May Flowers -YLANG YLANG

Ylang Ylang

"Flower of Flowers"

-or-

"Rare Wilderness"

Think of the name, "Elaine". Now replace the final "e" with a "g". "Elang". Repeat. "Elang Elang". That's the easiest way to remember how to say Ylang Ylang.

Whichever meaning you prefer, and no matter how you pronounce it, Ylang Ylang is as beautiful a flower to look at as it is to sniff. Strong and sweet.

I think it must be what Heaven smells like!

The best Ylang Ylang essential oil is said to come from the yellow-green sea star-like flowers as opposed to the rare pink flowers.

Ylang Ylang is naturally calming to both the nervous and circulatory systems. Widely known as an aphrodisiac, Ylang Ylang is also helpful in relieving depression and the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Ylang Ylang balances the skin's production of oil making it a great for balancing both dry and oily skin and scalp. 

Additional benefits of Ylang Ylang essential oil:

• relieves pain
• reduces inflammation
• fights off germs and infection
• lowers blood pressure
• reduces anxiety
• cooling

Because of the way the Ylang Ylang flower is distilled, there are different grades of the essential oil available. From an aromatherapist's perspective, Ylang Ylang extra and 1st grade  are the most therapeutic. Personally, I only use Ylang Ylang extra because its components hold the highest therapeutic qualities. 

Make sure when purchasing products for therapeutic reasons, you are getting the good stuff!

Interesting Fact: Coco Chanel's Chanel No. 5 was supposedly created to smell just like the Ylang Ylang tree. Coco herself has said that Ylang Ylang is "the ideal scent for a woman".