Ylang Ylang

Cananga odorata

Chemotype: no single dominant compound; composition shifts strongly with distillation cut/grade (Extra to III) and origin (Madagascar vs Comoros)

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PLANT PART: flowers
EXTRACTION: steam distillation
AROMA NOTE: mid-base

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LEARN AS YOU COMPARE

What’s inside this oil?

Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.

I’m interested in

Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.

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FOLLOW YOUR SENSES

Aroma & character

A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.

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Aroma intensity: 85 / 100

Soft & subtleBold & expressive

Note layer: mid-base

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A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY

Using it thoughtfully

Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.

Cited dermal maximum · leave-on: 0.8%
Phototoxicity: Not flagged in this profile
Oxidation risk: medium

A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.

No phototoxic restriction was identified in the reviewed sources. Public safety guidance instead centers on sensitization risk.

Contraindications & cautions

moderatePublic safety guidance describes ylang ylang as a moderate skin-sensitization risk and advises avoiding use on hypersensitive, diseased, or damaged skin and in children under 2.

Read the complete safety guide

Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches

A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT

Inside the oil

8 constituents

An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.

About this composition

This profile is range-based by design. The cited Comoros hydrodistillation study shows strong shifts across 6 h, 8 h, and 12 h cuts, while a second recent review explicitly notes Madagascar oils trend toward geranyl acetate, cis-alpha-farnesene, benzyl benzoate, humulene, and caryophyllene, whereas Comoros oils tend to show more cinnamyl acetate, benzyl salicylate, trans-farnesyl acetate, and alpha-farnesene. The oil is therefore represented as a variable ylang-ylang type rather than a single fixed composition.

Constituent	Typical amount	Reported range	Chemical family	Source
alpha-Farnesene ((E,E)-alpha-farnesene)	13.83%	3.03–24.8%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Hemolytic Properties of Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) Essential Oil PMC11510078 Table 1, Y1-Y3 alpha-farnesene 13.65/3.03/24.80%, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11510078/
Germacrene D	8.5%	2.93–15.3%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Hemolytic Properties of Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) Essential Oil PMC11510078 Table 1, Y1-Y3 germacrene D 7.26/2.93/15.30%, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11510078/
Benzyl benzoate	6.37%	4.6–7.43%	ester	View source Improving the Quality of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oils Through Microwave-Assisted Extraction Compared to Conventional Extraction Methods PMC12567001 Table 2, HD/SFME/SD benzyl benzoate 7.43/4.60/7.08%, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12567001/
Linalool	4.65%	1.17–8.83%	monoterpenol	View source Improving the Quality of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oils Through Microwave-Assisted Extraction Compared to Conventional Extraction Methods PMC12567001 Table 2, HD/SFME/SD linalool 3.95/1.17/8.83%, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12567001/
Benzyl acetate	21.69%	15.98–28.94%	ester	View source Improving the Quality of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oils Through Microwave-Assisted Extraction Compared to Conventional Extraction Methods PMC12567001 Table 2, HD/SFME/SD benzyl acetate 20.14/28.94/15.98%, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12567001/
Methyl benzoate	7.88%	6.23–9.01%	ester	View source Improving the Quality of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oils Through Microwave-Assisted Extraction Compared to Conventional Extraction Methods PMC12567001 Table 2, HD/SFME/SD methyl benzoate 8.39/9.01/6.23%, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12567001/
(E,E)-Cinnamyl acetate	7.46%	7.06–7.84%	ester	View source Improving the Quality of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oils Through Microwave-Assisted Extraction Compared to Conventional Extraction Methods PMC12567001 Table 2, HD/SFME/SD (E,E)-cinnamyl acetate 7.48/7.84/7.06%, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12567001/
Benzyl salicylate	3.16%	1.73–4.6%	ester	View source Improving the Quality of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oils Through Microwave-Assisted Extraction Compared to Conventional Extraction Methods PMC12567001 Table 2, HD/SFME/SD benzyl salicylate 3.16/1.73/4.60%, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12567001/

Profile source: Ylang Ylang Essential Oil: Benefits, Uses & Insights; Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Hemolytic Properties of Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) Essential Oil; Improving the Quality of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oils Through Microwave-Assisted Extraction Compared to Conventional Extraction Methods · https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/ylang-ylang-essential-oil.php ; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11510078/ ; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12567001/

A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY

Traditional & reported uses

These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.

traditionally used in aromatherapy for relaxing, mood-lifting effect
reported to support restful sleep and easing of occasional stress
traditionally associated with supporting feelings of romance and sensuality in ritual use
used in perfumery as a rich, exotic floral heart note
reported to support a sense of calm during moments of nervous tension

For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.

What we're still learning · 2 data gaps

Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.

odor_intensity 85 is an archive normalization from AromaWeb's public 'Medium - Strong' strength band rather than a native published 0-100 score.
No directly readable public source was found in this pass for volatility rate or tenacity hours for this variable ylang-ylang profile.