Citronella Oil

Scientific Name (S): Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle and C. winterianus Jowitt. Sometimes referred to as Andropogon nardus L. Family: Gramineae

Common Name(S): Citronella oil, Ceylon oil, citronella

The smell of oil of citronella repels blood-feeding mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. The oil is extracted from Cymbopogon nardus and Cymbopogon winterianus grasses, thus is all-natural. As a non-toxic substance, many people prefer citronella to other chemical repellants such as DEET .

Citronella oil appears in many products designed to protect humans, pets, and open-air spaces from the public health risks posed by mosquitoes and ticks. A concerned person could use a spritz on their clothing, lotion or soap on their skin, treated collars on their pets, and candles or pellet bags surrounding their picnic.

Botany: C. nardus (Ceylon citronella) and C. winterianus (Java citronella) are both perennial grasses. The essential oils are obtained by steam distillation of the fresh or dried grass. The Java-type oil is generally considered to be of superior quality to the Ceylon oil.

History: Citronella oil has been used as a flavoring for foods and beverages in very low quantities (approximately 45 ppm). In traditional medicine, the oil has been used as an aromatic tea, as a vermifuge, diuretic and antispasmodic. Perhaps the most widely recognized use for the oil is as an insect repellent. It is sometimes incorporated into perfumes and soaps.

Uses of Citronella Oil

Citronella oil is used in small amounts to flavor foods, scent cosmetics and repel insects. It has been used in aromatic tea as a vermifuge, diuretic and antispasmodic.

Side Effects of Citronella Oil

Citronella oil may cause contact dermatitis. Ingestion may be fatal in some cases.

Summary: Citronella oil is commonly used as an insect repellent and has also found use in foods, cosmetics and toiletries. As with any volatile oil, ingestion of the product poses a toxicologic problem, which in rare cases may lead to severe toxicity and death.