Inhaling ylang ylang essential oil can produce a short-term drop in blood pressure and heart rate by calming your autonomic nervous system, the internal wiring that controls functions like heart rate and blood vessel tension. Multiple studies in healthy adults have confirmed this sedative effect, and the most studied method is simple inhalation. Here’s how to use it effectively and what to realistically expect.
How Ylang Ylang Lowers Blood Pressure
Ylang ylang works primarily through your sense of smell. When you inhale the aroma, it triggers a shift in your autonomic nervous system that reduces what researchers call “autonomic arousal,” essentially dialing down the body’s fight-or-flight response. This shows up as a measurable decrease in both blood pressure and heart rate, along with a feeling of calm.
The effect is comparable to what happens when you move from a stressful environment into a quiet, relaxing one. Your blood vessels relax slightly, your heart slows, and your stress hormones ease off. Research published in the Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation confirmed these physiological changes in healthy men exposed to ylang ylang aroma, noting both reduced blood pressure and lower arousal levels. Importantly, participants also reported increased subjective calmness and attention, not drowsiness, which makes this oil practical for daytime use.
Inhalation: The Best-Studied Method
Inhalation is the method with the most research support, and it’s also the simplest to do at home. You have a few options:
- Diffuser: Add 3 to 5 drops of ylang ylang oil to a standard ultrasonic diffuser. Run it for 15 to 30 minutes in a room where you’re sitting or resting. This creates a steady, low-concentration exposure without overwhelming the scent.
- Personal inhaler or tissue: Place 1 to 2 drops on a cotton ball, tissue, or personal aromatherapy inhaler stick. Hold it a few inches from your nose and breathe normally for 2 to 5 minutes. This is a good option when you feel your blood pressure rising from stress.
- Steam inhalation: Add 2 to 3 drops to a bowl of hot (not boiling) water. Lean over the bowl with a towel draped loosely over your head and breathe the steam for about 5 minutes.
The blood pressure effect begins within minutes of inhaling the aroma. It’s a temporary shift, not a lasting change from a single session. Consistency matters more than intensity. One clinical protocol that showed results used daily inhalation sessions over four weeks.
Blending With Other Oils
Ylang ylang pairs well with lavender and bergamot for blood pressure support. A well-known study on people with diagnosed high blood pressure used a blend of all three oils inhaled once daily for four weeks and found meaningful reductions in blood pressure and stress markers.
A common blend ratio for a diffuser is roughly equal parts of each oil, or 2 drops ylang ylang, 2 drops lavender, and 1 drop bergamot. Lavender has its own calming effect on the nervous system, and bergamot adds a citrus note that may help with anxiety. Together, these three oils appear to reinforce each other’s effects. If you find ylang ylang’s floral scent too heavy on its own (many people do), blending it makes the aroma more balanced and easier to use daily.
Topical Application
Applying ylang ylang oil to the skin is another option, though the blood pressure benefit likely still comes from inhaling the scent as it rises from your skin. The oil should never be applied undiluted. Mix it with a carrier oil like jojoba, sweet almond, or coconut oil at a ratio of about 2 to 3 drops of ylang ylang per teaspoon of carrier oil. This works out to roughly a 2% dilution, which is standard for most essential oils used on adults.
Common application spots include the inner wrists, behind the ears, or the back of the neck. You can also use the diluted blend as a massage oil for your shoulders and upper back, where people tend to hold tension. The combination of light massage and ylang ylang inhalation may amplify the relaxation response. Do a small patch test on your forearm first and wait 24 hours to check for irritation before using it more broadly.
What Ylang Ylang Can and Cannot Do
The research is clear that ylang ylang produces a real, measurable dip in blood pressure and heart rate. But the effect is modest and temporary. Think of it as a tool for managing stress-related blood pressure spikes, not as a replacement for lifestyle changes or medication if you have diagnosed hypertension. For someone whose blood pressure creeps up during tense workdays or anxious evenings, regular use of ylang ylang inhalation is a reasonable, low-risk addition to their routine.
If you’re already taking blood pressure medication, be aware that stacking a calming essential oil on top could occasionally make you feel lightheaded, especially if your medication already brings your numbers down effectively. Pay attention to how you feel during the first few sessions. People who are pregnant or have very low blood pressure should be cautious with any oil that has sedative properties.
Choosing a Quality Oil
Ylang ylang oil comes in several grades, typically labeled “extra,” “first,” “second,” “third,” or “complete.” The “extra” grade is the most concentrated in the aromatic compounds thought to be responsible for the calming effect, but it’s also the most expensive and intensely floral. “Complete” is a full distillation that contains all fractions and works well for general aromatherapy use. Either of these is a solid choice for blood pressure support.
Look for oils that list Cananga odorata as the botanical name, are sold in dark glass bottles, and come from brands that provide batch-specific testing results (often called GC/MS reports). Synthetic fragrance oils labeled “ylang ylang” will smell similar but won’t have the same physiological effects.