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Essential Oil of Ylang-Ylang

Commonly known as: Cananga Odorata Flower Oil (I.N.C.I.), Ylang-Ylang.
Botanical name: Cananga odorata.
Extraction process: Distillation by steam stripping.
Family: Annonaceae.
Part of the plant extracted: Flowers.
Location: Originally from the Moluccas archipelago in Eastern Indonesia, it was then introduced to the Philippines, Malaysia, Northern Madagascar, Reunion Island, the Comoros and to a lesser extent, Mayotte.
Flowering: Throughout the year with a peak production from May to December.
Provenance, origin: Madagascar.
Phytochemical composition: Alpha-pinene, para-methyl-cresol, alpha-cubebene, alpha-copaene, linalool, beta-elemene, beta-caryophyllene, methyl benzoate, alpha-humulene, gamma-muurolene, alpha-muurolene, germacrene-D, benzyl acetate, trans-trans-alpha-farnesene, geranyl acetate, delta-cadinene, gamma-cadinene, geraniol, caryophyllene oxide, methyleugenol, trans-nerolidol, cinnamyl acetate, eugenol, tau-cadinol, alpha-cadinol, tau-muurolol, farnesyl acetate, isoeugenol, trans-trans-farnesol, geranyl benzoate, benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate.
Sensorial properties: Appearance: A liquid that may become cloudy over time; Colour: Pale yellow to orange; Scent: Floral and jasmine-like.
Physical characteristics: Density: 0.920 - 0.950; Refractive Index: 1.495 - 1.513.
Benefits: Tonic, sebum-regulating, relaxing, fragrant, rebalancing, regenerating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory.
Concerns: All hair types, especially dull and dry hair; Recommended for combating hair loss and stretch marks.

Details

Applications

Haircare (detangling creams).

Method of Preservation

Essential oils are typically sensitive to UV radiation. Therefore, it is recommended to store ylang-ylang essential oil in an amber glass bottle, and keep it away from heat, light and at a stable and moderate temperature.

Contraindications, Usage Precautions

Potentially allergenic and irritating. As a general rule, always perform an application test of your preparation, in the crook of your elbow, at least 48 hours before using it. Do not use topically in babies under 3 months old, during pregnancy and in breastfeeding women. Not recommended for individuals at risk of epilepsy.

Some natural compounds found in this essential oil may pose an allergy risk for certain sensitive individuals when the essential oil is incorporated into a cosmetic composition (according to the 7th Amendment of the European Directive on cosmetic products (2003/15/EC)): benzyl benzoate, linalool, benzyl salicylate, geraniol, farnesols, eugenol, citral.

Find out more

The ylang-ylang is a tropical tree, capable of reaching 30 metres in height, originating from Indonesia, more specifically the Moluccas archipelago, in the east of Indonesia. Its name translates to "flower of flowers" in Indonesian. It was later introduced to the Indian Ocean. Indeed, history tells us that a German sailor, Albertus SCHWENGER, fell in love with the captivating fragrance of the ylang-ylang flowers. He is said to have established the first ylang-ylang distillation laboratory in 1860 in the Manila region of the Philippines, giving birth to the trade of essential oil. After being introduced to La Réunion in the 18th century, the production of ylang-ylang then expanded to the north of Madagascar, in the Comoros archipelago (in the Grand Comore, the neighbouring island Anjouan and Moheli) and slightly in Mayotte.