The Difference Between Cananga and Ylang-Ylang

 

Cananga and ylang-ylang are two oils that are very closely related, and due to these similarities, it may be hard to distinguish the differences between the two. They are both very similar in use and appearance and because of this, we are going to take a closer look at them to find the more discernible differences between the two.

Botanical Profile of Ylang-Ylang

The scientific name for ylang-ylang is Cananga odorata var. genuine. It is a tall, tropical tree that produces yellow, pink, or mauve flowers. These flowers have characteristic narrow and drooping petals. The tree also has green and glossy leaves. When extracting the essential oils, steam distillation is used on these very fragrant flowers.

Botanical Profile of Cananga

The scientific name for Cananga is Canange odorata var. macrophylla. It is also a tall, tropical tree that produces flowers that are seemingly identical to the ylang-ylang tree. You will also find that the essential oils produced by both of these trees are also very similar and some manufacturers may mistakenly sell one for the other because of these similarities.

Common Uses for Ylang-Ylang

This essential oil is used for acne, insect bites, oily and irritated skin, depression, insomnia, and stress. It is also known to have aphrodisiac properties as well and is traditionally placed on the bed of newlyweds in Indonesia.

Ylang-ylang also blends well with other essential oils, including bergamot, sandalwood, grapefruit, and lavender.

Common Uses for Cananga

This essential oil is most commonly used for oily skin and hair, insect bites, high blood pressure, anxiety, nervous tension, and stress. It has also been used to help treat depression and impotency.

It is also used in many shampoos, soaps, perfumes, lotions, and skincare creams as well and has been touted as a secret ingredient for helping to grow thick and lustrous healthy hair.

Difference Between These Essential Oils

When determining the differences between these two essential oils, you will find that ylang-ylang is a much more floral scented oil and may be stronger and more aromatic than Cananga. Many people prefer the subtle aroma of the Cananga essential oil for this reason. The chemical composition of each of these oils also varies.

These two oils, while very similar, offer different therapeutic benefits. So, before determining which to use, you should understand what it is you want to treat. For insect bites, irritated skin, insomnia, and stress, you should consider using ylang-ylang essential oil.

For skincare, anxiety, and depression, you should consider the therapeutic advantages of Cananga essential oil and its subtle scent.

Meta: While there are definitely many similarities between Cananga and ylang-ylang essential oils, there are a few small but notable differences.