Citronella Essential OilBotanical Nomenclature: Cymbopogan nardus Here in the U.S., citronella oil enjoys the status of "Generally Recognized as Safe" by the Food & Drug Administration for use in food products. Widely used to scent soaps, detergents and household cleaners, citronella essential oil is perhaps best known in "natural" medicine as a natural insect repellent.
Characteristics of Citronella Essential OilCitronella oil should be yellow or yellowish-brown in color. It should have a distinct grassy odor with faint hints of "lemon" and will be instantly familiar to anyone who has ever used a spray-on insect repellent.Psychological AromatherapyCitronella is most often used as an insect repellent and is rarely mentioned for use in "casual" aromatherapy. But at least one author recommends diffusing citronella oil to alleviate fatigue.Traditional Uses for Citronella OilIn India and Sri Lanka various preparations of citronella and its grassy botanical cousins have long been used to clean cuts and scrapes. Today, herbalists still regard citronella as anti-microbial and antiseptic. And, of course, citronella is widely regarded around the world as a "natural" alternative to insect repellents like DEET.Italian aromatherapy expert Salvatore Battaglia list the following therapeutic actions in his review of citronella oil:
Scientific Studies on Citronella OilCitronella oil has been studied primarily for its use as a "natural" insect repellent. While several studies have found citronella an effective alternative to chemicals like DEET, we could find no studies looking at citronella oil for any medicinal purpose.Safety IssuesCitronella is generally listed as non-toxic and non-irritating in today's aromatherapy books but a handful of poisoning have been documented. Also, some reports have linked citronella to contact dermatitis but no widespread contraindications are known at this time.Like other essential oils, citronella has not been exhaustively studied for long-term safety or use during pregnancy and lactation.
References: Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. FDA. (2003). Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21. Davies, M., et al. (1978). Contact dermatitis from an ostomy deodorant. Temple, W., et al. (1991). Management of oil of citronella poisoning. Trongtokit, Y., et al. (2005). Efficacy of repellent products against caged and free flying Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Leave Citronella Essential Oil & return to Essential Oils Directory page.
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