Ylang Ylang essential oil is found in the following Kaliana Formulas: Comfort, Joy. Click Here to learn why using blends are more effective than using individual essential oils.

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Not many are aware of Ylang Ylang (pronounced “Ee-lang Ee-lang”) because it was hardly mentioned until the last decade. Yet, it is one of the most fragrant among essential oils.

In fact, it is being used as a critical ingredient in the legendary perfume Chanel No. 5.  

Ylang Ylang receives its common name from the repetition of the Tagalog word “ilang,” meaning “wilderness.” The tree is also referred to as “flower of flowers” because of its incredibly sweet and floral scent that attracts people even from a distance.

In folk medicine, the essential oil has been used to treat:

• infectious skin diseases
• insect bites
• scalp conditions
• stomach ailments
• gout
• insomnia
• low libido

Ylang Ylang essential oil is extracted via steam distillation of the fresh flowers of the Cananga odorata tree. It is native to the tropical rainforests of Indonesia, Polynesia, and the Philippines. It is a medium-sized tree that can grow up to 30 meters in height. 

Today, Ylang Ylang oil continues to be used for its therapeutic properties. Because of its romantic and uplifting smell, it is also being used in bath products and cosmetics...

..But it is most revered it for its calming effect on the heart during times of distress, and to help with grief or sadness that can be described as melancholy or mood swings.  

Emotional Benefits of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Kaliana’s Emotional Read on Ylang Ylang:

Do you ever find yourself feeling lonely, overstressed, and don’t know how to get out of it?

This build-up of negative emotions could lead to all sorts of health problems. Ylang Ylang essential oil is one of the best remedies that can improve and balance the flow of your heart chakra. 

Ylang Ylang helps us connect to our heart and become balanced by releasing negative emotions and deep emotional sadness. It calms the heart and balances emotions during times of high stress, crisis, tension, or depression.

More importantly, it opens the heart to receive more love and acceptance. 

As a reflection of Ylang Ylang’s ability to restore a healthy flow of positivity in the heart, the essential oil helps encourage a healthy circulatory system. It improves blood flow, fights inflammation, and assist with other heart problems. It is also an effective agent in controlling blood pressure. 

To make a specific combination to target many layers of emotions, combine Ylang Ylang oil with 9 heart healing essential oils (see below). Then dilute that blend into a mist to spray around the face, head, body and back of neck.

The combination of essential oils can also be blended into a high quality carrier oil to massage into the chest, skin, spine, neck, hands, feet and joints to help restore a sense of ease for several hours, and even repeated daily for months to help reach the deepest parts of the heart to achieve emotional balance.

1. Mood Enhancer

Ylang Ylang can have an immediate, positive effect on a person’s mood.

A 2006 study found that it has the ability to relieve depression and stress in humans through aromatherapy. The subjects rated themselves as more calm and relaxed after the treatment.

This makes it effective for nervous breakdowns or acute depression. 

2. Stress Reliever

One of the main components of Ylang Ylang oil is linalool, a compound found to possess stress-reducing properties.

It works for those who want to recharge their mind and body. A 2006 study evaluated the effects of Ylang Ylang on 40 healthy volunteers via transdermal absorption. Results have shown that the subjects rated themselves more calm and more relaxed after the treatment. 

In another 2015 study, volunteers who had inhaled Ylang Ylang oil were reported to experience a relaxing effect. It was also reported that the aroma provides a euphoric effect that soothes the nervous system and relieves:

• tension
• anxiety
• stress
• panic 

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil Health Benefits

One of the main chemical components of Ylang Ylang essential oil that adds to its therapeutic value is linalool. It is known for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties. 

1. Healthy Skin 

You can rely on Ylang Ylang for a beautiful and glowing skin!

A 2017 study shows that it can be beneficial in curing eczema. It is a horrible skin condition caused by a dysfunctional sebaceous gland. It can appear all over the face and even your scalp.

Ylang Ylang regulates the production of sebum and reduces the redness of the skin. 

It also helps in reducing acne, dermatitis, and skin irritation due to its antiseborrheic properties. Combine one to two drops with coconut or jojoba oil and massage it into the face to keep the skin smooth, refreshed, and hydrated.  

In another study conducted in Malaysia, it was found that Ylang Ylang can fight the development of skin cancer cells and melanoma. This is because it contains sampangine, a copyrine alkaloid, that has “cytotoxic effects toward human malignant melanoma cells.” 

2. Prevent Infection

Research has found that Ylang Ylang can help prevent sepsis and tetanus by inhibiting microbial growth and disinfecting the wounds.

In a 2015 study, the antimicrobial properties of Ylang Ylang essential oil have been tested against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens as well as pathogenic fungi.

It was concluded that it can protect wounds from infections of bacteria, virus, and fungus. It also speeds up the healing process.

3. Healthy Hair

Ylang Ylang has been sought-after for centuries for its natural thickening effect on the hair. Its antiseborrheic properties helps treat scalp dryness, dandruff, and even hair loss.

It can be massaged into the scalp along with coconut oil, jojoba oil, or your regular conditioner to get shiny hair. Studies have also shown Ylang Ylang oil to be an effective ingredient in treating head lice. 

How to Use Ylang Ylang Essential Oil 

There are several ways to use Ylang Ylang essential oil. For deepest emotional benefit, combine it with 9 essential oils that also address other layers of the heart such as:

For melancholy:

• jasmine absolute essential oil: improve sleep; lower anxiety; increase alertness & cognitive performance; cheer; mood balancing, uplift fatigue*
• rose absolute essential oil: soothe, support and assist repair of the heart; balance; stabilize; uplift emotions, assist kindness between people*
• clary sage essential oil: calming; nerve tonic; cheering; balancing moods; used for depression and anxiety*
• neroli essential oil: reduce anxiety; soothe nerves; ease mental chatter; open up higher mind, cheer; stabilize emotions*
• bergamot essential oil: mental clarity; cheering, relax and uplift fatigue; soothes tension and frustration*
• geranium essential oil: uplift; relax; balancing; helpful with exhaustion and instability*
• eucalyptus essential oil: clear congestion, headache, & overall malaise; vitalize & invigorate; assist lungs; clear mind*
• melissa essential oil: reduce agitation, ease grief; strengthen; revitalize; soothe; calm; restorative*
• pine needle essential oil: antiviral; purifying; refreshing; strengthening, fortifying, immune support; ease muscular aches, clear congestion*

For grief or heartache:

• rose absolute essential oil: soothe, support and assist repair of the heart; balance; stabilize; uplift emotions, assist kindness between people*
• jasmine absolute essential oil: improve sleep; lower anxiety; increase alertness & cognitive performance; cheer; mood balancing, uplift fatigue*
• geranium essential oil: uplift; relax; balancing; helpful with exhaustion and instability*
• spearmint essential oil: cheering; anti-inflammatory; refresh; energize body/mind*
• eucalyptus essential oil: clear congestion, headache, & overall malaise; vitalize & invigorate; assist lungs; clear mind*
• neroli essential oil: reduce anxiety; soothe nerves; ease mental chatter; open up higher mind, cheer; stabilize emotions*
• wild lavender essential oil: calming; rebuilding, relaxing; soothing; ease exhaustion; soothe irritability and anxiety, cool intensity*
• clary sage essential oil: calming; nerve tonic; cheering; balancing moods; used for depression and anxiety*
• vanilla absolute essential oil: anti-nausea; digestion, aphrodisiac; antidepressant, deeply relaxing; calming, stabilizing, cheering*

Want to try a diverse blend that combines Ylang Ylang with the broad spectrum help of the above essential oils?

For melancholy, Kaliana has conveniently combined them for you in key beneficial proportions along with 147 vibra-nutrients in her Joy Formula.

For grief or heartache, see her Comfort Formula.

About the Author: Kaliana has been studying natural healing since 1976. She developed her own line of aromatherapy products for emotions in 1995. She is a gifted intuitive, Master Energy Healer, author of 4 books, professional speaker, and offers private consulting for spiritual women and moms.

Kaliana is a certified Phyto-Aromatologist, graduated from Queens University as a Presidential Scholar, sat on the Board for Eating Disorders at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, holds a 4-year Advanced Certification from the Mastery of the Heart School, and teaches certified courses for Continuing Education Hours by NCBTMB.