Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson

Kenanga (Cananga odorata) is a shrub up to 2 meters tall of the Annonaceae family, a plant native to Indonesia also found in Polynesia and Melanesia, and the identity flora of Aceh and North Sumatra. Its distinctively fragrant flowers are commonly used in cultural rituals and as a natural hair fragrance. Traditionally, kenanga is also believed to relieve shortness of breath, malaria, and high blood pressure.

Grows well in areas with elevations below 1,200 m above sea level and will bloom abundantly in areas at elevations of 20-700 m above sea level. Rainfall 250-4,000 mm/year with dry months reaching 4 months, temperature 10-35 °C.

• Stem straight, hard wood, bark grayish-white in color.
• Leaves oblong shaped, smooth, pointed tip, 10-23 cm long, 4.5-14 cm wide.
• Flowers compound, drooping clusters green in color, turning yellow when mature. Very fragrant smell.
• Fruit inverted egg-shaped, green when young and turning blackish when mature. Fruit length 2 cm, thick-fleshed.
   

Propagated generatively (by seed) and vegetatively (stem cuttings and air-layering).

Flowers: benzoic acid, farnesol, geraniol, linalool, benzyl acetate, eugenol, safrole, cadinene, pinene. Bark: alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, triterpenoids, and tannins.

Treats shortness of breath, malaria remedy, treats bronchitis, postpartum care, pneumonia remedy, stomach ache, lowers blood pressure in hypertension, headache remedy, eye inflammation, gout, rheumatism, acne.
 

• Kenanga flowers are taken from a mature plant then wet-sorted, washed with running water.
• Drying is done by placing the material on a tray then covering with black cloth and drying in the sun.
• Once dry, the material is ground into powder.
• Store in a closed, airtight container, at room temperature. 

Bungong selanga (Aceh), Kenango (Java), Anga (Bima), Kananga wangi (Ambon), Bunga kaeik (Roti), Sapalin, Sipaniune, Kupaleuo (Seram).