A Review on Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) Essential Oil, Its Applications, and Extraction Methods

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) essential oil (YYEO), describing its botany, historical evolution, and global commercial significance. It systematically provides information on traditional extraction techniques such as hydrodistillation, steam distillation, and solvent extraction alongside innovative green technologies, including microwave-assisted distillation (MAD), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Conventional distillation methods are compared with greener technologies. The reviewed studies indicate that microwave-assisted processing can reduce YYEO extraction time from approximately 19 h for conventional hydrodistillation to about 40 min while improving the retention of light oxygenated compounds. In particular, light oxygenated compounds have been reported at approximately 81.23% in solvent-free microwave extracts, compared with 69.94% for hydrodistillation and 57.98% for steam distillation. It has also been reported that YYEO contains more than 50 volatile secondary metabolites, with linalool representing about 28% of the oxygenated fraction, while sesquiterpene-rich hydrocarbons can account for up to 63% of the essential oil. The reviewed studies further demonstrate insecticidal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neurobiological activities, supporting the potential use of YYEO in sustainable protective materials and health-related applications. Finally, emerging frontiers in protective smart textiles, living fabrics, and sustainable closed-loop manufacturing paradigms are discussed to outline future directions for bio-based material science.