Quick Facts

Botanical Name: Cymbopogon Nardus L
Family Name: Poaceae (Gramineae)
Common Name: Citronella Oil
Part used: leaves (grass)
Specific Gravity: 0.880
Refractive Index: 1.465 to 1.475
Optical Rotation: -7.00 to +7.00
Odour : Lemony

Blends Well With: Bergamot, Lemon, Orange, Lemon grass and even pine too

Uses: This oil is used in insect repellent (especially in mosquito repellent); it is used in perfumes for refreshing our minds.

Countries where it is found

The production of citronella is nearly 4000 tonnes all over the globe. The greatest producers are China and Indonesia, who cumulatively produce forty percent of the world's supply. The other sixty percent is produced by Taiwan, India, Argentina, Ecuador, Honduras, Jamaica, South Africa, Mexico, Madagascar, Brazil, Honduras and Guatemala etc.

Harvesting Information

It can be grown in tropical and non-tropical areas. It is harvested when its length reaches three feet. It also needs moisture and sunshine in equal amount and cultivated in sandy loam soil well-heeled in organ which is most suitable for its cultivation. Once it is sowed it can yield till four years.

History of the Plant

Much information is not available about the history of the citronella plant but in the beginning of this century Ceylon type oil was widely used but soon overpowered by Java type of citronella. It has been reported that ancient civilizations have used this oil in menstrual troubles and intestinal parasites; it is good to be used as a stimulus and there are strong evidences that this oil was also used in Chinese ancient medicines. In modern era pure natural oil is not used. Only synthetic form which is called Java type is common.

Extraction Process

The lustrous green leaves of citronella plant are used for extraction of oil and for this distillation method is used. Hardy grass, when grown till one meter in height, after that finely chopped fresh or dried hardy grass is used to extract the oil and steam distillation is used for this as is common in extracting most of similar oils.

Commonly known Benefits

Citronella Essential Oil is no doubt popularly used as an insecticide and is used to kill germs in a patients' room.
It reduces perspiration from the body and works as a good deodorant.
So many lotions and potions possess it because of its effective perfumed qualities and it also helps to reduce oil of the skin. If you are suffering with high fever, then it lessens the fever because of its medicinal qualities. It helps to keep our mind clear and fresh. It is an integral component of soaps and deodorants. It works best on harsh skin and softens them. It is also used in creams and lotions.

It can be blended with so many other chemicals and materials to produce divergent fragrances. Its biggest quality is that it vaporizes and burns quickly which is why it "s an indispensable part in mosquito repellents.

Precautions: Citronella possesses some elements like borneol, dipentene and limonene, nerol and camphene etc. So it can sometime cause irritation on skin, so should be used with care and sensitivity test must be taken before using it.