Domaine Ylang Ylang is the oldest distillery in Mauritius to produce oil from the Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) tree. The plantation of Ylang Ylang trees alongside the distillery, provided the Ylang Ylang flowers from which perfume was distilled. The Domaine Ylang Ylang further up the Kestrel Valley commands a view onto the wide lagoon of Vieux Grand Port of Mahebourg and the neighbouring islets on the central east coast of Mauritius.
In the adjoining Kestrel Valley (also historically known as the Domaine du Chasseur Game Park and Reserve) forest and nature hiking are available for nature-lovers over an area of more than 200 ha. where the famed Mauritius Kestrel can be seen. It is an important protected area for many other endemic plants and animal species in Mauritius.
Although the distillery stopped functioning after 2002 when it had been popular with tourists looking for essential oils and aromatherapy, the laboratory and building can still be seen.[1][2]
References
- ^ Île Maurice, île Rodrigues. [Paris]: Hachette. 2001. p. 178. ISBN 978-2-01-243504-9.
- ^ Memories of My Trip to Domaine de L'Ylang-Ylang. 2002.
We've never been to an essential oil factory before. There's only a few days left before we return to London. This will be our only opportunity to watch the process of extraction. Why don't we book a taxi to pick us up here in the morning and then take us to the factory? Looking at the map it's about 15km from the local airport", I said, putting my enthusiastic ideas to David (my husband)