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When I was new to essential oils, Ylang Ylang essential oil was a favorite in the EO community. So, when I began building my collection of essential oils, Ylang Ylang was on the list as one to diffuse in our home for the dogs and us.
Ylang Ylang smells amazing and reminds me of being a kid in the 70s. I had a babysitter, Mamma Ayoka, who smelled what I now know is Ylang Ylang and sandalwood, which makes sense because those are a great combination.
What is Ylang Ylang Essential Oil?
Ylang Ylang essential oil is derived from a yellow flower on the Cananga tree through steamed distillation. This essential oil has a warm, sweet floral scent with a hint of lemon (to me, at least), and it's safe to use around our dogs.
Ylang Ylang essential oil is often used in massage therapy because it calms the mind, erases tension, and promotes relaxation. And it blends well with the following oils:
- Bergamot
- Black Pepper
- Cedarwood (Atlas)
- Cedarwood (Himalayan)
- Copaiba
- Geranium
- Mandarin (Green)
- Peppermint
- Pink Grapefruit
- Sandalwood
- Vetiver
Benefits of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang Ylang essential oil promotes calming and relaxation by removing tension from the body and quieting the mind. Ylang Ylang essential oil is also great for…
- boosting my mood
- pulling me out of depression (or keeping depression at bay)
- easing anxiety
- lowering blood pressure
- decreasing the heart rate
- stimulating the scalp (which can help with hair growth)
- repelling insects
Ylang Ylang essential oil is also used in herbal remedies for an upset stomach, rheumatism, gout, malaria, headaches, and pneumonia. I often reach for Ylang Ylang when I feel a headache or anxiety coming on, a sniff goes a long way, and I apply it to my wrists and neck like perfume (after diluting with coconut oil) for all-day relief.
Benefits of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil for Dogs
Before using essential oils around my dogs, I look them up in the Animal Desk Reference on Essential Oils by Dr. Melissa Shelton. According to the book, Ylang Ylang is for the following when treating animals:
- antispasmodic (stops involuntary muscle spasms)
- vasodilation (dilation of blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure)
- antidiabetic
- antiparasitic
- regulate heartbeat
- heart arrhythmias
- hypertension
- anxiety and depression
- hair loss
- intestinal issues
I wouldn't try to treat my dogs with Ylang Ylang essential oils without the direction of an experienced veterinarian.
Warnings About Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Because of the popularity of essential oils, there are a lot of cheap alternatives on the market that shouldn't be used around pets. Ylang Ylang essential oil is produced using different distillation methods, and each method has a different chemical profile. When shopping for Ylang Ylang, we should look for the Complete version, a combination of all the distillation methods; experts state that this is the closest to the whole essential oil, which is preferred in Veterinary Aromatic Medicine.
How I Use Ylang Ylang Essential Oil with My Dogs
Regarding my dogs, I only use one brand of essential oils on them: AnimalEO. I also purchase oils from Plant Therapy and Simply Earth; I use these oils in our home and on myself.
I diffuse Ylang Ylang essential oil in rotation with dozens of others to promote calm in our home. I often diffuse this oil when I'm feeling stressed or having an off day with the dogs (no one is listening) or when I'm not feeling well. One thing that sucks about being sick is that I still have four dogs to care for, and diffusing calming essential oils keeps me relaxed and calm, even when I feel like crap. And when I'm calm, my dogs are calm.
Ylang Ylang Diffuser Blends
I usually diffuse one oil at a time, but when I want to get creative, I'll diffuse a blend of a few oils to create a soothing atmosphere in our home. The amounts are for large rooms; feel free to adjust based on your preference and the room size.
Movie Night with Johan and the Dogs
- Ylang Ylang, 10 drops
- Patchouli, 8 drops
- Orange, 4 drops
An Adulting Kind of Day
- Ylang Ylang, 10 drops
- Copaiba, 10 drops
- Black Pepper, 4 drops
Shake the Day Off and Relax
- Lavender, 9 drops
- Cypress, 9 drops
- Ylang Ylang, 6 drops
Sleepytime Diffuser Blend (because I diffuse this in a smaller room (bedroom vs living room), I use fewer drops.
- Lavender, 2 drops
- Cedarwood, 2 drops
- Vetiver, 2 drops
- Ylang Ylang, 2 drops
Turn that Frown Upside Down
- Bergamot, 9 drops
- Frankincense, 6 drops
- Ylang Ylang, 6 drops
Where I Purchase Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
I primarily purchase Ylang Ylang from Plant Therapy, with Simply Earth being my backup.
