Citronella Essential Oil Benefits & Uses

Citronella essential oil comes from the cymbopogonnardus plant, a type of tall flowering grass that grows in tropical regions of Asia. A close relative to lemongrass, citronella (“lemon balm” in French) is widely cultivated in China and Indonesia and has been used for centuries in traditional folk medicine. To make citronella essential oil, the leaves of the plant are harvested and steam-distilled. Today, citronella essential oil is most commonly found in natural insect repellents, candles, and body care products. It has a fresh, lemony scent and comes with many benefits — from warding off insects to soothing the skin. Keep reading to find out why and how you can incorporate it into your natural wellness routine.

Benefits of Citronella Essential Oil

Citronella essential oil is most popularly known for keeping bugs at bay, but it also has many additional benefits for the body and mind. Below are a few of the main perks.

Citronella Essential Oil Benefits for the Skin

• Calms skin irritations such as bug bites
• Deodorizes body odors
• Promotes a vibrant complexion
• Cleanses skin and prevents breakouts
• Soothes minor cuts and scrapes

Citronella Essential Oil Benefits for the Hair

• Rids the scalp of dirt, grime, and flakiness
• Adds shine and vibrancy
• Balances oil levels
• Can be used to eliminate head lice

Citronella Essential Oil Benefits for the Mood

• Uplifting and mood-boosting
• Promotes an overall sense of calm

Citronella Essential Oil Benefits for Your Environment

• Repels insects like mosquitoes
• Neutralizes unwanted odors
• Cleans and freshens surfaces in the home

How to Use Citronella Essential Oil

Ready to start using citronella essential oil? Here are a few ways you can use it in your daily life.

For the body

• Add 4 drops of citronella essential oil to 1 ounce of your favorite face cleanser to help cleanse the skin and reduce breakouts.
• Add 3 drops of citronella essential oil to 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, mix, and apply to minor cuts and bug bites to soothe itchiness and promote healing.
• Combine 3 drops of citronella essential oil, 2 drops of lavender essential oil, and 1 teaspoon of argan essential oil. Rub on ankles and other exposed skin areas to prevent mosquito bites while hiking, camping, or spending time outdoors.
• Add 4 drops of citronella essential oil to 1 tablespoon of shampoo and wash hair to promote vibrance and shine.
• Mix 3 drops of citronella essential oil and 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil and massage into the scalp to cleanse and remove dirt and grime.

For the mind

• Add 2 drops of citronella essential oil, 2 drops of cedarwood essential oil, and 2 drops of rosemary essential oil to your diffuser along with water (as directed) to ease a worried mind and create a calming environment.

For the home

• Add 4 drops of citronella essential oil and 4 drops of tea tree essential oil to your diffuser with water (as directed). Place the diffuser on the patio or outdoor area to keep bugs away.
• Mix 10 drops of citronella essential oil with ½ cup of witch hazel and ½ cup of water in a spray bottle and shake. Spray on outdoor furniture and gear to deodorize and repel mosquitos.
• Fill a medium-sized spray bottle with 1 cup of white vinegar, 3 cups of water, 4 drops of citronella essential oil, 4 drops of orange essential oil, and 3 drops of lemon essential oil. Shake and spray on surfaces in the home to clean and deodorize.

What Blends Well With Citronella Essential Oil?

Citronella essential oil has a refreshing, crisp, lemony scent that pairs well with citrus, woodsy, and floral essential oils. Below are a few of our favorites to blend.

• Lemongrass essential oil
• Lavender essential oil
• Rosemary essential oil
• Cedarwood essential oil
• Orange essential oil
• Grapefruit essential oil
• Ylang ylang essential oil

How to Safely Use Citronella Essential Oil

Citronella essential oil can be irritating to some people and should be used sparingly and with caution by pregnant women, and around children and pets. As with all essential oils, you should never apply citronella essential oil to the skin directly and always combine it with a carrier oil before use. It’s best to conduct a skin patch test before applying it to a larger area. Citronella essential oil should only be applied topically or inhaled and not ingested. For more essential oil safety tips, take a look at this article.

All About Cliganic Citronella Essential Oil

Cliganic Citronella Essential Oil is USDA Organic, free of chemicals, parabens, SLS or other artificial ingredients, vegan, and cruelty-free. It’s made from steam-distilling dried citronella grasses that are ethically sourced from Indonesia. Each batch is 3rd-party tested for purity.

Final Thoughts

Citronella essential oil has many uses beyond just repelling bugs. It can soothe the skin and scalp, promote a sense of calm, eliminate unwanted odors in the home, and cleanse surfaces, too. Its lemony, herbaceous scent pairs well with citrus and floral essential oils, which add to the refreshing aroma. While citronella essential oil is safe for most people to use, those who are pregnant or have kids and pets should take extra precautions. To uncover more citrusy-smelling essential oils, check out this article: All About Grapefruit Essential Oil.