Tiare, pikake and plumeria are three white island flowers strung into leis from Hawaii to Tahiti, and each one has its own Monoi Tiki Tahiti oil. Tiare, the Tahitian gardenia, smells creamy, sweet and green and is the base of every bottle. Pikake (jasmine, called pitate in Tahiti) is the boldest, and plumeria (frangipani, called tipanie in Tahiti) is the softest.
If you have worn a lei in Honolulu or been handed a flower on arrival in Papeete, you already know these scents. Here is how the three flowers differ, what they are called in Hawaii and Tahiti, and how to wear each one as a body oil.
Three lei flowers and their names
| Flower | Also called | Scent | Monoi oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiare (Gardenia taitensis) | Tahitian gardenia, tiare Tahiti | Creamy, sweet and green, with a soft spicy edge | Tiare |
| Jasmine | pikake in Hawaii, pitate in Tahiti | Intense and sweet; the boldest in the line | Pitate |
| Plumeria | frangipani; tipanie in Tahiti | Soft and velvety; the most subtle in the line | Tipanie |
Tiare: the flower of Tahiti
Tiare (say "tee-AH-ray") is the national flower of French Polynesia, a star-shaped white bloom with six to eight petals. It is tucked behind ears, woven into leis and crowns (hei), and given to visitors as a welcome. A popular custom says a flower behind the right ear means you are single and behind the left ear means you are taken.
Tiare is also the flower inside monoi. To make Monoi Tiare Tahiti, tiare flowers are picked as buds and steeped in refined coconut oil from Polynesian coconuts. Parfumerie Tiki has made it in Papeete since 1942, and every bottle of Monoi Tiki Tahiti oil still holds a dried tiare flower. Read more in what tiare smells like.
Pikake (pitate): Tahitian jasmine
In Hawaii, jasmine is pikake, the small white blossom strung into fragrant leis. In Tahiti it is pitate. Pitate monoi was created in the 1970s and is the strongest scent in the Monoi Tiki Tahiti range, rich enough that many people wear it in place of perfume. A little goes a long way. See our jasmine body oil guide.
Plumeria (tipanie): the softest lei scent
Plumeria is the name used in Hawaii and most of the U.S., frangipani is more common in Australia, the U.K. and Bali, and tipanie is the Tahitian name. It is the five-petal flower, usually white with a yellow center, that is strung into leis across Polynesia. Tipanie monoi is the most subtle scent in the line: noticeable on skin, delicate rather than heady. See our plumeria body oil guide.
How the three compare
- Tiare vs. pikake: Tahitian jasmine is bolder and sweeter. Tiare is lighter and creamier.
- Tiare vs. plumeria: plumeria is softer, fruitier and more velvety.
- Pikake vs. plumeria: the two ends of the line, one bold and one delicate.
All three oils share the same base: Monoi Tiare Tahiti, tiare flowers steeped in refined coconut oil. Pitate adds a jasmine fragrance and Tipanie adds a plumeria fragrance, so tiare sits underneath both, and all three feel the same on skin.
How to wear a lei flower scent
- After the shower: smooth a few drops onto damp skin. Damp skin helps the oil spread thinly.
- As a light fragrance: dab a drop on wrists, behind the ears and at the collarbone. With Pitate, start with less than you think.
- In your hair: rub one or two drops between your palms and smooth over dry ends.
- Layered: wear Tipanie or Tiare by day and Pitate in the evening, or layer a drop of Tipanie over Tiare for two island flowers at once.
Any two 4 oz oils reach our free U.S. shipping line of $30. Compare every scent in the monoi oil scent guide or browse the Monoi Oil collection.
Good to know
- It may be solid when it arrives. Monoi is mostly coconut oil, which turns solid below 68°F (20°C). Stand the bottle in warm water for a few minutes to melt it.
- Patch-test first if you are trying a new fragrance, and stop using it if you notice irritation.
- Not a sunscreen. Monoi is a beauty oil; use sunscreen as directed on its label when you are out in the sun.
Lei flower FAQ
Is pikake the same as pitate?
Yes. Both are names for jasmine: pikake in Hawaii and pitate in Tahiti.
Is tipanie the same as plumeria?
Yes. Tipanie is the Tahitian name for plumeria, which is also called frangipani.
Which lei flower oil is the strongest?
Pitate (jasmine) is the boldest scent in the Monoi Tiki Tahiti line. Tipanie (plumeria) is the most subtle.
Are these essential oils?
No. They are ready-to-use body oils, so you can apply them straight to skin and hair with nothing to dilute.
Where are they made, and where do they ship from?
In Papeete, Tahiti, by Parfumerie Tiki, which has made monoi since 1942. Hawaiian Resources Co. of Honolulu is the official U.S. importer and ships every order from Hawaii.