Did you know that Ylang ylang oil is actually one of the main ingredients used to make the infamous Chanel No. 5 perfume? The word Ylang ylang (or Cananga odorata) means “flower of flowers” which is a testament to its sweet, flowery and soft fragrance. This is why people generally diffuse the Ylang ylang essential oil at their homes because of its aroma. Hence, you should get the Ylang ylang essential oil now so that you won’t miss out on such a sweet-scented essential oil!

In fact, in Indonesia, it is normally strewn across the beds of newlyweds as it induces the romantic and aphrodisiac aura. Today, there are ylang ylang trees everywhere in various parts of Asia, such as Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and the Pyonesian islands. Besides its sweet fragrance, the Ylang ylang essential oil has numerous health benefits, intended to boost the heart, mood and the energy of the person using it. Below are some of the top health benefits and uses of the Ylang ylang essential oil.

Health Benefits of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil 

1. To Promote Heart Health

The Ylang ylang essential oil is so useful because it is one of the few essential oils (besides Lavender, Clary Sage and Frankincense essential oils) out there that can actually control blood pressure and promote the health of your heart. With its healing properties, this oil aids in blood circulation.

In fact, a study published in the Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation in 2013 tested for the effectiveness of the Ylang ylang aroma on blood pressure and heart rates in healthy men in Korea. They found that inhaling or massaging Ylang ylang essential oil had a beneficial impact in that it significantly decreased the systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels.

How to Use It: Simply massage a drop of the Ylang ylang essential oil that is diluted with a carrier oil, over the heart. Alternatively, you can also blend the Ylang ylang essential oil with Lavender or Lemon essential oils and diffuse it using your vaporizer at your room.

2. To Enhance Mood

According to the World Health Organization, about 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression and about 15% of people in high-income countries said that they had depression before as opposed to middle-income or low-income countries. Given the hectic and rat race world we live in, it is no wonder that more people are increasingly prone and susceptible to depression.

Ylang ylang essential oil is very useful in this aspect, because it is a mild natural remedy to treat depression, without needing to resort to prescriptions that can cause unwanted side effects. The Ylang ylang essential oil is able to directly act on the olfactory system of the brain. As such, inhaling Ylang ylang directly will result in immediate positive effects on your mood as it increases happiness levels and keeps negative emotions at bay.

It is able to fight off these symptoms of depression as well as stress and aids in promoting rejuvenation as well as invigoration so that you will feel refreshed and happy. In fact, research published in PubMed on 2006 showed that the Ylang ylang essential oil, when combined with Bergamot and Lavender essential oils, proved to be an effective intervention to reduce psychological stress, serum cortisol levels and the blood pressure of those involved in the experiment.

Given the emotional benefits of Ylang ylang, it is extremely useful and a must-have for everyone in the household because what can be more important than emotional health? Furthermore, if you constantly feel tired and restless, then inhaling Ylang ylang directly or from a vaporizer can instantly make you feel energized and put you in a much better mood as you receive an instant boost of energy for you to get through the day.

How to Use It: Simply mix 2 drops of Ylang ylang essential oil with 2 drops of Bergamot or Lavender essential oils to form a massage oil blend. Alternatively, if you would prefer to apply it topically to receive that burst of energy, then mix it with a carrier oil and proceed to apply it to your neck area, wrists or even your temples. In fact, if you wish to combine Ylang ylang essential oil with other oils to give you more energy, simply mix 2 drops of Ylang ylang with another 2 drops of citrus oil (such as Lemon oil, Grapefruit oil or even Orange oil)

3. To Promote Healthy Skin

Not only can Ylang ylang increase your heart health and improve your mood vastly, it can also help to maintain your skin’s youthful glow! The Ylang ylang essential oil can drastically help to prevent any signs of aging, tiredness or wrinkle formation on your skin, thus constantly maintaining the smooth, energized and supple texture of your skin.

Furthermore, when combined with Coconut or Jojoba oil, it can actually combat the development of skin cancer cells and melanoma, thus preventing skin cancer!

How To Use It: Just mix Ylang ylang essential oil with one to two drops of Coconut or Jojoba oil and massage it onto the face.

4. To Enhance Libido

To feel more connected to your spouse and to put you in a mood for intimacy so as to revive the romantic feelings towards each other, Ylang ylang essential oil is the perfect oil to do just that. This is because its fragrance has been known by many to put one in a dreamy and romantic mood. In fact, it is commonly used in Southeast Asia as a stimulant for sexual needs, for both men and women.

How to Use It: Simply diffuse Ylang ylang around the room or even add a few drops to your bedsheets or shirt collar to induce the scent and stimulate the aura. 2 drops of Ylang ylang essential oil can also be mixed with 2 drops of Sandalwood essential oil to get an aphrodisiac massage rub.

5. To Promote Menstrual Cramp Relief

Menstrual cramps can be extremely painful and intolerable to bear. But before you rush out to your nearest drugstore to get painkillers, why not try Ylang ylang essential oil?

With its beneficial properties, it is a natural remedy to ease the pain associated with menstrual cramps and it can help to treat other common menstrual symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, mood swings, headaches and other emotional stress that come when women experience the time of the month. Hence, it offers a viable and safer natural alternative to painkillers!

How To Use It: Just massage the Ylang ylang essential oil together with Lavender oil onto your lower abdominal area to relieve the pain or onto your neck to relieve some of the emotional stress.

6. To Promote Hair Growth

Before its medicinal properties were discovered, Ylang ylang is generally used to improve hair growth and prevent hair loss that can be caused by stress. Apparently, this use of Ylang ylang dates back to the Victorian era as they added it to their hair oils to stimulate hair growth. In fact, it can also be used as a natural conditioner for dry, thin and brittle hair so as to promote hair growth and smoothen out any tangles.

How To Use It: Simply add a few drops of Ylang ylang essential oil to your favorite shampoo and your hair will look healthy and glowy in no time, as it also combats dandruffs and even head lice! Alternatively, you can also combine Ylang ylang essential oil with Coconut oil or Jojoba oil to make your hair look healthier and shinier.

Safety Precautions:

It can be used topically. However, it should never be applied onto your skin in its undiluted form. Ensure that the Ylang ylang essential oil is mixed with a carrier oil in a 1:1 ratio before application. Before applying it onto the affected or desired areas, be sure to do a skin patch test to confirm that there are no sensitive or allergic reactions to your skin.

It can also be used in a diffuser or vaporizer as the smell spreads across the home or your room. Alternatively, it can also be inhaled directly. We do not recommend ingesting Ylang ylang directly as proper regulations need to be followed.

Also, for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, be sure to consult your doctor first before using such essential oils.

Lastly, because of its ability to reduce blood pressure levels, Ylang ylang essential oil should not be taken together with your other blood pressure medications. In any case, please consult with your doctor first if you have blood pressure or heart conditions to assess the suitability of natural remedy treatments for your individual conditions.

Homemade, DIY Recipe using Ylang ylang, Frankincense and Myrrh:

You can actually create your own Ylang ylang, Frankincense and Myrrh body lotion that will hydrate, revitalise and lift your skin, thus ensuring that you always have a healthy skin! You will need:-

• ¼ cup of Olive oil, Coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter each.

• 10 drops of Frankincense essential oil and Ylang ylang essential oil each as well as 20 drops of Myrrh oil.

• 2 tablespoons of vitamin E.

What you need to do to create your very own body lotion within the confines of your own home are:-

• Mix Olive oil, Coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter together in a glass bowl, placing it in a saucepan filled with water. Put it on medium heat and stir the ingredients together.

• Once it is mixed, refrigerate for an hour. With a mixer, beat the mixture until it is whipped and proceed to add the essential oils and vitamin E into the mix.

• Transfer the mixture into a glass/plastic bottle and store it in a cool place.

There you have it! Your very own DIY recipe containing Ylang ylang, Frankincense and Myrrh!

References:

Da-Jung Jung, et. al., “Effects of Ylang-Ylang aroma on blood pressure and heart rate in healthy men”, Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation (2013); 9(2)

Hwang JH, “The effects of the inhalation method using essential oils on blood pressure and stress responses of clients with essential hypertension”, PubMed (2006); 36(7)