What is Citronella Essential Oil?

Citronella Essential Oil has a rich, sweet, slightly rosy lemon scent. The Latin name is Cymbopogon Winterianus (Java-type) or Cymbopogon Nardus (Ceylon-type), and the oil is steam distilled from the grass. The oil is known for its fresh, summery scent and is a popular choice for summer evenings.

Despite what the name suggests, citronella is not a citrus plant but a tropical grass, botanically related to lemongrass and palmarosa. Our citronella is the Java-type, which has a higher content of geraniol and citronellal than the Ceylon-type, giving it a richer scent.

Citronella blends beautifully with other citrus-like oils such as lemongrass and pink grapefruit, with floral oils such as geranium and lavender, and with woody oils such as cedarwood and eucalyptus.

How is Citronella Essential Oil made?

Citronella is obtained through steam distillation of fresh or dried grass. In this process, volatile aroma molecules are released, captured and condensed into oil.

Because citronella is not a citrus plant, the oil contains no furanocoumarins and is therefore not phototoxic. It is, however, a fairly potent oil that can cause irritation at higher dosages or on sensitive skin.

Benefits of Citronella Essential Oil

The classic summer scent
Citronella is one of the best-known summer scents. The fresh lemon scent is part of long evenings outdoors. A popular choice for summer evenings.

Refreshing and uplifting
The lemony, sweet scent is uplifting and is commonly used in diffusers for a fresh atmosphere in the home.

Purifying for the scalp
Citronella has a light purifying effect and is used in shampoos for oily or irritated scalp.

Not phototoxic
Citronella contains no furanocoumarins and is therefore not phototoxic, despite its lemony character.

Versatile in summer products
Citronella is used in DIY summer air fresheners, candles and outdoor blends.

How to use Citronella Essential Oil?

Always dilute essential oil before use on skin in a carrier oil or butter. For homemade skincare, we recommend a working dosage of 1 percent (1 gram per 100 grams of product). Read the explanation at the bottom for more information. Suitable carriers include, for example, Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil or Shea Butter.

In a DIY summer spray
Combine citronella with geranium and lemongrass in a spray bottle with water and a solvent such as ethanol or solubilizer for a fresh summer spray.

In an outdoor diffuser or garden candle
Add 4 to 6 drops to an aroma diffuser on the terrace or in DIY candles for a fresh summer evening.

In a shampoo
Add a few drops of citronella to your shampoo for a refreshing, light purifying effect on oily or irritated scalp.

In a facial cleanser or toner
Add the oil to a cleanser for oily or impure skin. Keep the dosage low.

In a DIY air freshener
The sweet-lemony scent is a popular addition to homemade air fresheners, especially in the summer months.

What is the difference with Lemongrass?

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Flexuosus) and citronella (Cymbopogon Winterianus) are botanical relatives and both grasses, but they have different characters. Citronella smells richer, sweeter and slightly rosy. Lemongrass has a more pronounced, sharper lemon aroma. Both are not phototoxic.

Choose citronella if you want a richer, sweeter lemon scent. Choose lemongrass for a more pronounced lemon note in a blend.

Tips for using Citronella Essential Oil

• Store the oil in a cool, dark place to slow down oxidation.
• Always close the bottle tightly after use.
• Test first on a small patch of skin before using the oil for the first time, especially on sensitive skin.
• Always work with grams and percentages, not drops. Drops vary in size and make it difficult to stay within safe limits.

Precautions and side effects

Citronella Essential Oil is not phototoxic and can therefore be used without limitation for sunlight. However, it is a fairly potent oil that can cause irritation at higher dosages or on sensitive skin. Always use diluted, never pure on the skin.

Our practical working dosage: 1 percent
For homemade skincare, we recommend a dosage of 1 percent (1 gram per 100 grams of product). Citronella naturally contains allergens such as citronellol, geraniol, limonene and citral. When you combine multiple essential oils in one recipe, these allergens accumulate and you can quickly exceed the legal allergen limits. A working dosage of 1 percent gives you room to use multiple oils in one recipe without exceeding those limits.

For products that you rinse off, such as soap, shower gel or shampoo, more generous maxima apply because the oil does not remain on the skin.

Not recommended for use during pregnancy without consultation with an expert. Keep out of reach of children. If in doubt or with sensitive skin, always test first on a small area and wait 24 hours before using on larger areas.