Description
Ylang Ylang essential oil is distilled by steaming directly from ylang ylang (Cananga Odorata) flowers. These important benefits are:
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- Anti-depresan
- Encourages the immune system
- Helps lower blood pressure
- Antiseptic
- Aphrodisiac
INGREDIENTS
100% ylang-ylang essential oil
HOW TO USE
Essential oils have the natural ability to heal, soothe, and stimulate. With antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, essential oils have a wide variety of uses. Sniff essential oils right from the bottle for an instant pick-me-up, to relive anxiety, or to induce relaxation. Add to carrier oil, such as jojoba, and use in a soothing massage. Place a few drops in diffuser to eliminate household odors. Add to cleaning products for more antibacterial and antimicrobial power. During cold and flu season, diffuse daily to stimulate immunity. Mix with carrier oil and apply to the skin to heal wounds. Add a drop or two to your face serum and apply daily to and protect skin against the signs of aging. Before applying to skin, do a patch test. How to patch test – Wash, clean, and dry the area on your upper arm near the crook of your elbow. Apply small amount of essential oil and cover with a bandage. Leave the bandage on for 24 hours, then remove and check for irritation. If skin looks clear and there is no reaction after the allotted test time, the oil is presumably safe to use. If you feel irritation at any time duringthe test, remove bandage and wash area with soap and water.
Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
Sweet, floral, and fragrant, Ylang-Ylang is one of the most popular essential oils around. So popular that it is the main notes in many premium fragrances such as the iconic Chanel No.5
Well, the spotlight is on this amazing essential oil now. Here, we are going to explore this essential oil deeper including its extraction and many spectacular benefits.
What is Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil Made Of?
Ylang-Ylang essential oil is derived from the Ylang-Ylang flower. The name “Ylang-Ylang” came from the Tagalog word “ilang” which means wilderness.
A yellow-colored flower, Ylang-Ylang flowers grow on trees along the Indian Ocean and are found in countries such as India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Known for their strong and fruity aroma, the Ylang-Ylang tree will usually flower in the hotter months — especially between April and June. Because of their potent aroma, the trees are sometimes known as the perfume trees. In the wild, the Ylang-Ylang trees can grow up to between 15 to 20 meters.
As for the Ylang-Ylang flowers, they are very commonly used by healers in the Philippines to treat burns, small cuts, and even bites from snakes or insects. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, Ylang-Ylang flowers are customarily strewn on the bed of a newlywed couple.
How is Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil Extracted?
Ylang-Ylang essential oil is extracted via the steam distillation method. But, interestingly, the steam distillation process will determine the grade or variety of the Ylang-Ylang essential oil. There are five different grades/varieties and this is determined by the number of hours of distillation.
Ylang-Ylang essential oil from different grades will have different colors, smells, and, generally, properties. But, all of them should still be floral and fresh with just a hint of sweetness.
Additionally, the Ylang-Ylang flowers must be hand-picked at night. This is because the sun will destroy the potent properties found in the flowers.
Benefits of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
1) Enhances mood
Ylang-Ylang essential oil is famously known for helping to get rid of negative emotions such as anger, sadness, and stress. A 2018 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that the scent of the essential oil has a positive effect on mood and can potentially act like a mild remedy for anxiety and depression. This is because it can influence both the processes in the hippocampus of the brain as well as the serotonin system.
So, add a few drops of Ylang-Ylang essential oil to your bath to wind down after a long or stressful day. Alternatively, mix the essential oil with a carrier oil and massage it all over your body for a pick-me-up. A few drops of the oil added to a diffuser is always a good idea, too.
2) Fights insomnia
Ylang-Ylang has mild sedative properties. This makes it an excellent choice in calming down the mind and helping the body to relax. Besides that, it also reduces heart rate and blood pressure. Or, as researchers put it, the oil has a “harmonizing effect”. This, in turn, makes it the perfect remedy for insomnia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Diffuse a few drops of the Ylang-Ylang essential oil around the house to create a relaxing environment for all. Alternatively, practice self-care and massage the oil into your skin.
3) Heals wounds and burns
Ylang-Ylang essential oil works very well in healing wounds — especially those caused by burns and cuts. It also prevents the wound from being infected. Just clean the wound carefully then dilute a small amount of the essential oil with some distilled water. Next, apply the mixture to the wound with a cotton ball.
Since Ylang-Ylang contains linalool — a compound rich in antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties — the essential oil is also effective against all sorts of infections such as candida albicans.
Needless to say, the essential oil is perfect for smaller issues like insect or mosquito bites. Just saturate a cotton ball in the essential oil then rub it on the area of the bite.
4) Part of your skincare routine
Of course, Ylang-Ylang essential oil has made a name for itself because of its great effects on the skin, too. This is likely because the essential oil is rich in terpenoids as shown by a 2014 study. According to the same study, terpenoids are “promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of several skin disorders.” So, the essential oil can be used to address various skin conditions like premature aging, irritation, dry skin, and more.
Simply mix a drop or two of the essential oil with a carrier oil like jojoba or coconut oil and massage it deep into your skin. Or, you can always add a drop or two of the essential oil to your skincare like toner, serum, or moisturizer.
5) Naturally promotes hair growth and good hair health
There are so many great reasons to incorporate ylang-ylang essential oil into your hair care routine. For starters, it is especially effective because it promotes good blood circulation. This, in turn, strengthens the hair and boosts hair growth. Besides that, ylang-ylang essential oil also helps to prevent tangles, dandruff, and hair loss. Additionally, you can also use the essential oil to protect your hair from the sun.
For rapunzel-worthy hair, add two to three drops of Ylang-Ylang essential oil to your shampoo or conditioner. Or for a more intense treatment, massage the oil deep into your scalp and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, rinse it off for shiny health waves. If you are using it as protection against the sun, apply a tiny amount of it to your hair and leave it on.
6) Energizes naturally
If you are feeling a little rundown, tired, fatigued, or just need a boost of energy, do give Ylang-Ylang essential oil a try. It is often said that the essential oil is great for energizing the body and the mind.
Simply dab a drop of the Ylang-Ylang essential oil on your wrists for a pick-me-up. And, a tiny bit behind your neck could work, too. Or, better yet, diffuse a few drops of the essential oil around your house.
Mixing Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil with Other Essential Oils
Ylang-Ylang essential oil pairs well with pretty much most essential oils. But, Ylang-Ylang does blend especially well with bergamot, clary sage, eucalyptus, geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, and sandalwood essential oils.
Other Good-to-Know Information
As with all essential oils, some users are, unfortunately, allergic to Ylang-Ylang essential oil, too. Therefore, it is always best to start with a patch test. In this case, apply a tiny amount of Ylang-Ylang essential oil to a small part of your body. Preferably your inner arm. Then bandage the area. If you do not see any allergic reaction or irritation in 24 hours, the oil is safe to be used.
Besides that, Ylang-Ylang essential oil also has a very potent aroma. Some people might not like it or might not be able to tolerate the scent. So, bear this in mind before you try the essential oil.
Is Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil Right for You?
There is only one right answer here and it is a resounding “yes!” Classic, flexible, and extremely handy, you absolutely need to give Ylang-Ylang essential oil a try today.