Ylang Ylang: The Flower of Flowers
Where it grows and what it's used for
Ylang Ylang means "flower of flowers" and in Eastern culture represents women. Cananga Odorata – this is the botanical name for Ylang Ylang – is a plant native to Southeast Asia, now predominantly cultivated in Java, the Philippines, Reunion Island, and Madagascar. The aromatic flower is known by the people who cultivate it for its virtuous properties: it is used to prevent infections and fevers - particularly during the rainy season - and as a beauty remedy for skin and hair.
Ylang Ylang for hair
Ylang Ylang essential oil is a true elixir for hair: it protects it from the drying effects of the sun and sea, as well as from daily stresses like hair dryers and pollution. In past centuries, European colonialists learned from the local populations the tradition of preparing ointments for the hair and created a preparation called "Macassar oil," which is still produced today (although in most cases the formulation is far from natural). Hair masks based on coconut or castor oil enriched with a few drops of Ylang Ylang are extremely beneficial for brittle, dry, or split-ended hair. Ylang Ylang can also be added to shampoo, conditioner, or the mask usually used to nourish hair and give it a pleasant scent. On the scalp, massages and rubs with Ylang Ylang are useful for regulating sebum production and stimulating hair follicle activity – and thus growth. The tradition of the Moluccas islands is fascinating, where Ylang Ylang is woven into the hair to enhance feminine charm with the intoxicating scent of this flower.
Is it an aphrodisiac?
Considered an aphrodisiac essential oil for centuries, Ylang Ylang was used – along with Jasmine – in harems. The exotic flower harmonizes the emotional aspects of love, dispels fears, and softens rigidity. For this reason, it is one of the essential oils linked to eroticism: it releases blocks and tensions, promoting connection with others. Its sweet and sensual scent enhances feminine charm, creating an aura of gentle seduction. In addition to wearing it, one can choose to diffuse it in the evening or use it in a vegetable oil for a couple's massage.
Essential oil
The essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the plant's flowers, which are hand-picked during the cool hours of the day and immediately put into distillation. Ylang Ylang extraction is a very particular process: from the flower, which is only seemingly delicate, 3 different essential oils can be obtained based on the distillation time. The so-called Ylang Ylang extra - the top note - is widely used in perfumery preparations for its light and delicate scent: this is an extremely short distillation, aimed at obtaining the most volatile aromatic molecules and not the entire essential oil. Olfattiva chooses to use quality 3, which is the complete distillation of the flower, as it provides all the aromatherapy properties of the plant holistically: its intense, almost hypnotic scent works deeply at a thoracic level and on the emotional aspects of the person.
Effects in aromatherapy
Ylang Ylang essential oil, like that obtained from other flowers, has a profound calming effect on the nervous system: it relaxes and releases tension, soothing states of restlessness. Its use is particularly recommended for those who tend to somaticize stress at a thoracic level: Ylang Ylang supports the heart, helping to improve palpitations, tachycardia, increased blood pressure, and shortness of breath due to anxiety. At an emotional level, the message of this flower facilitates overcoming feelings like jealousy, anger, rage, fear, and frustration, paving the way for a deep sense of peace and fulfillment, restoring the desire to love. Its aromatherapy use is ideal for those who feel inhibited in expressing their feelings or who are experiencing a particularly cold moment in their relationships.
Uses of essential oil
Depression, insomnia, nervous tension, tendency to hypertension, tachycardia, palpitations, accelerated breathing, skin and hair care, frigidity, sexual asthenia, genital inflammation.
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