Citronella Essential Oil Uses & Benefits

Contents:
Uses & Benefits
Benefits Of Citronella Essential Oil
Popular Uses & Benefits | How To Use
Where To Buy | Customer Reviews | Safety

Considered to be a cousin of Lemongrass Essential Oil, Citronella Essential Oil gets its name from the French word meaning ‘lemon balm’. Traditionally, the benefits and uses of Citronella Oil were best known in various Chinese, Sri Lankan and Indonesian medicinal practices, as it was found to be an effective soothing agent for pain, rashes, inflammation and infections.

Nowadays, Citronella Oil is known to be one of the best essential oils for insects; in fact, it is a common ingredient in a lot of natural insect repellent products.

Steam distilled from the Cymbopogon winterianus botanical species, Citronella Essential Oil carries a powerfully intense, smooth, and lemon-like aroma.

There are two variations of Citronella Essential Oil: Citronella Java Essential Oil and Citronella Ceylon Essential Oil. Whilst both chemical compositions are very similar, we will be discussing the uses and benefits of Citronella Java Essential Oil below.

Benefits of Citronella Essential Oil for Medicinal Use

• Citronella Essential Oil contains powerful antiseptic and antifungal properties that work to prevent and inhibit the growth of fungus on wounds.
• It has also been seen to soothe and prevent infections in the ears, nose and throat.
• Other Citronella Essential Oil benefits have been seen to relax muscles and relieve spasms, abdominal pain, headaches, migraines, excessive coughing, and menstrual related cramping.
• When diluted and used topically, it is known to improve circulation which in turn, may reduce swelling, pain, digestive discomforts and tenderness.
• It has also been seen to exhibit detoxifying, diaphoretic and diuretic properties, which may encourage the expulsion of toxins from the body.
• When inhaled, it is believed to strengthen immunity whilst reducing regular cold and flu symptoms.

Benefits of Citronella Essential Oil for Cosmetic Use

• When used on the skin, the benefits of Citronella Essential Oil are known to deodorize and refresh the body whilst eliminating bacteria. For this reason, it is a great ingredient to have in any body mist formulations.
• In skincare, it is highly valued for its ability to improve the way that the skin absorbs moisture. In addition, it is also known to balance sebum levels and maintain complexions.
• Other Citronella Oil benefits are known to ease skin conditions such as eczema, acne and dermatitis and its protective abilities may also be effective in reducing skin damage caused by sun exposure.
• It is also believed to reduce signs of aging by smoothing fine lines, blemishes, and scarring.
• Others have found Citronella Oil to be a fantastic natural remedy for bites, sores, warts, and age spots.

Benefits of Citronella Essential Oil in Aromatherapy

• In aromatherapy, the benefits of Citronella Essential Oil are best known to prevent the spread of harmful airborne bacteria whilst repelling flies, insects and mosquitos.
• When inhaled, it has further been seen to uplift the mind whilst easing feelings of stress and nervousness.
• Other benefits of Citronella Oil are believed to alleviate headaches, migraines and nausea whilst improving energy levels.

Diffusing: One of the most common ways to use Citronella Essential Oil is in an aromatherapy diffuser or electric vaporizer. This may be beneficial for anyone wanting to deter insects or ease cold and flu symptoms.
Inhaling: For those who do not own a diffuser or vaporizer, Citronella Oil can be inhaled directly from the bottle, just be sure to avoid direct contact with the skin as this may result in irritation.
Cleansing Shower: You can also add a drop at each corner of your shower, the aroma will rise with the steam to create a decongesting atmosphere.

Massage: To create a Citronella infused massage oil simply add a few drops to a carrier oil or base massage oil.
Skin Serum: To address various skin complaints, add a few drops to a carrier oil and apply to troubled areas.
Moisturiser: Citronella Oil can also be added to any skincare products or moisturisers to enhance existing benefits.
Insect Repellent: To create an all-natural insect repellent, simply combine the following ingredients in a spray bottle; 60ml of distilled or boiled water, 30ml of Witch Hazel Extract or Vodka & 50 drops of Citronella Essential Oil.

Surface Cleaners: To create an all-natural surface cleaner simply combine ½ Cup White Vinegar and 10 – 15 drops of Citronella Essential Oil in a bottle, shake well before use!
Cleaning Paste: In a bottle combine the following: 1 Cup Baking Soda, ¼ Cup Natural Dish Liquid, 1 Tbsp White Vinegar and 10 – 15 drops of Citronella Essential Oil. Using a microfiber cloth, this formulation can be used to clean sinks, toilets and showers. Allow to sit for 5 - 10 minutes before rinsing well.
Floor Cleaner: You can also add a few drops to your floor detergent to enhance existing benefits.

“We love diffusing this in a blend outside in summer, so much more effective than any burner or shop repellent. We’ve even used it to make our own bug spray for hiking and it is so lovely on the skin and doesn’t have an overbearing smell that some repellents can have! Great oil!”
Thelma (Verified Customer)

“Smells wonderful. I love the packaging. This oil is top quality”
Olga (Verified Customer)

“Love this, I make my own outdoor insect repellent. Fabulous product!”
Jennifer (Verified Customer)

Whilst essential oils are natural products, they are extremely potent and can cause serious harm if used incorrectly. For this reason, we recommend the following:

• In line with the Therapeutic Goods Act, we do not recommend ingesting essential oils without the guidance of a registered Aromatherapist or Naturopath.
• Avoid using Citronella Essential Oils during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.
• We recommend storing your Essential Oils in a cool, dry place at room temperature, ensuring that they are not directly exposed to sunlight and are out of reach of children or pets.
• Citronella Essential Oil is very concentrated and is likely to cause irritation or reactions if applied directly to the skin. For this reason, it is important to first dilute your essential oils before using topically (on the skin). Our recommended dilution percentages can be found here.

Tanu, B & Harpreet, K, 2016, ‘Benefits of essential oils’, Journal Of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 143 – 149

Mandal, S & Mandal, M, 2015, ‘Coriander (Coriandrum satgivum L.) essential oil: Chemistry and biological activity’, Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 421 - 428

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness.