Citronella oil: A Guide to Incorporating it into Your Daily Routines

In French, the word citronella means lemon balm as it has a fresh scent similar to lemon scent. However, citronella is often mistakenly regarded as lemongrass as it shares a similar appearance and extraction method. Citronella has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to ease body pain, and skin infection, and also bugs repellent. Citronella essential oil is obtained through steam distillation of the leaves and stems of citronella grass.

There are two types of citronella oil which are citronella java oil and citronella Ceylon oil. The two varieties are quite similar but it has a slightly different scent. The java oil has a stronger and fresher lemony aroma while the other has a woody aroma. The benefits of citronella essential oil are tremendous as you can use it in various methods. Here are some ways you can use the essential oil in your daily routines.

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Citronella as an insect repellent

Citronella is popular for its insect-repellent ability. It is more effective to protect the skin from bugs bite than synthetic repellent. There are some methods to use citronella as an insect repellent such as lotion, spray, and also lotion. You can add drops of citronella oil into daily skincare and lotion and then apply it on the skin. You can also dilute it into the water and spray it into the skin.

Though citronella is effective to repel mosquitoes and bugs, it has to be reapplied after 20-30 minutes.

Citronella as aromatherapy

Citronella has been used in aromatherapy for a long time due to its fresh and lemon scent. The natural compound, geraniol in citronella helps fight against free radicals. You can add drops of citronella oil into a carrier oil such as avocado or coconut oil and use it for massage.

Citronella for skincare

Citronella also works great for skincare and hair care. The essential oil has antifungal properties that help fight acne and dandruff. In addition, citronella also helps retain skin moisture, making it the right choice for all skincare. You can simply add drops of the essential oil into daily skincare and use it as always.

Citronella for relaxation

The citrusy scent of citronella can be relaxing and uplifting. According to research, citronella helps reduce anxiety and even reduce the symptom of depression and promote sleeping. You can use citronella oil in a candle or diffuser to spread the scent in your house or room. Inhaling the scent of citronella helps manage your stress and uplift your mood.

Citronella as a pain reliever

Citronella also has anti-inflammatory properties which are associated with pain-relieving benefits. In traditional medicine, citronella oil is used to reduce digestive pain and its related concerns. It is used to reduce the side effects of drugs, alcohol, and even the consumption of spicy food. To relieve pain, you can dilute citronella essential oil in base oil and use it to gently massage the affected area.

Similar to other essential oil, citronella oil should not be used in the pure dose. It has to be diluted in other substances before contact with the skin. Citronella also should not be ingested as it can irritate.