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Citronella Essential Oil

Vial depicting Citronella Essential Oil

Botanical Name: Cymbopogon nardus Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled Color: Clear Consistency: Thin Perfumery Note: Top Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium

Aromatic Description: Citrusy (similar to lemongrass), slightly fruity, fresh, sweet.

	Citronella

Possible Uses: Excessive perspiration, fatigue, headache, insect repellant, oily skin. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 58-67.]

Constituents: Geraniol, citronellal. [B. Lawrence, "Citronella Oil," Perfumer & Flavorist, June/July 1985, 27, cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 155]

Safety Information: Possible sensitization. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 205.]

Lawless says to avoid Citronella during pregnancy. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 134.]

Important Note: The information provided in the Oil Profiles area is for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

General Safety Information: Do not take any oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an oil that you've never used before. Instructions on conducting a skin patch test and more safety information can be found by visiting the Safety Information page. For very in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs. 

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