Citroengras Essential Olive Oil

What is Lemongrass Essential Oil?

Lemongrass Essential Oil has a pungent, spicy, and intense lemony aroma with a slight grassy scent. The Latin name is Cymbopogon Flexuosus, and the oil is steam distilled from the dried and cut grass of a tropical grass species that grows mainly in India and Southeast Asia. The color is light yellow to colorless.

Contrary to what the name suggests, lemongrass is not a citrus plant, but a grass. The distinctive lemon aroma comes from the very high content of citral (often 65 to 85%), the same substance that also gives lemons their scent. The oil is botanically related to citronella and palmarosa.

Lemongrass blends beautifully with other citrusy oils such as May Chang, with spicy oils such as May Chang basil, with woody oils such as cedar wood, and with floral oils such as Lavender.

How is Lemongrass Essential Oil made?

Lemongrass is extracted by steam distillation of the dried or fresh grass. This process releases the volatile aroma molecules, which are captured and condensed into oil.

Because lemongrass is not a citrus plant, the oil does not contain furocoumarins and is therefore not phototoxic. However, it is a citral-rich oil, which means that it is powerful and can cause skin irritation at higher doses.

Benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil

Powerfully purifying and refreshing
Lemongrass has a strong refreshing and slightly purifying effect on the air and is a popular addition to homemade cleaning products and air fresheners.

Mental clarity and focus
The bright, refreshing scent can help with mental chaos and times when you feel restless or overstimulated. An excellent choice for a study diffuser.

Versatile in household products
The purifying effect and fresh aroma make lemongrass a popular ingredient in DIY all-purpose cleaners, floor detergent and air fresheners.

Insectenwerend
Like its related citronella, lemongrass has a natural insect repellent effect and is often used in DIY anti-mosquito sprays.

Non-phototoxic
Lemongrass is not a citrus oil and does not contain furocoumarins. The oil is therefore not phototoxic, despite its lemony nature.

How to use Lemongrass Essential Oil?

When using on the skin, always dilute essential oil in a carrier oil or butter. For homemade care, we recommend a working dose of 0.7 percent (0.7 grams per 100 grams of product), because lemongrass can be quite powerful for the skin. Read the explanation below for more information. Suitable carriers are, for example, Jojoba Oil, Zoete Amandelolie of Shea Butter.

In a DIY all-purpose cleaner
Mix 250 ml of water with 1 teaspoon Witch Hazel and 7 drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil for a refreshing, lightly purifying cleanser for kitchen and refrigerator.

In a diffuser
Put 3 drops in a aroma diffuser for a fresh, brightening atmosphere. Combine with Peppermint in Rosemary for a focus boost.

In a DIY anti-mosquito spray
Combine lemongrass with citronella and geranium for a natural insect repellent spray for summer.

In a refreshing air blend
Evaporate 3 drops of mandarin with 2 drops of cedarwood, 2 drops of eucalyptus and 1 drop of lemongrass for a fresh, uplifting atmosphere in your home. Wonderful during or after cleaning.

In a nail oil
Dilute a drop of lemongrass with a drop tea tree in jojoba oil for a nourishing nail oil.

What is the difference with Citronella?

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Flexuosus) in citronella (Cymbopogon Winterianus) are botanical relatives and both grasses, but they have different characters. Lemongrass has a more pronounced, pungent lemon aroma. Citronella smells slightly softer, with more rosy and spicy notes. Both are not phototoxic and both have insect repellent properties, although citronella is better known for that.

Tips for using Lemongrass Essential Oil

• Store the oil in a cool, dark place. Citral-rich oils are prone to oxidation, so proper storage is important.
• Always close the bottle tightly after use.
• Test on a small area of skin before using the oil for the first time. Lemongrass can cause irritation in sensitive skin.
• Always work with grams and percentages, not drops. Droplets vary in size and make it difficult to stay within safe limits.
• Dose consciously: a little goes a long way because of the intense aroma.

What is so special about it?

Lemongrass has been used for centuries as a beneficial herb in Indian Ayurveda and in Thai and Indian cuisine. The oil is often added to perfume and soap thanks to its purifying, brightening aroma.

Points of attention and side effects

Lemongrass Essential Oil is not phototoxic, despite its lemony nature. However, it is a citral-rich oil that can cause skin irritation at higher doses or in sensitive skin. According to Tisserand & Young (2014), a dermal max of 0.7 percent is recommended to prevent skin sensitization. Always use diluted, never pure on the skin.

Our practical working dose: 0.7 percent
For homemade care, we recommend a dosage of 0.7 percent (0.7 grams per 100 grams of product). Lemongrass naturally contains allergens such as citral, limonene, geraniol and citronellol. When you combine multiple essential oils in one recipe, these allergens accumulate and you can quickly exceed the legal allergen limits. An active dose of 0.7 percent takes into account both skin sensitization and allergen accumulation.

For products that you rinse off, such as soap, shower gel or shampoo, longer maximums apply because the oil does not remain on the skin.

Not recommended for use during pregnancy without consultation with an expert. Keep out of reach of children. When in doubt or with sensitive skin, always test on a small area first and wait 24 hours before using it on larger areas.