Citronella is a derivative of the plant and is extracted from Cymbopogon Nardus plant belonging to Graminae family. The oil has a sweet and lemony smell. The essential is used for treating various skin ailments and also as an insect repellent.

The plant is native to Srilanka and Java and is extracted by steam distillation of chopped citronella in fresh, dried or part-dried form.

Chemical Composition
The oil contains natural chemical components including citronellic acid, borneol, citronellol, geraniol, nerol, citral, citronellal, camphene, dipentene and limonene.

Kinds of Citronella Oil

• Cympobogon Nardus : this essential oil is exclusively produced in Srilanka and widely used in the fragrance industry and also in soaps and detergents.
• Cympobogon Winteranus : this essential oil is exclusively produced in Java.

The above two kinds of citronella oil dominate the world trade market. The oils are of high quality and used in a number of products including household cleaning products.

World Trade in Citronella Oil
Indonesia, China, Sri Lanka, India, USA, Taiwan, Guatemala are the main citronella oil producing countries. Indonesia is the prime producer and main exporter of citronella essential oil. The exports have declined in the past few years owing to high domestic consumption. China is another major exporter of this essential oil. Brazil and India are another important citronella oil producing countries. Japan, USA, France, Netherlands and UK are the chief importing markets.

Use of Citronella Oil
The oil has a number of uses including:

• Agriculture: Citronella essential oil is used as an insect repellent in a spray form.
• Pharmaceutical: The antiseptic, bactericidal, deodorant, stimulant properties of the oil makes it.
• Useful for various traditional and modern medicinal applications.
• Veterinary use: The oil is also valuable in veterinary as it get the pets free of fleas.
• Aromatherapy: The oil is also used in combination with other essential oils in aromatherapy for mind relaxation.
• Perfumery: The oil is also used in perfumery because of its lemon like fragrance.
• Personal Hygiene Products: The oil is used in manufacturing of soaps and detergents.