Back to all words

Ylang-ylang

2 stages from Tagalog to English.

Today it means a tropical tree with fragrant yellow flowers; the perfume oil made from them

Where does the word "ylang-ylang" come from? It comes from Tagalog ilang-ilang, adopted directly into English (1870s).

ilang-ilang→ylang-ylang

Tagalog · 1600s

"the fragrant cananga flower"

usually explained as 'of the wilderness', from ilang; the tree (Cananga odorata) is native to the Philippines and Indonesia

English · 1870s

"perfume oil from the cananga flower"

entered English through the perfume trade; French colonial planters in the 1900s made the Comoros and Madagascar's Nosy Be the main producers, and Chanel No. 5 (1921) uses its oil

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom

Read the full story

Ylang-ylang’s story begins in Tagalog: ilang-ilang meant “the fragrant cananga flower.” Usually explained as 'of the wilderness', from ilang; the tree (Cananga odorata) is native to the Philippines and Indonesia. It reached English by 1870s as ylang-ylang. Entered English through the perfume trade; French colonial planters in the 1900s made the Comoros and Madagascar's Nosy Be the main producers, and Chanel No. 5 (1921) uses its oil. Today, ylang-ylang means a tropical tree with fragrant yellow flowers; the perfume oil made from them.