The Best Smell of My Life-Ylang Ylang Oil:An Update

A couple of months ago, I received an E-mail from a FaceBook friend who introduced me to another friend who was involved in Ylang-Ylang oil production in Zambales province in the Philippines. Here's part of our conversation.

FB Friend: Good morning, I am glad we could connect.  My condolences also about your wife.  As Joey mentions, we have established large plantations of ylang ylang in Zambales (around 21 hectares / 8,000 trees).  From this, we have commenced distillation of ylang ylang essential oil.  This is exciting because we are reintroducing the production of ylang ylang essential oil to its native lands, as well as working primarily with Aeta communities that were displaced by the eruption of Mt Pinatubo.  From this we will soon commence supplying global markets.

I understand you are an expert in ylang ylang? Can you elaborate a little more for me such that I might understand better?  I hope we might learn from your expertise with working with this tree.

My Response:  My interest in Ylang-Ylang Oil started in 1962 at the University of Illinois in Chicago when I wrote my Master's Degree thesis in Pharmaceutical Chemistry on the Analysis of Volatile Components Of Ylang-Ylang Oil by Gas Chromatography. So this expertise is purely theoretical, unlike your expertise on farming, production and commercialization that I really admire.  The production and commercialization of Ylang-Ylang Oil in the Philippines was my dream. Today, I am retired and keep myself busy by blogging. I wish you great success in your Ylang-Ylang oil business. 

The subject of Ylang-Ylang oil production is a subject very closed to my heart because the volatile components of the flowers/oil have been the subject of my Master's thesis at the University of Illinois in 1963.

Here's are videos of Ylang-Ylang Oil production and commercialization in the Philippines.

 

Repost :The Best Smell of My Life-Original article, dated  Feb 25, 2012.

Photo of the Ylang-Ylang flower in my backyard, Chateau Du Mer, Marinduque, Philippines

This article was inspired by a Question of a friend in Facebook-regarding the best smell one has experienced. Mine is the smell of the blooming Ylang-Ylang trees in my garden at Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines. I have two big mature trees in the backyard of Chateau Du Mer that are about 15 years old.

When the trees are in bloom, you can smell the fragrance of it flowers to as far as 50 meters and even farther if the wind direction is favorable. It is one fragrance, that I will never forget at Chateau Du Mer in Marinduque. Its reminds me of the perfume, Channel No.5.

The fragrance of ylang-ylang is rich and deep with notes of rubber and custard, and bright with hints of jasmine and neroli. The essential oil of the flower is obtained through steam distillation of the flowers and separated into different grades (extra; 1; 2; 3) according to when the distillates are obtained. The main aromatic components of ylang-ylang oil are benzyl acetate, linalool, p-cresyl methyl ether, and methyl benzoate, responsible for its characteristic odor.

On the subject of Ylang Ylang Oil,I am proud to inform readers of this blog that my Master’s degree thesis was the Analysis of the Volatile Constituents of Ylang Ylang Oil by Gas Chromatography. This was published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vol.52, No.3 252-258 dated March, 1963.

I believe not too many non-Filipinos have heard of this tree and it fragrant flowers. Here’s a short information from Wikipedia for your reading pleasure.

Cananga odorata, commonly called Ylang-ylang (pronounced /ˈiːlæŋ ˈiːlæŋ/, EE-lang-EE-lang), cananga tree, ilang-ilang, kenanga (Indonesian), fragrant cananga, Macassar-oil plant or perfume tree), is a tree valued for its perfume. The essential oil derived from the flowers is used in aromatherapy and in the manufacture of perfumes.

Cananga odorata is a fast-growing tree of the custard-apple family, Annonaceae, that exceeds 5 m (15 ft) per year and attains an average height of 12 m (40 ft). It grows in full or partial sun, and prefers the acidic soils of its native rain forest habitat. The evergreen leaves are smooth and glossy, oval, pointed, with wavy margins, and 13–20 cm (5–8 in) long. The flower is drooping, long-stalked, with six narrow greenish yellow (rarely pink) petals, rather like a sea star in appearance, and yields a highly fragrant essential oil.

The Chemical Composition Typical chemical compositions of the various grades of Ylang ylang are reported as follows:

Constituents Linalool, geranyl acetate, caryophyllene, p-cresyl, methyl ether, methyl benzoate, other, sesquiterpenes.

Etymology

The name ylang-ylang is derived from Tagalog, either from the word ilang, meaning “wilderness”, alluding to its natural habitat, or the word ilang-ilan, meaning “rare”, suggestive of its exceptionally delicate scent. A more widely accepted translation is “flower of flowers”. The plant is native to the Philippines and Indonesia and is commonly grown in Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.

The essential oil of ylang-ylang is used in aromatherapy. It is believed to relieve high blood pressure, normalize sebum secretion for skin problems, and is considered to be an aphrodisiac. According to Margaret Mead, it was used as such by South Pacific natives such as the Solomons where she did much of her research. The oil from ylang-ylang is widely used in perfumery for oriental or floral themed perfumes (like Chanel No. 5). Ylang-ylang blends well with most floral, fruit and wood smells.

In Indonesia, ylang-ylang flowers are spread on the bed of newlywed couples. In the Philippines, its flowers, together with the flowers of the sampaguita, are strung into a necklace (lei) and worn by women and used to adorn religious images.

Medicinal uses

Ylang Ylang is a common ingredient in the herbal motion sickness remedy, MotionEaze.

Circulatory System: Ylang ylang is recommended for treating palpitations and reducing high blood pressure

Nervous System : Ylang ylang is known for its ability to slow down over-rapid breathing and over-rapid heart beat. These symptoms are usually associated with shock, anxiety and anger.

Reproductive System: Ylang ylang has proven beneficial for treating PMS, especially associated with extreme mood swings that occurs just before the onset of menstruation. For this purpose, Fischer-Rizzi recommends blending Ylang ylang with clary sage and neroli. This blend should be used in a bath, massage oil or in a vaporizer.

Skin care: Added to the skin care preparation, Ylang ylang oil is beneficial in softening and balancing the moisture of the skin. It is recommended in hair care to treat split ends. It can be used in a shampoo base of massaged into the tips of the hair after shampooing with a base oil such as apricot kernel or jojoba oil. Ylang ylang is recommended for dry and oily skin and is reputed to have a balancing action on sebum production.

I hope you find this article informative. It is the best smell, I have ever experience in my life. 

 

 

Meanwhile Note: The fragrance of Ylang Ylang was mentioned in one of the Episodes of the widely popular Netflix TV series, Emily in Paris. The supporting actress in this series is named Philippine Leroy Beaulieu. This is the first time I heard of a person/actress named Philippine. Her Father's name is Philippe, another French actor. I recommend this series if you like a light  comedy-drama.  

 

Another Addicting TV Series : Spanish TV Series on Netflix

Last November, I posted in my blogs my discovery of Turkish TV dramas. This week I started binging on a Spanish TV series "ElitE"on Netflix. It has 3 Seasons and I just finished Season 2.  It is comparable to another Teen TV drama "13 Reasons Why".https://marinduquemyislandparadise.blogspot.com/search?q=13+reasons+Why 

I am addicted to this series and here's my reasons and summary from Wikipedia. Elite features Itzan Escamilla a look alike of Enrique Iglesias and his also famous Father Julio.

Itzan Escamilla playing Samuel-one of the leading actors in the Series and

Enrique Iglesias- son of Julio Iglesias Do you see the resemblances?
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_Iglesias)
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Young Julio Iglesias- Iglesias is recognized as the most commercially successful continental European singer in the world and one of the top record sellers in music history, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide in 14 languages. It is estimated that during his career he has performed in more than 5000 concerts, for over 60 million people in five continents. In April 2013, Iglesias was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Latin Composers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Iglesias

Elite (Spanish: Élite; stylized as E L I T Ǝ) is a Spanish thriller teen drama streaming television series created for Netflix by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona. The series is set in Las Encinas, a fictional elite secondary school and revolves around the relationships between three working-class teenage students enrolled at the school through a scholarship and their wealthy classmates.

The series features an ensemble cast including María Pedraza, Itzan Escamilla, Miguel Bernardeau, Miguel Herrán, Jaime Lorente, Álvaro Rico, Arón Piper, Mina El Hammani, Ester Expósito, Omar Ayuso, and Danna Paola. Jorge López, Claudia Salas, Georgina Amorós, Sergio Momo, Leïti Sène, Carla Díaz, Manu Ríos, Martina Cariddi, and Pol Granch joined the cast in later seasons. Many of the cast previously featured in other Netflix works produced or distributed in Spain and Latin America.

Elite explores concepts and themes associated with teen dramas, but also features more progressive issues and other sides to its clichés. These include many diverse sexual themes. Structurally, the series employs a flash-forward plot that involves a mystery element, with each season taking place in two timelines. The first season, consisting of eight episodes, was released on Netflix on 5 October 2018. It received positive reviews from critics and audiences, with many hailing the series as a "guilty pleasure", and praising its writing, acting and portrayal of mature themes. In October 2018, the series was renewed for a second season, which was released on 6 September 2019. A third season was ordered in August 2019 and was released on 13 March 2020. In January 2020, Netflix renewed the series for a fourth and fifth season. Here's Critical Response from Wikipedia.

Critical response

Critical response of Elite

Season	Rotten Tomatoes
1	100% (14 reviews)
2	91% (11 reviews)
3	100% (9 reviews)

Elite was met with critical acclaim. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has a 100% rating with 14 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Elite is highly digestible, technically strong trash TV for anyone with a guilty pleasure palate." Other reviewers also refer to the show as a guilty pleasure. Natalie Winkelman from The Daily 

Beast gave the first season a positive review, saying that "with Euro-cool style and compelling characters, Elite is trashy, diverting fun." John Doyle from The Globe and Mail likewise complimented the first season in his review, adding that "Elite is no masterpiece but is one of those oddly satisfying, binge-worthy curiosities." 

Taylor Antrim of Vogue also said that is worth a binge-watch and "goes down like a cold glass of verdejo". Antrim wrote that the series is an example of Netflix "airing global TV shows that slavishly borrow television tropes", saying that "If it were a CW show I'd hardly give it a second look. But a Spanish prep school is seductive terra incognita" in the positive review.

Writing for Variety, Caroline Framke also comments on the series' use of tropes. She notes that being introduced to the show as a combination of many other teen dramas, she was concerned that taking on so many tropes would make it "an overstuffed Frankenstein of a show", but that she was quickly proven wrong when watching it.

David Griffin of IGN also identifies the series in the same way. He gave the first season an 8.8/10, highlighting that it sets a "new standard for how a high school drama series should be done" and "may be the best high school drama on TV."

In a similar take, Lena Finkel of Femestella looked at how the series was different to many of its counterparts by how it tackled contentious issues. Finkel lists explicitly examples, including that when Elite has sex scenes, they are often about the woman's pleasure; that a character who believes abortion is murder is still pro-choice; that when a male character is come onto by a drunk girl that he likes, he sends her home; that it explores social and class differences when young people come out; that the gay male sex scene is sensual as well as explicit; and that it features characters including a young man unashamedly nervous to lose his virginity and a straight, white, wealthy, woman who is HIV-positive.

Also looking at how the series addresses diverse issues and modern society, Grazia Middle East wrote about the representation of Nadia. Writer Olivia Adams says that the show explores some of the more everyday struggles of racial discrimination towards Muslims by having Nadia be forced to remove her headscarf in school, something that has been considered at some real schools in Europe. She also notes how the home life of the Muslim family is explored, not just the teenagers' interrelations, giving a fuller view.

Kathryn VanArendonk of Vulture stated in a positive review of the series that though "Elite is not pushing new boundaries in television, it's not a self-serious reboot of an old property" and that "in spite of that — or more likely because of it! — its commitment to breakneck melodrama is undeniably enjoyable." Kemi Alemoru of Dazed recommends watching the show because it is "extra", relishing in showing the excessive world of the elite students with extravagant parties and the means to escalate small fights to high-expense drama, and also for its positive representation of topics.

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya from Thrillist recommended the first season in their review of the series by stating that "Elite might be the only show that could give Riverdale a run for its money when it comes to excessive slow-motion shots."  

Decider's Joel Keller also compares the show to Riverdale, saying that it is "trashy and scandalous, but no moreso than anything you might see coming from American producers" and the latest of the "dark high school dramas" that became popular; Keller recommends to stream it.

Popular response

On 17 January 2019, Netflix announced that the series (the first season) had been streamed by over 20 million accounts within its first month of release.

After Netflix posted an image of gay characters Omar and Ander to Instagram, it received homophobic comments. The streaming service responded to one with rainbow emojis.

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
2019	Premios Feroz	Best Drama Series	Elite	Nominated
	GLAAD Media Awards	Outstanding Scripted Television Series (Spanish-Language)	Elite	Won

For a list of 17 best Spanish TV series on Netflix read:

https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/g26026225/spanish-shows-series-on-netflix/

Personal Note: Of the 17 on the List, I have viewed 10 and I really enjoyed them.  

Meanwhile enjoy this recent photo in my collection-my valentine gift from Ditas

 

Our Visit to the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum

This is the last ( 10 of 10) on my series of Art Museums and Historical Places that Macrine(RIP) and I had visited during our younger years. Today is also Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day to All My Faithful Readers and Followers.

Macrine (RIP) and I had visited the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum when were still residing in Maryland from 1990 to 2002. It was a whole day affair. I remember it with awe as I relieve the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. I was teary-eyed as I reflect the 3-day Battle and hearing once again President Lincoln Gettysburg address.  It is a must visit if you are a history enthusiast.

The Gettysburg National Military Park(GNMP) protects and interprets the landscape of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. It is located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the park is managed by the National Park Service. 

The GNMP properties include most of the Gettysburg Battlefield, many of the battle's support areas during the battle (e.g., reserve, supply, and hospital locations), and several other non-battle areas associated with the battle's "aftermath and commemoration", including the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Many of the park's 43,000 American Civil War artifacts are displayed in the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center.

The park has more wooded land than in 1863, and the National Park Service(NPS) has an ongoing program to restore portions of the battlefield to their historical non-wooded conditions, as well as to replant historic orchards and woodlots that are now missing. In addition, the NPS is restoring native plants to meadows and edges of roads, to encourage habitat as well as provide for historic landscape. There are also considerably more roads and facilities for the benefit of tourists visiting the battlefield park.

Attendance in 2018 was 950,000 a decline of 86% since 1970. The five major Civil War battlefield parks operated by the National Park Service (Gettysburg, Antietam, Shiloh, Chickamauga/Chattanooga and Vicksburg) had a combined 3.1 million visitors in 2018, down 70% from 10.2 million in 1970.

The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.

 Meanwhile enjoy this photo:

 

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Arts in Kansas City, Missouri

This is Part 9 of 10 on my series on Art Museums and Historical Places that Macrine(RIP) and I had visited.

Kansas City has three art museums. Macrine( RIP) and I had visited only one. This was the time when we were residents of Platte Woods, Missouri- a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri (1965-1969). Our favorite museum is The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is an art museum in Kansas City, Missouri, known for its encyclopedic collection of art from nearly every continent and culture, and especially for its extensive collection of Asian art.

In 2007, Time magazine ranked the museum's new Bloch Building number one on its list of "The 10 Best (New and Upcoming) Architectural Marvels" which considered candidates from around the globe.

The museum originates from two separate grants, one by publisher William Rockhill Nelson (1841-1915) and another by school teacher and heiress Mary McAfee Atkins (1836-1911), both aimed to establish a new museum of art in Kansas City.
 

Instead of creating two separate institutions, the trustees decided to join forces and found a single major museum, initially named The William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and the Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Arts.
 

The museum’s imposing neoclassical-style building, designed by Wight & Wight Architects, opened to the public on December 1, 1933.

Like many other American museums founded in the same period, the Nelson-Atkins is an encyclopedic art museum whose collections spans over 4000 years, from ancient to contemporary art. Furthermore, the museum’s collections encompass various geographical areas – Far and Near East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas – and art fields – including painting, sculpture, photography, archaeology, architecture, design, and decorative arts.

Meanwhile, here's a photo of our first home in Platte Woods, Missouri- a suburb of Kansas City with the 4D's. Front Yard of 5701 West Linden Road, Summer of 1968( or 1967?).

Dodie Diosdado, Dinah Elaine, David Ernst  and Ditas Macrine Katague Childhood Years in Platte Woods, Missouri,Kansas City, USA

 

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

This is a continuation of my series on Art Museums and Historical places that Macrine(RIP) and I had visited during our younger years. This is Part 8 of 10.  

The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough-One of the Paintings I really Enjoyed at the Huntington Museum.

A few years ago, Macrine (RIP) and I visited The Huntington Library and Art Museum when we attended the Rose Parade in Pasadena. We were invited by Macrine relatives and stay at their residence for 3 days. We spent a whole day at the Art Museum and Gardens.    

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, known as The Huntington, is a collections-based educational and research institution established by Henry E. Huntington (1850–1927) and Arabella Huntington (c.1851–1924) and located in San Marino, California, United States. In addition to the library, the institution houses an extensive art collection with a focus on 18th- and 19th-century European art and 17th- to mid-20th-century American art. 

The property also includes approximately 120 acres (49 ha) of specialized botanical landscaped gardens, most notably the "Japanese Garden", the "Desert Garden", and the "Chinese Garden" (Liu Fang Yuan). On September 5, 2019, The Huntington kicked off a year-long celebration of its centennial year with exhibitions, special programs, initiatives, a special Huntington 100th rose, and a float in the 2020 Rose Parade in nearby Pasadena, CA. 

The European collection, consisting largely of 18th- and 19th-century British & French paintings, sculptures and decorative arts, is housed in The Huntington Art Gallery, the original Huntington residence. The permanent installation also includes selections from the Arabella D. Huntington Memorial Art Collection, which contains Italian and Northern Renaissance paintings and a spectacular collection of 18th-century French tapestries, porcelain, and furniture. Some of the best known works in the European collection include The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough, Pinkie by Thomas Lawrence, and Madonna and Child by Rogier van der Weyden.

American art

Complementing the European collections is the Huntington's American art holdings, a collection of paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, and photographs dating from the 17th to the mid-20th century. The institution did not begin collecting American art until 1979, when it received a gift of 50 paintings from the Virginia Steele Scott Foundation. Consequently, The Virginia Steele Scott Gallery of American Art was established in 1984. In 2009, the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries were expanded, refurbished, and reinstalled. The new showcase, a $1.6 million project designed to give the Huntington's growing American art collection more space and visibility, combines the original, 1984 American gallery with the Lois and Robert F. Erburu Gallery, a modern classical addition designed by Los Angeles architect Frederick Fisher. Highlights among the American art collections include Breakfast in Bed by Mary Cassatt, The Long Leg by Edward Hopper, Small Crushed Campbell's Soup Can (Beef Noodle) by Andy Warhol, and Global Loft (Spread) by Robert Rauschenberg. As of 2014, the collection numbers some 12,000 works, ninety percent of them drawings, photographs and prints.

In 2014, the library acquired the Millard Sheets mural Southern California landscape (1934), the dining room wall painting originally painted for homeowners Fred H. and Bessie Ranke in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, this is my recent photo of my Biden-Harris mask and coffee mug-souvenirs of the 2021 Inauguration

 

 

 

The De Young Museum of Fine Arts in San Francisco

This is a continuation of my series on Art Museums and Historical places that Macrine(RIP) and I had visited during our younger years. This is Part 7 of 10.

Photo Credit: California Beaches: The De Young Museum of Fine Arts

During our residence in the Central Valley ( Modesto, CA) and in the North Bay (Pinole, Ca), for several decades Macrine (RIP) and I had numerous times visiting San Francisco, shopping, sight seeing, dining, as well as visiting museums in the Golden Gate Park area. There are 10 best art museums in San Francisco, but our favorite is the De Young Museum of Fine Arts. We visited the museum once when we were residing in Modesto and twice when were residing in Pinole, California.

The following are videos highlighting exhibits and architecture of the Museum.

 

For details of other museums visit:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60713-Activities-c49-t28-San_Francisco_California.html

 

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo from my collection

My Hammock ( Duyan) at Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines
 

 

Pleasant Memories of Our Voice Recital with Minda Azarcon

 Pleasant Memories of Our Voice Recital-with Minda Azarcon

When we were residing in Pinole, California in the late 1980's, Macrine(RIP) and I took voice lessons under Minda Azarcon- A popular voice and piano teacher in our area. At the end of 12 weeks of lessons,  she gave a program recital presenting all her 12 students from the most advance singers to the beginners. I was the least experience singer so I was the first in the program.  Macrine was more advance and she was second to the last in the program. 

We were required to sing two songs -one in tagalog and the other in English or another language. For my tagalog song I chose BUHAT and O' Sole Mio was my other song. I was surprise I had no stage fright during the recital. My teacher said after the concert, that I did not sound like Pavarotti but my posture and stage presence was perfect.

 

Minda Azarcon-our former Voice Teacher(https://www.linkedin.com/in/minda-azarcon-b9229354)

The Beautiful soprano voice of Minda Azarcon-UP Graduate in Piano and Voice

Macrine sang Ala-Ala Kita and None But a Lonely Heart. We sang Nasaan ka Man Naroon and We could make Believe as our Duet.

  Here's Pavarotti singing O' Sole Mio

 

A Choral Arrangement and presentation by the Mabuhay Singers

 

An Instrumental Arrangement- Three Violins and the Cello 

A vocal rendition by Martin Nievera with Lyrics

https://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&hs=X7y&channel=fs&q=buhat+song+and+lyrics&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwio2d-upYXsAhXNl54KHUUTCTMQ1QIoAHoECAsQAQ&biw=1373&bih=717 

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo of the Christmas present I gave to Carenna this year

and Lost in Motion Ballet-Ballet is one other art form that both Macrine and I enjoyed in our younger years

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