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Ylang ylang is a common enough name in the world of essential oils but the scent has come a long way to be with us – all the way from the rainforests of Asia. This essential oil is made from the delicate yellow flowers of the tree and creates an oil with several solid reasons to add to your collection.
Let’s take a look at the benefits and uses of ylang ylang essential oil.
Table of Contents
Where does ylang ylang come from?
Ylang ylang comes from a tree called the Cananga tree (Canaga odorata) that is found around the Indian Oceans including in parts of India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and even parts of Australia.
The tree creates yellow-green flowers that are very strongly scented. It also creates clusters of fruit that turn black when ripe. It is the flower that’s used to create the essential oil. And it takes about 100 kilos of flowers to make 1-1.5 litres of the oil!
The scent is described as flowery and rich as well as fruity and is used in a number of perfumes including Chanel Number Five. Most of the time, the essential oil is made from steam distillation. There are a few variations:
- Extract – the most powerful scent but evaporates quickly
- Essential oil #1-3 – less potent scent but last longer, #3 being the most subtle
- Complete – contains all four levels
How to use the essential oil
There are a few ways to use the different versions of ylang ylang essential oil. The main ones are:
- Dilute with a carrier oil and use topically on the skin with one drop of oil to one teaspoon of carrier oil
- Dilute with water and add to a diffuser to be inhaled as an aromatherapy treatment
- Added to tea or other drinks when using food grade oils
When not in use, keep the oil in an opaque glass container and store it in a cool, dark place. If it ever smells rancid or strange, don’t use it, especially for oral use.
Health benefits of ylang ylang essential oil
As with any essential oil, these are recommendations and information from studied but not medical recommendations. Always go with anything a medical professional say first!
Helps with depression and anxiety
Ylang ylang is one of those essential oils that helps you feel calm just by inhaling it. This means it can help with conditions like depression and anxiety by allowing you to feel calmer and more in control. It works both in a diffuser and can be applied to the skin to see this benefit.
Another approach is to use a few drops on the back of the neck. It contains germacrene which has a natural soothing ability so this can help to calm you and feel better.
Regulate blood pressure
If you can get a food-grade version of the essential oil, you can add a few drops to a strong flavoured drink such as a herbal tea and it can help to regulate blood pressure. It is always best to only do this if you don’t take any medication as you never know about interactions.
Help with sleeping
Remember that calming effect I mentioned? Well, that same idea can help with sleeping if you have trouble and even with insomnia. A simple way to do this is to inhale a few drops before bedtime or have a diffuser in the room. You can even try a few drops of food-grade oil in a tea before bed – a sleep tea would be ideal for this and some even already contain it.
You can also add a few drops of the essential oil into your bath before bed to help relax you and get you ready for bed. The combination of the calming effect and mood uplift can make you feel better and therefore worry less, sleep more.
Anti-bacterial properties
Ylang ylang essential oil benefits also include the fact that it has anti-bacterial properties. This works both inside the body and outside it. You can drink it in a tea or apply it to a wound on your skin and it can help combat harmful bacteria – and smell great while doing it!
Boost the health of your hair
In the warmer months, a few drops of this oil can help your hair stay healthy and strong. Massage the oil into the scalp so that it will be carried down the length of the hair and leave.
Things to watch with ylang ylang
Like any essential oil, some people will find it doesn’t agree with them. It contains something call isoeugenol which can cause contact dermatitis. So if you want to apply it to your skin, always test a tiny area first and leave for a while before using more just to be safe.
Ylang ylang is also poisonous to dogs and cats so don’t apply it to your pets skin or fur. If you are using it, make sure it is somewhere that they can’t come into contact with it or spill it.
Blending ylang ylang
If you want to add to the benefits of ylang ylang, one of the best ways is to blend it with other essential oils. It has a middle-base note that means it will work with a variety of different oils. Here are a few examples.
Bedroom diffuser blend
This blend is perfect to use in a diffuser before bedtime or as you first go to sleep to help you be calm and go to sleep.
- 3 drops sandalwood
- 2 drops lavender
- 2 drops copaiba
- 2 drops ylang ylang
- 1 drop sweet marjoram
Home office blend
Working from home can be as stressful as working in an office so use a nice calming blend to help keep relaxed while working.
- 3 drops black spruce
- 3 drops lavender
- 2 drops ylang ylang
- 1 drop chamomile
Simple relaxation blend
This one is a simple three oil blend that can be used anytime you want to relax and feel calmer.
- 3 drops lavender
- 3 drops cypress
- 2 drops ylang ylang
Tension release blend
This one works when you are feeling tense and anxious so could work in any room of the house.
- 3 drops bergamot
- 2 drops ylang ylang
- 2 drops frankincense
Calm but alert blend
The last one is a nice blend if you want to feel calm but also for during the day when you want to feel alert and active.
- 4 drops lime
- 4 drops frankincense
- 2 drops ylang ylang
Enjoy ylang ylang essential oil
Enjoying ylang ylang essential oil is one of the easiest options. The floral scent of the oil is easy to enjoy and isn’t too strong so most people will like it. With its calming effect and ability to help with everything from depression to fighting bacteria, it is definitely one to have in the cabinet!
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