Ylang ylang is the heart of a blend. Here’s what to build around it.
On its own, ylang ylang is sweet, creamy and rich. Pair it with bright citrus and it turns sunny. Add a resin and it feels warm and grounded. This guide covers the best essential oils to mix with ylang ylang, with easy diffuser blends and safe-use basics.
- 15 partner oils
- 6 ready-to-try blends
- Safe dilution tips
New to ylang ylang? Start with our guide to ylang ylang essential oil benefits and 7 everyday uses.
In this guide
- What blends well with ylang ylang?
- The ylang ylang blend map
- How to blend it
- Best essential oils to mix with ylang ylang
- More oils that blend well
- Combinations at a glance
- Frankincense and ylang ylang blend
- Easy oil blends with ylang ylang
- Oils to skip
- Substitutes for ylang ylang
- Safe blending basics
- FAQs
What blends well with ylang ylang essential oil?
Bergamot, frankincense and lavender are the easiest essential oils to mix with ylang ylang. Bergamot brightens it, frankincense adds warm depth and lavender softens it into a calm, everyday floral.
Other oils that go with ylang ylang include sweet orange, grapefruit, sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, clary sage, jasmine, rose, geranium and neroli. Because ylang ylang is strong, keep it the smaller part of most blends.
BergamotBrightens
FrankincenseGrounds
LavenderSoftensThe ylang ylang blend map
Think of ylang ylang as the center and each scent family as a direction you can take it. Choose one family for a simple pairing, or borrow from two for a layered blend.
Ylang ylangSweet, creamy, rich floral
Green oils are available at ROOTSAR. Tap to shop.
How to blend ylang ylang without overpowering it
Ylang ylang is a lingering, heavy note. It stays long after brighter oils fade, and one extra drop can tip a blend from lovely to cloying.
One part ylang ylang to two parts partner oil is a reliable starting point.
Wait a few minutes before adjusting. Ylang ylang opens slowly.
Citrus fades fastest, so it can be the largest share of a blend.
Test before you commit. Put one drop of each oil on separate paper strips, hold them together and wave them gently under your nose. It’s the quickest way to preview a pairing without wasting oil.
Best essential oils to mix with ylang ylang
These five oils from the ROOTSAR collection cover every direction you can take ylang ylang: bright, grounding, calm and fresh.
Bergamot: the brightest pairing
Citrus with a soft floral edge
If you try only one combination, make it this one. Bergamot’s sparkling citrus cuts through ylang ylang’s sweetness, so the blend feels light and sunny instead of heavy. It’s also the easiest pairing for people who don’t usually like strong florals.
Diffuser starting point
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 bergamot
Frankincense: warm and grounding
Resinous, woody, lightly citrus
Frankincense gives ylang ylang a foundation. The resin smooths out the sweetness and adds a quiet, incense-like warmth that suits evenings, meditation corners and slow weekend mornings.
Diffuser starting point
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 frankincense
Lavender: the classic wind-down blend
Soft floral with an herbal finish
Two florals might sound like too much, but lavender’s clean, herbal side balances ylang ylang’s richness. The result is gentle and familiar, a popular choice for an evening diffuser routine. Lavender also works in our weekend hair mask, so see our ylang ylang essential oil for hair recipes.
Diffuser starting point
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 lavender
Lemongrass: a fresh twist
Lemony, grassy and strong
Lemongrass gives ylang ylang a fresh, almost tropical lift. Both oils are intense, so treat lemongrass as a single accent drop in a citrus-led blend rather than an equal partner.
Diffuser starting point
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 bergamot
- 1 lemongrass
Peppermint: an unexpected cool accent
Cool, sharp and minty
This one is for the adventurous. A single drop of peppermint brings a crisp, awake feel to a ylang ylang and citrus blend. Any more and the mint takes over.
Diffuser starting point, daytime
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 bergamot
- 1 peppermint
More oils that blend well with ylang ylang
Ready to go further? These classic partners show up in many perfume and aromatherapy blends with ylang ylang.
Citrus oils
- Sweet orange
- The friendliest citrus partner, warm and juicy.
- Grapefruit
- A sharper, sparkling top note.
- Lemon
- Clean and crisp. Citrus can be the largest share of a blend.
Woody oils
- Sandalwood
- A perfume-counter classic with ylang ylang: creamy on creamy.
- Cedarwood
- Drier and fresher, which keeps the floral from feeling too sweet.
Floral oils
- Jasmine and rose
- Build a full, luxurious bouquet.
- Geranium
- A green, rosy lift that’s easy to find.
- Neroli
- Delicate orange-blossom brightness.
Earthy and herbal oils
- Patchouli and vetiver
- A deep, smoky base. Use sparingly, as both are strong.
- Clary sage
- A soft, musky herbal note that rounds out relaxing blends.
Essential oil combinations with ylang ylang at a glance
A quick reference for how each partner changes the blend, with a starting ratio for each.
| Partner oil | Scent it adds | Best for | Ylang ylang : partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bright citrus | Daytime, uplifting blends | 1 : 2 | |
| Warm resin | Evenings, quiet time | 1 : 2 | |
| Soft herbal floral | Wind-down routines | 1 : 2 | |
| Fresh, grassy lemon | Fresh home scent | 1 drop accent | |
| Cool mint | A crisp daytime twist | 1 drop accent | |
|
Sweet orange
|
Juicy, warm citrus | Cheerful, cozy blends | 1 : 3 |
|
Sandalwood
|
Creamy wood | Perfume-style blends | 1 : 1 |
|
Geranium
|
Green rose | Garden-fresh florals | 1 : 1 |
|
Patchouli
|
Earthy, dark | Bold, sultry blends | 2 : 1 |
The grounding pair
Frankincense and ylang ylang blend
This is one of the most balanced oil blends with ylang ylang. The sweetness of the flower meets the dry, resinous warmth of frankincense, and neither one dominates. It feels calm without being sleepy.
For the diffuser
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 frankincense
- 1 bergamot, optional
Follow your diffuser’s total-drop guidance.
For a body oil
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 frankincense
In 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of jojoba or sweet almond oil, about 0.5%. Patch test first.
Easy oil blends with ylang ylang
Six blends with ylang ylang to start with, each written for a standard water-based diffuser.
Bright and sunny
Golden hour
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 bergamot
- 1 sweet orange
A cheerful citrus floral for afternoons and get-togethers.
Soft and calming
Lights low
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 lavender
The simplest wind-down blend. A drop of clary sage adds extra softness.
Warm and grounding
Quiet corner
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 frankincense
- 1 cedarwood
Woody and resinous, for reading, journaling or meditation.
Clean and airy
Fresh linen
- 1 ylang ylang
- 2 bergamot
- 1 lemongrass
A bright, just-cleaned scent for the living room or entryway.
Rich and romantic
Velvet evening
- 1 ylang ylang
- 1 sandalwood
- 1 sweet orange
Perfume-like, with creamy wood and a hint of citrus.
Balanced and easy
The feel-good trio
- 1 ylang ylang
- 1 lavender
- 2 bergamot
All three oils come together in The Feel-Good Bundle.
Check your diffuser’s instructions for water level and total drops, and keep the room ventilated. Diffuser recipes are not skin recipes.
Oils to skip or use lightly with ylang ylang
Eucalyptus and tea tree are great oils, just not with ylang ylang. Their sharp, medicinal notes tend to clash with its sweetness and make the blend smell muddled. Save them for their own clean, fresh blends.
The bigger risk is using too much ylang ylang. If a blend smells heavy or gives you a headache, cut the ylang ylang back to one drop and add more citrus.
Essential oil substitute for ylang ylang
No oil smells exactly the same, but these come close in spirit.
-
JasmineThe closest match: rich, sweet and exotic.
-
NeroliA lighter, fresher white floral.
-
GeraniumRosy and green, and easy to find.
Already own lavender and bergamot? Two drops lavender with one drop bergamot won’t replicate ylang ylang, but it makes a soft, rounded floral that works in many of the same blends.
Safe blending basics
Essential oils are concentrated. A small amount goes a long way, especially with ylang ylang.
A commonly cited maximum for ylang ylang on skin is 0.8%. One drop in a tablespoon (15 mL) of carrier oil stays below that, though drop sizes vary.
Cold-pressed bergamot, lemon and grapefruit can cause skin reactions with sun exposure. Use them in diffusers, or keep treated skin out of the sun for at least 12 hours.
Lemongrass and peppermint can irritate skin in higher amounts. Limit them to a single drop in diluted blends.
Try a small area of intact skin and wait 24 hours before wider use.
Diffuser recipes aren’t skin recipes. Keep oils away from eyes and mucous membranes.
Avoid peppermint around young children, and ask a veterinarian before diffusing around pets.
Pregnant, nursing or managing a medical condition? Check with a qualified clinician before use, and always read the label on your bottle.
Ylang ylang blending FAQs
What blends well with ylang ylang?
Bergamot, frankincense and lavender are the easiest partners. Sweet orange, grapefruit, sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, clary sage, jasmine, rose, geranium and neroli also pair well.
What is the best essential oil to mix with ylang ylang?
For most people, bergamot. Its bright citrus balances ylang ylang’s sweetness, so the blend feels fresh rather than heavy.
Can you mix frankincense and ylang ylang?
Yes. A frankincense and ylang ylang blend is warm, balanced and grounding. Start with 1 drop ylang ylang to 2 drops frankincense in a diffuser.
Do ylang ylang and lavender go together?
Yes. Lavender’s herbal side softens ylang ylang into a gentle floral that many people enjoy in the evening.
How much ylang ylang should I use in a blend?
Less than you think. One part ylang ylang to two parts of a partner oil is a good place to start, and one drop is often enough in a diffuser.
What can I use instead of ylang ylang essential oil?
Jasmine is the closest substitute. Neroli and geranium are good lighter alternatives.
Which oils should I avoid mixing with ylang ylang?
Eucalyptus and tea tree usually clash with it. Strong oils like peppermint and lemongrass work only in very small amounts.
Your first blend
Start with ylang ylang and its best partners
Try a single oil, or get ylang ylang, lavender and bergamot together in The Feel-Good Bundle. Free shipping on U.S. orders over $35.
Prefer to choose your own? Build Your Own Bundle.
Safety references: NCCIH: Aromatherapy, ASPCA: Essential oils and pets. For education only. Individual sensitivities and product formulations vary.
