Ylang Ylang

Botanical Name: Cananga odorata (true ylang-ylang) Folk Names: Ylang ylang, cananga, flower of flowers, perfume tree, ilang-ilang, kenanga (Indonesian), kenongang (Malay), ylang-ylang flower. Parts Used: Dried flowers (intensely fragrant yellow-green petals, most common magically); essential oil (heavily diluted for external use). Forms Used: Dried flowers for sachets, love/aphrodisiac charms, baths, incense, spell jars, or altar offerings; diluted ylang-ylang oil for anointing, massage oils, or ritual perfumes; petals floated in baths or strewn for love rituals.

Note on Identity Ylang ylang is a tall tropical tree in the Annonaceae family with large, drooping, highly fragrant star-shaped yellow-green flowers that turn deep yellow with age. The flowers produce one of the most powerful and sweetest floral essential oils. In occult traditions, ylang ylang is a supreme Venus herb of love, lust, passion, sensuality, beauty, aphrodisiac power, emotional healing, peace, and attraction—renowned for its intoxicating, euphoric scent that opens the heart, ignites desire, enhances glamour, and promotes deep emotional and sexual connection. It is considered one of the strongest floral aphrodisiacs and love-drawing herbs. Ylang ylang is non-toxic in moderate external use (oil heavily diluted; flowers safe to handle), though avoid undiluted oil (can irritate skin) and avoid large internal doses (rarely used internally; potential nausea).

History and Etymology

The name "ylang ylang" derives from Tagalog ilang-ilang ("flower of flowers" or "wilderness flower"), reflecting its supreme fragrance and beauty. Cananga from the Malayan name for the tree; odorata means "fragrant."

Native to Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia), ylang ylang flowers were traditionally worn in the hair by women for love and attraction; used in wedding ceremonies and as a perfume. In the 19th century, French perfumers in the Comoros and Madagascar popularized ylang ylang oil as a luxury aphrodisiac and perfume note (notably in Chanel No. 5).

In European and American occultism, ylang ylang entered via perfumery and aromatherapy—used for love spells, sensuality, and emotional healing. In Hoodoo and conjure, ylang ylang oil became a powerful love-drawing and aphrodisiac ingredient—often in "Come to Me" oils, attraction baths, and sweetening spells.

Correspondences

Magical Uses

Ylang ylang is a Venus herb for love, lust, sensuality, beauty, emotional healing, peace, and attraction—its intoxicating floral scent opens the heart and ignites desire. Traditional and folk-magic applications include:

• Attracting deep, passionate love, romance, or sexual partners (flowers/oil in love charms)
• Enhancing sensuality, pleasure, and ecstatic states (in love or sex magic)
• Promoting emotional healing, peace, and harmony (calming anxiety, heartbreak, or tension)
• Boosting beauty, glamour, and self-love (oil in baths or perfumes)
• Sweetening situations or people (ylang ylang in honey jars or sweetening spells)
• Opening the heart chakra and fostering compassion/self-acceptance
• Uplifting mood and dispelling melancholy or emotional "coldness"
• Strengthening love spells and attraction magic (added to blends for potency)

Sample Spells and Rituals

All rituals are for external use only. Ylang ylang is safe externally (flowers used in small amounts as garnish/tea); patch-test oil (can irritate sensitive skin).

1. Passion & Love-Drawing Oil

• Infuse dried ylang ylang flowers in jojoba or olive oil for 2–4 weeks (or use diluted essential oil).
• Anoint red candle or self while saying:

“Ylang ylang sweet, passion meet, draw to me, lustfully.”

• Use to dress candles, anoint body, or as perfume for attraction.

2. Emotional Healing & Heart-Opening Bath

• Add dried ylang ylang flowers (or a few drops of diluted oil) to bathwater with rose petals.
• Soak while visualizing golden-pink light healing:

“Ylang ylang bloom, heal the gloom, heart be whole, love console.”

3. Beauty & Glamour Sachet

• Fill a pink pouch with dried ylang ylang flowers, rose petals, and a small rose quartz.
• Tie shut and anoint with rose oil while affirming:

“Ylang ylang bright, beauty light, glamour rise, allure wise.”

• Carry or place on vanity for enhanced beauty and magnetism.

4. Peace & Harmony Offering

• Place dried ylang ylang flowers on altar with pink candle.
• Light candle and say:

“Ylang ylang sweet, harmony meet, peace abide, love reside.”

Cautions and Toxicity

Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) is safe in moderate external and culinary amounts.

• External: Safe as sachets, incense, baths, or heavily diluted oil. Can cause skin irritation or headaches in sensitive individuals (patch-test essential oil).
• Internal: Flowers used sparingly as tea in some cultures; generally safe in tiny amounts, but avoid large/prolonged use (can cause nausea, headaches, or allergic reactions).
• Not recommended during pregnancy (uterine stimulant risk in high doses) or for those with low blood pressure (can lower BP).
• Essential oil: Must be heavily diluted (0.5–1%) for skin; avoid undiluted use (strong irritant, potential headaches).
• Safe around children/pets in external applications (calming for some pets in small amounts).
• Sustainable sourcing: Widely cultivated—prefer organic.
• Always positively identify (avoid confusion with toxic look-alikes).