
What is ylang ylang?
Ylang ylang is a yellow, star-shaped flower that grows on the Cananga tree ( Cananga odorata ). This tropical species is native to countries surrounding the Indian Ocean, such as India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and parts of Australia. Ylang ylang’s heady, aromatic scent is fruity, flowery, and rich.
How is ylang ylang essential oil made?
Ylang ylang essential oil is extracted from its flowers through a process called steam distillation. Through this process, steam vaporizes the flower’s volatile compounds which are then condensed and collected. Several forms of the essential oil are extracted depending on how it will be used.
Is ylang ylang an aphrodisiac in nature?
It may not be coincidental that the aroma of ylang ylang is thought to be aphrodisiac in nature. In the wiccan tradition, ylang ylang is associated with the planet Venus. Ylang ylang can be used as a love charm, and it is said that the aroma helps dispel fear and promote self-confidence.
What is ylang-ylang perfume?
With its strong floral, camphorated, spicy, and slightly fruity aroma, ylang-ylang is considered among the most sensual and suave ingredients in natural perfumery. It is a star-shaped deep yellow flower that grows on the tree botanically known as Cananga odorata, which belongs to the Magnolia family.

Where is ylang ylang native to?
Cananga odorata, known as ylang-ylang (/ˈiːlæŋ ˈiːlæŋ/ EE-lang-EE-lang) or cananga tree, is a tropical tree that is native to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Queensland, Australia. It is also native to parts of Thailand and Vietnam.
Is ylang ylang native to Australia?
Ylang-ylang is an Australian native with a heavenly scent that grows to be a huge tree. Not everyone can grow it in their garden. Desmos chinensis or the Small Ylang -ylang is a small relative of Ylang-ylang that grows to just one metre in height with flowers as powerfully scented as the larger tree.
What does ylang ylang come from?
Ylang ylang essential oil is derived from Cananga odorata, a tropical tree that's native to many Asian countries, northeast Australia, Polynesia and Madagascar. The tree produces strongly-scented flowers with large, curved petals, and it's from these distinctive blooms that ylang ylang is extracted.
What language is ylang ylang?
TagalogYlang-ylang in Tagalog (a Philippine language) means “flower of flowers.” The slim smooth-barked evergreen reaches about 25 m (80 feet) and is covered year-round with drooping, long-stalked, rich-scented flowers that have six narrow, greenish-yellow petals 5 cm (2 inches) long.
Is ylang ylang an orchid?
Both hail from exotic flowers—vanilla from an orchid, ylang ylang from a flowering tree native to Southeast Asia. Both were first used for medicinal purposes (most notably as an aphrodisiac).
What family is ylang ylang?
Custard applesYlang-ylang / FamilyThe Annonaceae are a family of flowering plants consisting of trees, shrubs, or rarely lianas commonly known as the custard apple family or soursop family. With 108 accepted genera and about 2400 known species, it is the largest family in the Magnoliales. Wikipedia
Why does ylang ylang stink?
Now what makes that bad? When the flower starts to oxidize, the compounds start to hydrolyze, creating a sour smell that can affect the oil a little or a lot. The smell of ylang ylang is exquisite, and we don't want anything less than that most exquisite smell.
Who discovered ylang ylang?
The first commercial cultivation of ylang ylang began in Manila, in the 1800s. However, in the 1700s, French colonists had introduced ylang ylang to the island of Reunion, and by the early 1900s, it was also cultivated on the islands of Comoros and Madagascar.
What ylang ylang smells like?
The smell of ylang ylang features romantic floral notes with hints of custard, jasmine, banana, neroli, and honey. When it comes to candle scents and home fragrances, ylang ylang is not your average Joe. You'll discover distinct, botanical elements every time you take a whiff of this multifaceted scent.
What does ylang mean in English?
(ˈilɑːŋˈilɑːŋ) noun. an aromatic tree, Cananga odorata, of the annona family, native to the Philippines, Java, etc., having fragrant, drooping flowers that yield a volatile oil used in perfumery.
What does the word ylang mean?
The fragrant flower of a tropical tree (Cananga odorata) native to southeast Asia.
How do you pronounce ylang?
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How do you extract oil from ylang ylang?
Ylang Ylang is an essential oil traditionally extracted from the flowers of the tree Canaga odorata. It is used both in high-class perfumes as well as in basic toiletries e.g. soaps and shampoos, the traditional means of extraction being by steam/hydrodistillation.
Is ylang ylang same as jasmine?
It is the yellow flowers that are considered the best for extraction of the essential oil. Ylang ylang is a widely used ingredient in aromatherapy and the perfume industry. Its scent, which can be overpowering to some, is similar to jasmine but not as costly, hence its nickname of poor man's jasmine .
What's Ylang Ylang essential oil good for?
People apply ylang ylang oil to the skin to promote relaxation, kill bacteria, lower blood pressure, and increase sexual desire. It is also part of a combination spray used to kill head lice. The smell of ylang ylang oil in aromatherapy is used for memory and thinking skills.
What are the benefits of Ylang Ylang essential oil?
The numbers refer to the number of times Ylang Ylang Essential Oil is distilled through fractionation. Used in aromatherapy applications, Ylang Ylang Essential Oil soothes stress, anxiety, sadness, tension, and sleeplessness. Its aphrodisiac quality is reputed to boost the libido to enhance sensuality between a couple.
The flower that blooms at night releases an iconic, calming aroma from beautiful yellow blooms
Plant name (Latin): Cananga odorata Plant family: Annonaceae (custard apple family) Native region: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Growing habit: Tropical trees that bloom nearly year-round with deeply fragrant yellow flowers Parts used: Flowers Essential oil extraction method: Steam distillation of the blossoms
About Ylang Ylang Oil
Native to the islands of the South Pacific, ylang ylang trees produce deeply fragrant yellow blossoms that only bloom at night. For centuries, ylang ylang essential oil has been valued for its calming, uplifting properties and its sensual, soothing aroma.
Why Use Ylang Ylang Oil
Sweetly floral with soft undertones and a warming effect, “the flower of all flowers” soothes and balances the skin and the mind while inspiring feelings of joy and hopefulness.
How and Where the Ylang Ylang Flower Grows
Ylang ylang trees are native to Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, and are grown in Madagascar, Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia and the Comoros islands. Ylang ylang trees can also be grown in conservatories in temperate climates.
Ylang Ylang in All Its Forms
The bright, floral fragrance of ylang ylang, rich with notes of spice and fruit, is famous as a sensual, soothing fragrance, a nurturing, calming essential oil, and can also be found as a flavouring for drinks, candy and even ice cream.
The Use of Ylang Ylang Oil in Ayurveda
In Ayurvedic tradition, ylang ylang essential oil is believed to have calming, cooling, uplifting and moisturizing tendencies. Ylang ylang essential oil can help vata imbalances by encouraging self-esteem, calm, relaxation, and sensuality.
The Symbolism of Ylang Ylang
Ylang ylang comes from the Tagalog word “ilang”, meaning wilderness. It may also be related to the term “ilang-ilan”, meaning rare. Ylang ylang is sometimes translated as “flower of flowers”.
Cananga odorata
From the delicate star-shaped flowers of the ylang ylang tree, Ylang Ylang essential oil is famous for its sweet, luxurious, calming scent. Ylang Ylang is nourishing to the skin and hair, and provides antioxidant properties when taken internally.*
Usage Tips
For a soothing DIY steam facial, fill a large bowl with steaming water, add a couple of drops of Ylang Ylang and any other oils you want to include, then cover your head with a towel and place your face above the steaming bowl.
Learn More
Traditionally, Ylang Ylang has been used as part of religious and wedding ceremonies for centuries. It has also been used extensively in aromatherapy for its ability to create a soothing, positive, relaxed environment. It is also used to ease a tense and stressful atmosphere.
