What is it?
An essential oil steam-distilled from the freshly picked flowers of the ylang ylang tree, Cananga odorata, produced mainly in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Distillers collect it in fractions called extra, I, II and III, and cananga oil comes from a related form of the same tree. Its floral scent is used in perfumes and other scented cosmetics, and the oil is also a food flavoring.
Key information
- The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety classifies ylang ylang oil as an established contact allergen, with more than 100 reported cases.
- IFRA limits ylang ylang oil to 0.18 percent of body lotions and face moisturizers and 0.73 percent of fine fragrances because of skin sensitization.
- New products placed on the EU market since August 2026 must list it as Cananga Odorata Oil/Extract above 0.001 percent in leave-on or 0.01 percent in rinse-off products.
- Ylang ylang and cananga oils are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as food flavorings in the U.S.
More information
Ylang ylang oil is distilled from blossoms of Cananga odorata subsp. genuina. The first fraction, “extra,” is richest in strongly scented compounds such as linalool, benzyl acetate, p-cresyl methyl ether, methyl benzoate and geranyl acetate, while later fractions contain more sesquiterpenes such as caryophyllene and germacrene D. The oil also contains smaller amounts of other recognized fragrance allergens, including benzyl benzoate, farnesol, benzyl salicylate, geraniol, eugenol and isoeugenol. Ingredient names do not distinguish ylang ylang oil from cananga oil.
In its 2012 opinion on fragrance allergens, the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) classified ylang ylang oil as an established contact allergen, placing it in the category of 101 to 1,000 reported positive patch tests. In a North American study, 1.5 percent of 4,434 patients tested reacted to it; a European study found 2.5 percent of 3,175 consecutively tested patients reacting. Following that opinion, the EU now requires the oil to be named on labels of products placed on the market from August 2026.
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) restricts ylang ylang extracts because of skin sensitization. Its limits range from 0.039 percent in underarm products and 0.18 percent in body lotions and face moisturizers to 0.73 percent in fine fragrance and 1.4 percent in rinse-off products such as bar soap. If you are allergic to fragrance ingredients, look for Cananga Odorata Oil/Extract on EU-style labels. Fragrance blends can otherwise be listed simply as parfum or fragrance; see our Fragrances/Parfum profile.
Sources: SCCS: Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (2012); Official Journal of the EU: Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 on labelling of fragrance allergens; IFRA: Standard for ylang ylang extracts (Amendment 49); Cornell LII: 21 CFR 182.20, Essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free), and natural extractives
