Another natural fragrance is under the spotlight due to serious sustainability issues — ylang-ylang, a beautiful essential oil widely used in perfumery and skincare. But beneath its luxury appeal lies a fragile supply chain with environmental and social risks that brands need to understand and address.
Ylang Ylang at the heart of deforestation
Comoros, and especially the island of Anjouan, has lost around 80% of its natural forests between 1995 and 2014. The main drivers are agricultural expansion, housing needs, and extraction for products such as ylang-ylang essential oil, widely used in luxury perfumery. This highlights once again how natural fragrance sourcing can put ecosystems at risk when not managed sustainably.
Conservation scheme thanks to NGO
To address this, farmers in Anjouan are now working with NGOs, including Dahari, under a five-year conservation plan. Landowners sign agreements to replant trees or leave land fallow in return for financial or material support. The goal is to conserve at least 1,000 hectares of native forest by 2027.
Conservation with regeneration
This new approach builds on earlier successes, such as the planting of over 32,000 trees in a pilot reforestation project, which restored more than 400 hectares of forest and improved water supplies for local communities. Conservation schemes have also protected endangered species, including the Livingstone’s fruit-bat, by rewarding landowners who safeguard critical habitats.
Key takeaway for beauty brands
For beauty brands and formulators, this is a reminder that fragrance ingredients like ylang-ylang come with significant sustainability challenges. At the same time, it offers a positive example of how supply chains can engage with local reforestation and conservation projects to secure long-term, regenerative ingredient sourcing while protecting biodiversity.
When purchasing Ylang-Ylang do ask if ylang-ylang is regeneratively sourced
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