Citronella Oil for Aromatherapy, Insect Repellent

Citronella is a grass native to India and Ceylon. Nicknamed “citron grass” or “West Indian lemongrass” because of the leaves’ powerful lemony scent, it is often confused with melissa or verbena. Citronella is an evergreen plant that forms dense tufts of smooth stems. The long, fragrant leaves are narrow, linear, and stiff. The essential oil is extracted from plants grown in Sri Lanka. They have a life expectancy of six to eight years and reach their maximum essential-oil yield the third and fourth years. Citronella plants are cut with a sickle and gathered in bundles before being transported to distilleries. The resulting essential oil has a fresh herbaceous fragrance with a citral-like note.