldn't be something for them....I'd urge you to reconsider this perfume, because it's an absolute gem!!! Mossy, earthy but bright and also fun and with lush florality. I actually want to get it, and it's rare I say that these days, not because there's not good perfume around, just because I'm skint and have a shitload already but I could honestly say that this would be something timeless to grace my collection, I get the Aromatics Elixir connection some have made above, (praise indeed BTW because that is fantastic!) but it's way less stuffy and fundamentally different in many ways too. Feels more modern. I love this.

The most luxurious perfume from Le Labo in my opinion. Not for the faint of heart. Brings out the best of me, all dressed up and ready for the night. It's confidence in a bottle. Woodsy, creamy, a bit earthy, with a powdery dry down. Extremely SEXY. Can a man wear this? Absolutely, but wear some kind of LEATHER, if not it will lean very feminine. The patchouli is toned down by the gardenia and sandalwood. I don't like to use the phrase OLD MONEY, but that's what it smells like. Heather Chandler vibes. This perfume is masculine and feminine at the same time, powerful yet soft. It's beautiful by itself, but I like to layer with Chantilly by Gritti, it sweetens it up to perfection. Making it very RICH daddy's girl, a total snob, with a RBF, but the sweetest person ever. Everyone wants to be around you because of your amazing AURA. You can also layer with Brazilian Crush 62 (body mist) chefs kiss. If you're a GUY, you can layer with Acqua di Gio Absolu, nothing too heavy, nothing too light, something with fruit and wood. Similar to La Panthere by Cartier, without the strawberry. Less intense, very sensual... So breathtaking, a NIGHT time perfume. For some reason it reminds me of MARFA. I love it. BISOUS

I don't know how to explain this scent better than saying, old Hollywood glamour, classic, red lipstick, immaculate cat eye eyeliner, seductive, elegant. Thjis scents is not my usual preference, and I tend to dislike all florals. I didn't understand my fascination with this one until I looked it up and found that it is listed under chypre. and I guess I'm destined to fall in love with chypres in their different forms because many of my preferred perfumes fall into that olfactive family. The smell is mysterious yet confident, I envision a person that knows what they want. Like I said, I imagine a dark or black dress, maybe a fur coat, classic vibrant red lipstick. The gardenia and ylang ylang are so well done in this formulation that it suited a non floral person. The oak moss and vetiver gives it a fresh green opening and balance along the journey. I smelled aldehydes that aren't mentioned, however it is not soapy or harsh, on the contrary it is versatile and elegant. The sandalwood is very obvious on the dry down and it is a very pleasurable journey. Sillage 7/10 longevity 8.5/10 lasted about 5 hours on my skin

I bought the Le Labo Discovery Set with the option to redeem a 50ml and this was the fragrance that I picked up. To note, I already own Santal, Thé Noir and Baie so they weren’t considered. Everyone knows that the name of the fragrance isn’t necessarily what you get with the scent, and it’s true for this one. I get a retro-style patchouli (same patchouli as I get in Baie however not as ‘watery’) with a creamy gardenia and fuzzy oakmoss - it’s divine. Just know that this is nuclear, and up close it can be a little challenging but boy in the air this is BEAUTIFUL!! Once I sanitised my hands three times and I could still smell it on the back of my hand. For some reason this reminds me of my friend however I know she has never owned this, but has owned Black Orchid and White Patchouli by Tom Ford so maybe there’s similarities (I know Black Orchid has been referenced before). I’ll wear this year-round, however would really complete a formal occasion look when you’re dressed to the nines and want to turn heads! I’m a man and I’ll wear this comfortably.

I discovered Ylang 49 when I visited Paris a couple years ago. There's a Le Labo boutique in Le Marais. Initially I wanted to test Santal 33, which I have heard so much about. I smelled Santal 33 on a test strip and found it too woody to my liking, but found Ylang 49 quite interesting. I sprayed a few spritz on my husband's wrist, since I found it a bit masculine in the beginning. We walked out without purchasing anything, but then, you know the "i can't stop smelling his wrist" and the "someone stopped us on the street asking what perfume we are wearing" thing both happened in the afternoon. Before dinner, we ran back to the store and bought a big bottle. Now we share and treasure it. Ylang 49 is a modern chypre. I can't tell what the specific notes are, not even sure if there's Ylang in it although the name suggests so... But it's such a unique scent that I don't think I've smelled anything similar before. It's not often talked about either. I'm glad both my husband and I love it, on ourselves and on each other.

I LOVE this. Almost love it as Santal 33 which says a lot. Its been a while since a fragrance managed to lift me up like this, it's fun and exciting and energizes me. Its such a good blend. Then again, it has some of my all-time-favorites in one: patchouli and oakmoss. The combination with the flowers is incredible, how creamy and almost sweet it becomes? But make it intense, strong, pulsating. This became an instant staple for me. I can actually see myself wearing this every season, and the fun thing is how much the temperature affects its development and temperament. In winter, which is the season when I fell in love with it, its warm and energizing, like a ray of sunshine on a cold, cloudy day. On a summer night its simply potent and sexy. 2 sprays max, day or night. For me almost too easily signature worthy so I rather keep it at a distance because I don't want to get an ick. I think it just must work so good with my skin chemistry, because its one of the most popular crowd pleasers from my collection.

At first I thought this was underwhelming (to be fair I'm more well-versed in vanillas and ambery gourmand scents) but I grew more in love with it the longer I let it sit on my skin. The opening is very earthy, rich, and patchouli/ylang forward. It's sophisticated and deep. Over time it warms into a sweeter, woodier gardenia scent, still maintaining its earthiness but drying down to a very clean and comforting scent. The dry-down reminds me of the opening of The Noir 29, at least what I remember of it. Maybe it's just a recurring theme with Le Labo but it's a very sensual, musky vetiver. I bought a 50 mL bottle and I wouldn't say it's worth the price point (given my tastes) but it definitely isn't a regrettable purchase. Again, a sophisticated and underrated choice by Le Labo and suitable for everyday. 8/10 Edit: I now reach for this when I don't know what to wear. Suitable for all occasions if you're a freaky little monster like me. 10/10

Ylang 49 recreates convincingly and under a modern perspective, a female cyprus classical base with ingredients that replace the classic now restricted day, all on a floral heart of gardenia and ylang flowers these with a powerful aroma and strengthens the cyprus making it very compact structure and a unisex pair sought. There is a tension between moss-patchouli very obvious that maintains an earthy, musky, smoky background, something dark and very exotic maintaining and counteracts with the powerful aroma of narcotic gardenia and deep sweetness of ylang as if it were a pulse, the final drying protrudes patchouli and a balmy point that tends to sweeten but very gently. Under these underlying forces a great balance between this very nice quartet occurs. Easy to use, the fragrance is very durable, excellent quality and very good projection, make Ylang 49 a very good alternative to classic chypre discontinued. Rating: 8

i'll be honest, i don't love the opening too much. ylang 49 starts off with an almost harsh sharpness that many of the other reviewers here mentioned, but it quickly dries into a creamy, earthy, floral scent. (i agree that the gardenia takes center stage here, but i don't mind since i didn't buy this perfume because i wanted a ylang ylang scent, i bought it because i like the way it smells!) i also always thought i hated patchouli because i can't stand the patchouli in coco mademoiselle (it gives me a headache), but i find it totally unoffensive and actually quite pleasant in ylang 49. sillage and longevity aren't great on me for some reason-- i sprayed it on my wrists and neck a couple of hours ago and it's only faintly detectable. i wish it lasted 6+ hours on me like it did for others! such a delicious, classy scent. i will definitely be going back to get the larger size after i finish my 50ml.

Oh, how I long resisted purchasing anything from Le Labo, but out of curiosity, I walked into the Seaport Le Labo boutique in Boston and sampled several releases. Many were nice, but nothing to write home about. It was Ylang 49, however, that had me transfixed—a radiant chypre with a nucleus of ylang-ylang and gardenia, intense and fleshy, tropical without the kitsch, earthier and more ripe. It's lushness seems to have no limit, but when it does finally wane, the patchouli and vetiver does echo my beloved Aromatic Elixir. It is no mere facsimile, however: the creamy florals are so very forward and commanding. If you like to luxuriate in big, fat, flourishing chypres, you would no doubt be pleased with what I regard as a real standout in the Le Labo oeuvre (just do what you can to not pay full price from the retailer).

I don’t usually enjoy floral scents but this is another exception. I can see the vintage roots but to me it smells more restrained than they tend to be (in my limited experience). The sweetness and aldehydes are toned way down and the green base is quite strong and probably dominates for the majority of wear. Gardena and patchouli often goes mushroomy but I get no fungus here, which I appreciate. It gives me a very chill but refined vibe, great performance but doesn’t scream for attention like Synthetic Jungle. It smells effortless but expensive, neither challenging nor obsequious, just pleasant, unique mostly in its restraint. Nothing here threatens my masculinity either, quite unisex as far as I can tell. This one is going on my list for next spring, or rather it would were I the kind of person who makes lists.

Actually bought a full bottle after testing samples over a longer time period. Was a bit on the fence about this one but not because of how it smells. My concern was more about the strength of this one. One word: beast. Somehow Ylang 49 really shines on me and I so like the scent that those around me be damned if they don't. I really enjoy it primarily alone but it is also surprisingly good to layer and lengthens the staying power of weaker scents which it can easily compliment. YMMV! Read the reviews below but if you are a guy considering this, go for it. I am very much a jeans, boots and chore jacket guy. I actually couldn't care less whether a scent fits my "style" but this one works for me and will get a lot of mileage.

What is Ylang 49?! It’s definitely not a soliflore and it’s definitely not tropical. It’s meaty though. It’s got that quality of dark floral chypres that weigh on the drama. Peaty. Not leather, but a carnivore quality. Ylang 49, while not smelling like them, reminds me of the bitter ointment and medicine aspect that is hidden in Aromatics, and also that rich and heady, dimly lit ambiance of Knowing, where a very brooding rose and some very heavy white florals play hide and seek with a sinister civet and angry oakmoss. But Ylang also has a compelling banana peel aspect, as if to honor the name. It’s Ylang to the fullest via two of the best chypres ever made. I really think this is the best Le Labo there is!

This one grew on me! The first time I sprayed this on my wrists, I thought it was too intense in the top notes and found it a bit challenging, but I waited before deciding how I felt about it. I don't know what it is about the notes together, but the top notes remind me of black olives for some reason, they don't smell like black olives, but remind me of them faintly. You get a big hit of ylang throughout and patchouli, with oakmoss grounding everything. The more I would wear it, the more I would crave it, much like olives.....maybe that's why it reminds me of them 😏. This is not a safe blind buy, but full bottle worthy. It is beautiful and a frag I now love. 9/10 ❤😍

I was told that this fragrance is the strongest and longest lasting from Le Labo. Which is great if you love the way this smells and develops, which I happen to. Too often, a pricey perfume will fade away too quickly to be worth the cost. This one last and lasts, and the best part is that it continually transforms and develops over time. Its deep and sensual, while being comforting and warm at the same time. Its not smoky to me, but has such depth that it brings an almost smokeless headiness. I think this scent is better for nighttime, but live your life! Do whatever you want!

This fragrance performs like there is no tomorrow. On its 18h as im writing it now, this still projects its sillage quite noticably strong at arms length. And I sprayed it once on my wrist just to test it. Mind you im living in tropical climate where even fragrances sprayed on clothes would usually have weak durability. But this one is unbelievable. To my nose its the more outspoken sister of Iris 39, and without the powdery notes. Smells intoxicating, the mixes between patchouli and ylang and sandalwood are the most dominant.

This smells good in the way that Vicks Vapo Rub smells good, in that it doesn’t - but I still like it. Crazy strong, slaps you in the face with yellow florals up top, and then fades into earthier, cozier patchouli and vetiver. I don’t think I want to smell like this, but I like smelling this. I want it in a diffuser. I want to put it on a brown hand knit sweater that I pull out when I’m anxious and need something warm and organic and grounding to bring me back down to earth. Update: I bought it. It’s addicting.

Ylang 49 is a Bad Bitch. She rides a Harley in white leather chaps, is unapologetic about her desires, and behaves in ways that makes polite ladies clutch their metaphorical pearls. This frag is dark and mysterious; it's bold and heady and exotic. It's a patchouli bomb, but I adore that about it. The ylang-ylang and oakmoss wave hello, but the dry down is mostly earthy, velvety musk. Lasts for hours on skin, days on clothes; not for the faint of heart. This is a Domme scent through and through.

I adore this beautiful floral chypre scent. I wore it to work today from the sample I got at the Le Labo counter and was still receiving compliments at the end of the day...the longevity and sillage are beastly. To me it smells fresh and the patchouli is not the heavy, dark kind that I detest. I will be buying a bottle as soon as I can get to the mall this weekend! Update: purchased the full bottle and this is now one of my top 5 fragrances.