Ylang-ylang essential oil (Latin: Cananga odorata) is extracted from the petals of the ylang-ylang tree, a tropical plant.
The name “ylang-ylang (ylang-ylang)” actually means “flower of flowers” and is named for its sweet floral fragrance.
Ylang-ylang is also one of the key ingredients of Chanel No. 5.
It has been sought after for centuries for its hair-enhancing effects and for its healing properties on the skin.
Throughout Indonesia’s history, it is still used today as an energizing and aphrodisiac natural and is often used to decorate the couple’s bed on their wedding night.
Today, the ylang-ylang tree grows widely in tropical Asia, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Polynesian Islands.
What is ylang-ylang essential oil?
Ylang-ylang essential oil is a potent antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and sedative.
It has a positive effect on immune health, blood circulation, and mood, and is a natural “medicine” for endocrine, cardiovascular, reproductive, and digestive systems.
In food and beverages, ylang-ylang essential oil is used as a flavoring and preservative.
In product manufacturing, it is added to cosmetics, household cleaners, hair care products, and soaps.
Ylang-ylang essential oil’s main benefits include.
- Promotes blood circulation
- Relieves inflammation
- Fights parasites
- Regulates heartbeat
- Regulates heart problems
- Uplifts mood
- Promotes intestinal health
Ylang-ylang oil has a naturally rich floral fragrance that is considered “romantic” and uplifting, and many people like to diffuse ylang-ylang essential oil in the bedroom or add it to home cleaning products.
The fragrance also has the ability to positively influence mood, helping to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere in the home.
When you add ylang-ylang essential oil to your body wash, skin lotion or other beauty products, it can put you in a good mood throughout the day.
9 Benefits of ylang-ylang essential oil
Heart Health Boosters
Ylang-ylang oil is known to have properties that improve circulation and fight inflammation, supporting a healthy circulatory system.
It is considered to be one of the most useful essential oils for balancing blood pressure and preventing heart arrhythmias.
Can be used with lavender, happy sage, and frankincense, 1 drop of the oil is mixed with a carrier oil and applied daily to the heart area.
As a natural remedy to regulate high blood pressure, ylang-ylang essential oil can be used as a dietary supplement (must be a physiotherapy grade pure essential oil) by adding 1 to 2 drops of essential oil to water and taking it internally.
Regulating Emotions
Because ylang-ylang oil acts directly on the olfactory system of the brain, inhaling the aroma of the oil can have a direct, positive effect on mood and can work gently and naturally as an antidepressant.
It is said to “open the heart” and studies have shown that it can help release negative emotions, including anger, low self-esteem and jealousy.
Use a non-drug approach to help combat chronic fatigue syndrome as well as insomnia, as it has a mild calming effect and can reduce stress reactions caused by things like rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure.
Try diffusing essential oils at home or massaging your skin to enhance self-awareness, confidence, peace, and self-love.
Skincare
One of the most popular uses of ylang-ylang essential oil is for skincare, to maintain “youthful good looks” and to help slow down skin aging.
Ylang-ylang essential oil also helps in the fight against skin cancer and melanoma problems.
Use coconut oil or jojoba oil mixed with 1 or 2 drops of ylang-ylang oil and massage into the skin (or affected area) once or twice a day for a protective effect.
Natural Energy
If you always feel tired, exhausted, or depressed, try scenting yourself with ylang-ylang, which can help.
Many people find that this scent replenishes vitality and helps combat fatigue or body aches.
A few drops of the oil can be applied to a clean cotton ball and applied to the wrists, neck or chest (sensitive skin can be diluted with a carrier oil).
Improve PMS
Aromatherapy or massage with ylang-ylang essential oil can help reduce the symptoms of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome).
To relieve cramps, tension, and stress caused by PMS, you can apply ylang-ylang + lavender essential oil on the back of the neck and belly.
It is recommended to dilute with a carrier oil and apply, the ratio can be 1:2, sensitive skin can increase the dilution ratio to about 1:5
Natural Hair Care
Ylang-ylang oil with coconut oil for hair care also has many benefits.
Try using coconut oil or jojoba oil (or your daily conditioner) mixed with ylang-ylang essential oil to apply and massage into the scalp and hair for a healthy scalp and to add shine to the hair.
It also prevents tangles and improves dandruff, and can be used as a natural treatment oil to prevent hair loss.
Aphrodisiac
Ylang-ylang essential oil has been shown to be a natural impotence improvement drug because it can help increase sexual desire in both men and women.
To enhance the relationship with your partner (spouse), you can diffuse ylang-ylang essential oil in the room or sniff the oil directly, and you can also inhale the scent of the oil (to stay relaxed and energized) at any time by placing 1 drop of the oil on the bed sheet or collar.
Fight against diabetes
Ylang-ylang oil is known to reduce the risk of nerve damage due to diabetic complications, helping to protect tissues and cells from damage, and ylang-ylang may become a natural remedy for regulating diabetes.
A few drops of the oil may be massaged into the reflex zones of the feet, abdomen, and pancreas (the entire gastrointestinal area is sufficient, and dilution with a carrier oil is recommended for application) or taken internally.
Helps digestion
To prevent poor circulation, stress, or anxiety from affecting the digestive system, try inhaling ylang-ylang essential oil or massaging the abdomen, or you can take a few drops of essential oils internally (must be pure essential oils of physiotherapy grade).
Studies of ylang-ylang essential oil
It is an interesting fact that the quality of ylang-ylang essential oil depends to a large extent on the cultivation of the flowers and especially on the time of picking them.
It is believed that the best quality of essential oil is extracted from flowers picked early in the morning because the flowers are pollinated by night moths, and the lowering of the temperature and dew at night positively affects the chemical structure of the oil.
The strongest scent is released from dusk to dawn, so when the sun rises, the air is filled with the natural aroma of the flowers.
The efficacy of ylang-ylang essential oil can also be affected by the long 14 hour long distillation process.
Steam distillation is the preferred method because it best preserves the volatile compounds of the essential oil.
The first oils extracted during the long distillation process are considered to be the highest quality of the entire batch and are often referred to as “ylang-ylang complete” or “ylang-ylang (extra)”.
With repeated distillation processes, a lower grade of essential oil is produced.
This type is often called “ylang-ylang oil” or “Cananga oil” and is mostly used in the manufacture of soaps and cleaning products.
Studies have shown that good quality ylang-ylang essential oil contains high amounts of terpene active ingredients.
Isolated terpene derivatives (including canangaterpenes IV-VI, ylang-ylangene) showed promising results as natural therapeutic agents for several skin diseases.
When tested on skin cells of malignant melanoma, the terpenoids showed to exhibit potent inhibition of cellular melanogenesis and immune system cytotoxicity.
In other words, the antioxidants in ylang-ylang essential oil help protect skin cells from oxidative stress and DNA damage, which can lead to the formation of cancer cells.
Oxidative stress: is an imbalance between oxidation and antioxidant action in the body, tending toward oxidation, a negative effect of free radicals in the body, and is considered an important factor in aging and disease.
Ylang-ylang oil also contains a variety of other active compounds, including flavonoids, terpenes, o-methylmoschatoline, liriodenine, and dihydroxybenzoic acid.
The fragrance of ylang-ylang is mainly produced by these volatile organic compounds. According to a 2014 report published in the Journal of Experimental Botany, the floral fragrance of ylang-ylang is a key factor in plant-insect interactions, essential for successful pollination, and also repels harmful insects.
Note that some of the ingredients mentioned above may be contained in ylang-ylang plant extracts and not necessarily all in ylang-ylang essential oil.
Another benefit of ylang-ylang essential oil is its ability to help prevent nerve damage, which can lead to complications in people with diabetes.
How to use ylang-ylang essential oil?
Diffusion
Use an aromatherapy diffuser to diffuse fragrance in your home or sniff essential oils directly from the bottle.
Application
Ylang-ylang essential oil should be diluted with a carrier oil such as coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio and applied to the skin.
Always test for sensitivity on a small patch of skin before using on a large or sensitive area.
Skin patch testing can be done on the arms or feet to ensure no skin irritation occurs.
Avoid touching eyes, ears and nasal mucosa with essential oils.
Place away from pets (and young children).
Internal use
Only high-quality grade brands of essential oils are recommended.
Double-check the ingredients to make sure it is ylang-ylang essential oil with the Latin name Cananga odorata.
If you want to take essential oils internally, you can drop them into drinking water or mix them with honey or shakes as a dietary supplement.
It must be a 100% pure physiotherapy-grade essential oil.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA-21CFR182.20) considers it safe to take internally in small amounts.
However, if by chance it is difficult to find a physical therapy grade of essential oil due to labeling or marketing restrictions, you should try to find “ylang-ylang complete” or “ylang-ylang extra” is the safest choice.
How to use ylang-ylang essential oil with blend?
Ylang-ylang oil works well with essential oils such as Rose, Lavender, Frankincense, Jasmine, and Bergamot.
It can be chosen according to your needs and which areas you want to tone, and it can be used as both a relaxant and stimulant.
Mix a few drops of the blend with a few drops of the carrier oil and try the following combinations.
Build confidence: ylang-ylang 2 drops + bergamot 2 drops
Release tension: ylang-ylang 2 drops + Frankincense 2 drops
Energy Boost: ylang-ylang 2 drops + 2 drops of citrus oils such as lemon, grapefruit, or wild orange essential oil
Aphrodisiac massage: ylang-ylang 2 drops + sandalwood 2 drops
Warm tip: If applying to the skin, all at a dilution ratio of 1:1 or more to the base oil mix and apply. When use diffuser, directly into the pure essential oil drops into the aromatherapy machine can be, without dilution.
Considerations for ylang-ylang essential oil
Whether used internally or externally, use ylang-ylang essential oil in small doses.
High doses may cause some uncomfortable reactions or allergies, so be sure to do a small skin test before applying to the face and skin.
Caution should also be exercised when in a state of low blood pressure. If you are taking antihypertensive medication or have heart disease, please consult your doctor before starting any new treatment.
Used in small doses, high-quality ylang-ylang essential oil is safe for children, breastfeeding, and pregnant women.
It is also safe when applied with other essential oils on the skin, mouth, and scalp.
To date there is not enough information to show whether using large amounts of ylang-ylang essential oil in excess of the recommended dose can cause serious reactions, so stick to small doses.