Cananga Odorata Flower Extract

Cananga odorata (ylang-ylang) flower extract is primarily used for fragrance and contains volatile aromatic constituents (e.g., linalool, benzyl benzoate/benzyl alcohol derivatives, isoeugenol-type components) that are well-documented triggers of irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, especially in eczema-prone skin. Even at typical low use levels in leave-on products, cumulative exposure across routines and oxidation of fragrance components can meaningfully increase sensitization risk. Given its fragrance role and clinically recognized allergen potential, it warrants a significant irritancy score for sensitive and compromised skin. Safety Notes: In mainstream leave-on skincare (creams/serums/toners) and rinse-off products, Cananga Odorata (ylang-ylang) flower extract is most often used as a fragrance/botanical label-claim at very low levels (typically around 0.0001–0.05%), especially when supplied as a dilute extract in a solvent base. Higher-strength consumer-available “botanical” or aromatherapy-leaning leave-on oils/balms and some natural deodorants can reach about 0.5–1.0% extract in the finished product, with the upper end constrained by sensitization/IFRA-aligned allergen considerations even though the extract itself is not a globally fixed-limit ingredient under EU/FDA cosmetics rules.