The ‘flower of flowers’, distilled mainly in the Comoro Islands and Madagascar, has seen an amazing increase of public interest since the turn of the century. Ylang ylang‘s strong, exotic-flowery heart notes range it among the precious fragrances of modern perfumery. Its soothing effects, especially on the heart rhythm (palpitations), and on abnormal fast breathing as well as its anti-spasmodic properties and therapeutic effects against certain skin problems (acne, irritated skin…) have been sufficiently documented.
Almost overwhelming in its floral richness, Ylang ylang is the ‘jasmine of the Indian Ocean’ and shares with it the same uplifting, euphorizing qualities. The cooling and moist nature of Ylang ylang oil is of great help against mental and emotional agitation, due to sudden stress or shock. Its celestial earthiness also conveys radiant energy and helps the ‘needing ones’ and especially those who either tend to extreme loneliness or who foster inner ‘self-retirement’ due to exaggerated spiritual quest or unilateral intellectual research.
Ylang ylang can also be enormously helpful for those who get caught in self-indulgent isolation through grief and suffering. The floral richness of exotic flowers in their angelic ‘earth-boundedness’ can be of miraculous assistance for re-establishing a just and happy equilibrium. Also Ylang ylang’s famous aphrodisiac qualities can be understood in this context. Blossoms of heaven — incarnations rooted in bliss.