Florals are the heart of almost every beautiful blend. They give a scent its softness and its warmth, and they are often what people remember about a fragrance. Here is a guide to the three best-loved floral oils, ylang ylang, rose and lavender, plus the two supporting florals that tie them together.
Quick answer: ylang ylang is rich, sweet and creamy; rose is deep, velvety and precious; lavender is soft, clean and herbal. They work best together in small amounts, with a supporting floral such as geranium or palmarosa and a little citrus to lift them. Use florals diluted, and lightly, because some, especially ylang ylang, can be overpowering.
Why florals are the heart of a blend
In perfumery, florals sit in the middle layer, the heart notes. They appear once the bright top notes settle and they carry the character of the scent for hours. Without them, a blend can feel sharp or thin. Read more about how layers work in essential oil blends explained.
| Floral | Scent | Strength | Pairs with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ylang ylang | Sweet, creamy, exotic | Strong | Citrus, lavender, sandalwood |
| Rose | Deep, velvety, honeyed | Medium to strong | Geranium, bergamot, patchouli |
| Lavender | Soft, clean, herbal | Light to medium | Almost everything, especially citrus and woods |
| Geranium | Rosy, green, fresh | Medium | Rose, citrus, lavender |
| Palmarosa | Light rose with a lemony edge | Light | Florals, citrus, cedarwood |
Ylang ylang
Ylang ylang oil is distilled from the star-shaped yellow flowers of Cananga odorata, a tropical tree grown in Madagascar, the Comoros and Indonesia. The scent is lush, sweet and creamy, with a hint of banana and spice. It is wonderful in tiny amounts and cloying in large ones, so treat it as a single drop, not a splash.
Rose
Rose is one of the most precious oils in the world. It takes several tonnes of petals to make a single kilogram of oil, which is why genuine rose is so expensive.
- Rose otto is steam distilled. It is lighter and more delicate.
- Rose absolute is extracted with a solvent. It is deeper and closer to the smell of fresh roses.
Many products use a tiny amount of rose with geranium and palmarosa, which share some of rose's aromatic compounds, to build a rosy heart.
Lavender
Lavender is the most familiar floral of all, and Australia grows some lovely lavender, including in Tasmania. True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) smells soft, sweet and clean. Lavandin, a hybrid, is sharper and more camphorous. A good lavender oil names the species on the label.
Geranium and palmarosa
These two are the quiet helpers. Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) smells rosy and green, and palmarosa, a grass related to lemongrass, has a light rose scent with a lemony edge. Together they round out the heart of a floral blend and make rose go further.
How the florals come together in Intention
Intention, the floral roll-on from Mirosuna, brings all five together with a touch of jasmine: lavender at the top, geranium, rose, jasmine and palmarosa in the heart, and ylang ylang underneath for depth. It is soft and romantic without being heavy, and it is lovely worn as a natural perfume.
Like every Mirosuna oil, Intention is certified organic, vegan, made in Melbourne and free from synthetic fragrance.
$38, or all five in the Full Set of 5 Mirosuna Oils for $190. Ships Australia-wide. Thank you for supporting a small Melbourne studio.
Every Mirosuna oil is for external use only. Please patch test on a small area of skin first, keep it away from your eyes and face, and stop using it if irritation occurs. Take extra care with aromatherapy in pregnancy and around children, and if you have any health concerns, please check with a registered health practitioner before use.
Frequently asked questions
What does ylang ylang smell like?
Rich, sweet and creamy, with a tropical, slightly fruity note. It is strong, so a little goes a long way.
What is the difference between rose oil and rose absolute?
Rose oil, or rose otto, is steam distilled and lighter. Rose absolute is solvent extracted and smells deeper and closer to a fresh rose.
What goes well with lavender oil?
Almost everything: citrus such as bergamot and mandarin, other florals such as geranium and rose, and woods such as cedarwood.
Thank you for reading. If you have a question about Intention, please email hello@mirosuna.com.