History
Citronella originated in tropical Asia. It was registered as an insect repellent by the US EPA in 1948. Now, its essential oil is widely used for its natural insect-repelling properties.Ingredients
Bontanical Name: Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt.
Origin: India
Method of Extraction: Steam distillation
Plant Part:Leaves
Note: Top
Vaporisation: Add 5-10 drops of essential oil into warm water by using diffuser.
Massage: Add 4-5 drops of essential oil into 10ml of carrier oil for facial or body massage or as a home-made body oil after shower. It is very good for muscular and spiritual relaxation.
Bathing: Add 8-10 drops for a full bath. It can stimulates blood circulation and is ideal way to relax.
Inhalation: Add 3-5 drops of essential oil into a bowl of steaming water. Place a towel over the head, close your eyes and inhale deeply. It can help to relieve physical and mental stress, especially headache and respiratory system problems.
Clay mask (Cleansing and Whitening): Add 1-2 drops of essential oils to the mixtures of floral water and clay mask.
Personal skin care product (e.g Shampoo，Bath Gel，Facial cream etc.): Add 4-5drops of essential oils to your own skin care products, create the unique personalised skin care products.
Perfume: Add 4-5 drops of essential oils and 4-10 drops of solubiliser into 10ml water to create your own personalised perfume.
Contra-indication: Avoid during pregnancy, Not suitable for sensitive skin people
Blending Base Measurement:
1% Essential oil in (5/10/30/50/100)mL = (1/2/6/10/20) drops per volume of essential oil respectively
2% Essential oil in (5/10/30/50/100)mL = (2/4/12/20/40) drops per volume of essential oil respectively
2.5% Essential oil in (5/10/30/50/100)mL = (3/5/15/25/30) drops per volume of essential oil respectively
Eye care = 0.5% Face = 1% - 2% Adult full body = 2% - 2.5%
*Remarks: Thin oil can apply onto skin directly. Thick oil is sticky, diluted with thin oil will be better
Proportion: Thick Oil 10-20％Thin Oil 80-90％
Antifungal activity The study shows that the citronella essential oil inhibited the growth of several species of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Eurotium at a dose of 250 mg/L in air. Two constituents of the citronella essential oil, citronellal and linalool completely inhibited the growth of all teste fungal strains with the minimum inhibitory doses of 14 to 15 mg/L. The α- and β- pinenes inhibited some of the growth of the tested fungi. Source: Nakahara, K., Alzoreky, N. S., Yoshihashi, T., Nguyen, H. T., & Trakoontivakorn, G. (2013). Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (citronella grass). Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly: JARQ, 37(4), 249-252. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jarq/37/4/37_249/_pdf Antimicrobial activity The study showed that the citronella essential oil inhibited the growth of all 36 isolates from cultured aquatic animals as well as 7 ATCC bacterial type strains. The Minimum inhibitory concentration value of the essential oil ranged from 0.244 µg/ml to 0.977 µg/ml Source: Wei, L. S., & Wee, W. (2013). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon nardus citronella essential oil against systemic bacteria of aquatic animals. Iranian journal of microbiology, 5(2), 147. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3696851/ Mosquito repellent The experiment was conducted with three controlled bands impregnated with 30% citronella extract, 15% citronella extract and with bands impregnated 30% citronella in field. Percentage repellencies of above three controlled bands were calculated at 86% and 78%, respectively in vitro, and 80% in field, showing high repellent effectiveness against mosquitoes. This estimation was also confirmed by t-test compared between control group and each experimental group. Source: KIM, J. K., KANG, C. S., LEE, J. K., KIM, Y. R., HAN, H. Y., & YUN, H. K. (2005). Evaluation of repellency effect of two natural aroma mosquito repellent compounds, citronella and citronellal. Entomological Research, 35(2), 117-120. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-5967.2005.tb00146.x Reference Nakahara, K., Alzoreky, N. S., Yoshihashi, T., Nguyen, H. T., & Trakoontivakorn, G. (2013). Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (citronella grass). Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly: JARQ, 37(4), 249-252. Wei, L. S., & Wee, W. (2013). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon nardus citronella essential oil against systemic bacteria of aquatic animals. Iranian journal of microbiology, 5(2), 147. KIM, J. K., KANG, C. S., LEE, J. K., KIM, Y. R., HAN, H. Y., & YUN, H. K. (2005). Evaluation of repellency effect of two natural aroma mosquito repellent compounds, citronella and citronellal. Entomological Research, 35(2), 117-120.