Ylang Ylang Essential Oil: Scent, Blends and Why to Dilute It More Than Lavender

Sweet, creamy and pronounced: with ylang ylang a few drops are enough in a diffuser, and on the skin dilute it to 0.8 % at most. Blends, a dilution table and safety.

In short: Ylang ylang is an essential oil distilled from the fresh flowers of the tree Cananga odorata. It smells sweet, creamy and heavy, so 1–3 drops are enough in a diffuser. On the skin dilute it more than ordinary oils, to 0.8 % at most: it is one of the oils that more often cause contact allergy.

Latin name	Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson, var. genuina; custard apple family (Annonaceae)
Extraction	steam distillation of fresh flowers, the oil is collected in fractions Extra, I, II, III (or as a whole, "complete")
Main constituents	linalool, germacrene D, benzyl acetate, p-cresyl methyl ether, geranyl acetate, β-caryophyllene, benzyl benzoate
Diffuser	1–3 drops for a small and medium room, preferably combined with another oil
On the skin	max. 0.8 % (Tisserand & Young) = 1 drop per 10 ml, 4 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil
Safety	risk of sensitisation; toxic to cats and dogs

Ylang ylang is a scent you recognise even from a closed bottle: sweet, a little banana-like, creamy, with a spicy aftertaste. In perfumery it is one of the main "white flowers", and that is exactly why it is easy to overdo at home. One drop too many and the room is over-sweet, and in more sensitive people a headache follows.

In this article you will find what is actually in the bottle, what to blend ylang ylang with, how many drops to put in a diffuser and a massage oil, and why stricter limits apply to it than to lavender. The oil we write about is our BIO Ylang ylang essential oil 10 ml from Madagascar, distilled from the flowers of the variety genuina.

Fractions Extra, I, II, III and Complete: What It Means

Ylang ylang is distilled differently from most oils. The distillation takes a whole day and the oil is collected gradually. What runs off at the beginning smells the most delicate and most "perfume-like", later fractions are heavier and woodier.

Fraction	When it is collected	Character of the scent	Use
Extra (Extra superior)	first hours of distillation	the lightest, the most esters and p-cresyl methyl ether, sharply sweet	fine perfumes
I and II	middle of the distillation	more balanced, less intense	cosmetics, soaps
III	end of the distillation	over 70 % sesquiterpenes (germacrene D, farnesene, caryophyllene), woody and soft	soaps, cheaper cosmetics
Complete	the whole distillation without separation	full, round, from sweet to woody notes	aromatherapy, home use

For the Extra fraction the literature gives 7–24 % linalool, 5.5–17.5 % benzyl acetate and 5–16 % p-cresyl methyl ether, which gives the typical "sharp" opening. The grade is not stated on our product page. For a diffuser and home blends it does not matter; for your own perfume it is worth knowing that the fractions differ.

How Ylang Ylang Smells and What to Blend It With

On its own ylang ylang is too much for many people. In a blend, however, it works as glue: it rounds off citrus, softens woods and gives floral oils depth. A ratio that has proved itself for us: 1 part ylang ylang to 3–5 parts of the other oils.

Citrus: bergamot, orange and mandarin lighten the sweetness.
Flowers: lavender, pelargonium, palmarosa and neroli. With neroli a classic "white" accord is created; we wrote about neroli in the article on the scent and use of neroli.
Woods and resins: Himalayan cedar and frankincense anchor the scent and make it an evening one.

For a Diffuser and Oil Burner

Ylang ylang is pronounced even at a low dose. In an ultrasonic diffuser with 100–200 ml of water, 1–2 drops are enough in a small room, 2–3 drops in a medium one, even in a blend with other oils. The same applies to an oil burner. General tables by room size are in the article how many drops of essential oil for a diffuser and oil burner; with ylang ylang keep to the lower limit.

Diffuse for 30–60 minutes, then take a pause and ventilate. The nose quickly gets used to the scent and this tempts you to add more, while others in the flat smell it in full.

Three Diffuser Blends (Medium Room)

Evening calm: 3 drops of lavender, 2 drops of bergamot, 1 drop of ylang ylang.
Sweet citrus: 3 drops of orange, 2 drops of mandarin, 1 drop of ylang ylang.
Wood and flower: 2 drops of Himalayan cedar, 2 drops of frankincense, 1 drop of ylang ylang.

Dilution on the Skin: How Many Drops per 10 and 30 ml

Tisserand and Young in the handbook Essential Oil Safety place ylang ylang among the oils with a moderate risk of sensitisation and recommend 0.8 % at most in a product for the skin. We count 1 ml as about 20 drops.

Use	Dilution	10 ml of carrier oil	30 ml of carrier oil
face, sensitive skin	0.3–0.5 %	1 drop	2–3 drops
body and massage oil	max. 0.8 %	1 drop	4 drops
bath	–	2–3 drops mixed into a tablespoon of carrier oil, never on its own into the water

For comparison: the International Fragrance Association IFRA restricts ylang ylang in finished cosmetics even more strictly. In body lotion it may be at most 0.18 %, in perfume 0.73 %, in soap and shower gel 1.4 %. The reason is precisely skin sensitisation. If you make soap or cosmetics for sale, these limits are binding.

Massage Oil Step by Step

Into a dark bottle pour 30 ml of carrier oil, for example jojoba.
Add 4 drops of ylang ylang and 4 drops of lavender (about 1.3 % in total, ylang ylang under 0.7 %).
Close the bottle and shake.
Apply a drop of the blend to the inside of the forearm and watch for 24 hours. Redness or itching means do not use the blend.
Use within 3 months and store in the dark.

Why jojoba and how to choose a carrier oil by skin type we discuss in the article essential oils for the skin and choosing a carrier oil.

Traditional Use and What Research Says

In Indonesia and the Philippines the flowers of the cananga tree are traditionally used at celebrations and to adorn the hair. In the 19th century ylang ylang was the basis of the hair pomade Macassar oil, after which the crocheted "antimacassars" on the backs of armchairs got their name.

Research is so far modest. In small studies on healthy volunteers (Hongratanaworakit and Buchbauer), after inhaling or applying a diluted oil people reported feeling calmer, and their blood pressure and pulse measurably fell. Laboratory works describe the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the oil in a test tube. None of this means treatment. The reputation as an aphrodisiac is traditional, not scientifically proven.

Safety: What to Watch Out For

Allergy: ylang ylang is among the oils that more often cause contact allergy. Do not use it on damaged, irritated or eczematous skin. An oxidised (old) oil is riskier.
Headache and nausea: with an overdose in a diffuser. Fewer drops and regular ventilation.
Children: no oils under 3 months. Do not use ylang ylang on the skin of children under 2 years at all; for older children only in a diffuser, 1 drop and briefly. The full rules are in the article essential oils and children.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Tisserand and Young do not prohibit ylang ylang in pregnancy. We recommend, however, at most briefly in a diffuser, and on the skin only after consulting a doctor.
Cats and dogs: the veterinary hospitals VCA list ylang ylang among the oils poisonous to cats. Do not diffuse it in a room the cat cannot leave and never apply it to fur. More in the article essential oils and pets.
Internally: no.
Storage: dark glass, tightly closed, cool. Use within 2 years of opening.

How to Recognise Quality Ylang Ylang

The label should say Cananga odorata, ideally with var. genuina. Oil from the variety macrophylla is sold as "cananga" and smells coarser.
Country of origin: Madagascar, Comoros, Mayotte.
With quality suppliers the fraction (Extra, I, II, III, complete) and the batch number.
A dark glass bottle with a dropper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ylang ylang essential oil for?

Mainly for scenting a space, for evening blends, massage oils and home perfumes. It is traditionally used for relaxation and hair care. It has no proven therapeutic effects.

How many drops of ylang ylang should go in a diffuser?

1–3 drops for an ordinary room, ideally in combination with citrus or lavender. Ylang ylang is pronounced and easily overpowers the whole blend.

Can I put ylang ylang directly on the skin?

No. Always dilute it in a carrier oil, to 0.8 % at most, that is 1 drop per 10 ml. Undiluted oil on the skin needlessly raises the risk of allergy.

Is ylang ylang dangerous for cats?

Yes, it is among the oils listed as poisonous to cats. In a flat with a cat do not diffuse it in a closed room and put the bottle away.

Is ylang ylang an aphrodisiac?

It has this reputation traditionally, mainly thanks to the sensual scent. Studies do not confirm it; all that is reliably shown is that people feel less subjective tension after it.

Why does ylang ylang give me a headache?

Most often there is too much of it. Try 1 drop in a blend with lavender or bergamot and run the diffuser for an hour at most.

Sources

Updated: 27 September 2026

Author: Jana Vránová, editorial name of the Pěstík.cz team. She writes about the garden, herbs and essential oils. We take safety and dosage information from specialist literature and official sources, which we list for every article.