Ilang Ivohibe

Ilang Ivohibe presents itself as a powdery floral that leans decisively into the creamy, almost confectionery aspects of ylang ylang without ever becoming cloying. Pierre Guillaume constructs something deliberately old-fashioned here—a fragrance that feels rooted in 1970s sensibilities rather than contemporary fragrance design. The lavender-vanilla opening establishes a soft, herbaceous sweetness, but it's merely prologue to the heart where ylang ylang's indolic richness collides with iris's dusty, violet-tinged minerality. This combination creates something quietly unsettling: the iris checks the ylang's fleshiness with cool powder, whilst the ylang prevents the iris from becoming austere or cosmetic.

What emerges is distinctly retro—the kind of scent that belongs on vintage dressing tables, clinging to silk scarves and old letters. The 76% powdery accord isn't fresh or skin-scent; it's deliberate, theatrical, almost face-powder on the cheekbones. The underlying patchouli (52% woody accord) grounds everything with earthy insistence, preventing the sweetness from drifting into pure nostalgia. This is a fragrance for those who appreciate the slightly dusty elegance of older perfumery, who find beauty in restraint wrapped in softness. The spice (64%) manifests subtly—not pepper or cinnamon, but something deeper that emerges from the patchouli-ylang interplay, adding dimensionality rather than heat.