Citronella Essential Oil is a therapeutic-grade oil steam-distilled from the aerial parts of Cymbopogon nardus or Cymbopogon winterianus (citronella grass), presenting as a light yellow liquid. Best known globally as the premier natural insect repellent, Citronella Oil contains geraniol and citronellal as its primary active compounds — which are scientifically proven to repel mosquitoes, flies, and other insects by masking the carbon dioxide and lactic acid signals that attract biting insects to human hosts.
Applications:
- Natural Insect Repellents (mosquito repellent sprays, lotions, candles, diffuser blends)
- Personal Care (insect-repellent body sprays, outdoor protection products)
- Aromatherapy (uplifting, deodorising, and insect-deterring diffuser blends)
- Home & Garden (insect repellent candles, room sprays, outdoor area diffusers)
Key Features & Benefits:
- Light yellow – clean therapeutic-grade citronella oil
- No animal substance – suitable for vegan and Halal-compliant formulations
- Proven natural mosquito and insect repellent – geraniol and citronellal active
- Fresh, lemony-green aroma with deodorising properties
- High demand seasonal and year-round in tropical Malaysian climate
Java or Ceylon type
Two grasses give two different oils. Java-type citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) is rich in citronellal and geraniol, and is the type preferred for perfumery and as a source of aroma chemicals. Ceylon-type citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) has less citronellal and a harsher, more camphoraceous character. Because this listing covers either species, confirm which one a given lot is: the two are priced and perform differently.
Repellent claims are regulated
In many markets a product that claims to repel insects is regulated as a pesticide or biocide rather than as a cosmetic, and needs its own registration and approved label wording. Check the classification in each market before making repellency claims on a finished product; the oil used purely as a fragrance falls under different rules.
Formulation notes
Citronella oil contains geraniol, citronellol and limonene, which are declarable fragrance allergens in the EU and markets that follow its rules. It is volatile, so repellent performance in a spray or lotion fades as it evaporates. Store it sealed and away from light. Its close relative Lemongrass Oil shares the same genus but a very different, citral-led profile.
What to ask for on the certificate of analysis
- Type confirmed: Java (C. winterianus) or Ceylon (C. nardus).
- GC profile with citronellal, geraniol and citronellol reported individually.
- Refractive index, specific gravity and optical rotation.
- Country of origin and distillation date.
