At the sources of the perfumes of the world

Audio 48:30

Ylang Ylang DR

By: Emmanuelle Bastide

50 mins

Indonesian patchouli, Australian sandalwood, ylang ylang from Madagascar, Amazonian rubber… So many exceptional scents which are used in the composition of perfumes.

Publicity

In search of these precious essences, there are a few initiates who have made it their profession, that of sourcing smells.

These essence hunters travel the world in search of these raw materials, which are often subject to bad weather, deforestation but also to criminal circuits and fluctuating prices.

What are the most popular essences?

How to ensure the sustainability of ancestral know-how and guarantee producers' income? 

With:

Dominique Roques

, sourcer for

 Firmenich

, a company creating fragrances and aromas.

Author of 

Gatherer of essences - At the sources of the perfumes of the world

(Grasset)

Adolphe Samsidine

, producer of ylang-ylang and essential oils in Nosy-Be (a small island in the north-west of Madagascar) and president of the platform of ylang-ylang operators in Nosy-Be

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  • Society

  • Raw materials

  • Madagascar