Latin Name: Cananga odorata

Plant Family: Annonaceae

Plant Part Used: Flower

Extraction Method: Steam distillation
Scent: Intensely sweet, exotic, floral
Color: Clear, pale yellow
Viscosity: Thin
Shelf Life: 4 to 5 years
Max Dermal Use Level: 0.8%
Notes (Perfume): Base (to Middle)
Phototoxic: No
Safe for Kids: No
Safe for Pregnancy: Yes
Safe for Breastfeeding: Yes
Has GRAS Status: Yes
Chemical Families: sesquiterpenes, esters, sesquiterpenols
Primary Chemical Constituents: limonene, beta myrcene, linalool, decanal, alpha pinene
Blends well with:

(Worwood, 2016, p. 631)

amyris, basil, bay (West Indian), bay laurel, benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, cananga, cinnamon leaf, clove bud, coriander seed, eucalyptus lemon, frankincense, galbanum, ginger, ginger lily root, grapefruit, ho wood, jasmine, lavender, lemon, linden blossom, magnolia flower, magnolia leaf, mandarin, may chang,  neroli, orange (sweet), palmarosa, patchouli, petitgrain, rose maroc, rose otto, rosewood, sandalwood, spikenard, tangerine, tuberose, vetiver, yuzu

General Information

Ylang ylang essential oil is extracted using steam distillation from the yellow flowers of the Cananga odorata – a tropical tree that is native in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Philippines. The flowers are often harvested early in the morning and distilled immediately to obtain the highest quality of essential oil.

Ylang ylang essential oil is well known for its intensely sweet and floral scent which makes it a popular fragrance choice in making perfumes. In fact, one of the world’s bestselling perfume, Chanel No. 5, is made up of about 10% ylang ylang essential oil. Since it is a base note, ylang ylang essential oil has a longer lasting scent. It is also sometimes referred to as “poor man’s jasmine” since its scent has a close resemblance to the more expensive jasmine essential oil.

There are five grades (types) of ylang ylang essential oil: extra, first, second, third and complete. The first four grades are processed by fractional steam distillation wherein the extra grade has the strongest fragrance and the intensity of fragrance is reduced with each succeeding grades.

Ylang ylang extra is extracted after about two hours of distillation. It is considered as the finest grade of ylang ylang essential oil and is often used by perfumers due to its intensely sweet aroma which is attributed to its high amount of esters.

Meanwhile, ylang ylang complete can either be a result of full, uninterrupted distillation (unfractionated) or a blend of the four fractionated distillates. Compared to extra, it has a less intense and less sweet aroma. It is also often used in aromatherapy due to its relaxing properties, thanks to its higher content of linalool (a relaxing chemical compound).

Therapeutic Properties

(Worwood, 2016, p. 631)

Antidepressant – alleviates depression
Antiphlogistic – reduces inflammation and fever 
Antiseptic – prevents and kills microorganisms which include bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa
Antispasmodic – relieves muscle spasms
Aphrodisiac – stimulates sexual desire
Calmative - has calming (sedative) effect
Circulatory – promotes flow of blood and lymph
Hypotensive – lowers blood pressure
Nervine – calms the nervous system
Sedative – relaxes mind and body in order to promote calmness and induce sleep
Tonic – invigorates, refreshes and restores the body

Uses and Benefits

Relieve Stress and Anxiety

Ylang ylang essential oil can uplift your mood when you’re feeling down, it’s like a natural anti-depressant medicine. Its mild sedative properties can also help reduce stress and anxiety. Also, if you have trouble sleeping, then ylang ylang oil can be blended with lavender and sandalwood and use the blend in a diffuser or as massage oil to promote a good night sleep.

Reduces Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Some of the most common PMS symptoms are mood swings and menstrual cramps (a.k.a. dysmenorrhea). Due to its antispasmodic properties, ylang ylang essential oil helps relax muscle contractions associated to menstruation. Add a drop of ylang ylang oil to a teaspoon of your favorite carrier oil and rub the oil into your lower abdomen.

Disinfect the Room

Using ylang ylang oil in room spray will not only add a refreshing smell to your house, it can also cleanse the air, thanks to its antiseptic properties.

Skin Care

Ylang ylang essential oil has the ability to regulate sebum production which means that it can balance the amount of oil on your skin depending on your skin type (e.g. reduces excess sebum for oily skin). When you create a facial serum or a lotion with ylang ylang oil, make sure that you don’t go above 0.8% of the total formulation – its maximum dermal limit.

Increases Sexual Desire

Ylang ylang essential oil is best known for its aphrodisiac properties which have the ability to increase libido (sexual drive). Try to create a sensual massage oil with ylang ylang and use it to pamper your partner before bedtime ^_~

Lower Blood Pressure

Because ylang ylang essential oil is a hypotensive, it can help lower blood pressure. The best way to treat high blood pressure using essential oils is through inhalation (e.g. diffuser) or massage.

Safety Information

• Since ylang ylang essential oil has an intense (heady) fragrance, only a small amount is needed in your diffuser, otherwise it could cause headache or nausea.
• It is important to note that ylang ylang essential oil has a moderate risk for skin sensitization since it contains the chemical constituent isoeugenol – a known sensitizer. Therefore, if you have a sensitive skin, it is recommended to avoid topical application of ylang ylang essential oil or do a patch test first.