18 Benefits Of Citronella Oil For Skin, Hair, & Health
Make the most of this healthy citrus oil that makes you not only look good but also feel good.
Tracy is a fully qualified nutritional therapist with 10 years of experience specializing in gut and immune health. She is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner from the Institute of Functional Medicine.
Read full bio of Tracy Tredoux
tanya choudharyB.Desgn, ISSA Certified Specialist In Fitness & Nutrition 
Experience: 2 yearsTanya is an ISSA certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition. She specializes in writing articles on ingredients that benefit skin, hair, and health. She believes in the right health and lifestyle practices and strives to promote the same to everyone around her.
Read full bio of Tanya Choudhary
Experience: 10 yearsRavi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.
Read full bio of Ravi Teja Tadimalla
Experience: 2 yearsHimanshi Mahajan is a Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach with a Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences from Guru Nanak Dev University. With two years of experience crafting SEO-based, research-backed content, she specializes in fitness, health, and diet, alongside lifestyle topics.
Read full bio of Himanshi Mahajan
Image: Shutterstock
The benefits of citronella oil for health are wide-ranging. It is a popular essential oil extracted from Cymbopogon nardus, a type of grass closely related to lemongrass. This plant with red base stems is known to grow up to 2m tall. The oil, taken out from the tall, thin leaves of Cymbopogon through steam distillation, has a sweet and refreshing aroma with thin consistency. Commonly used in candles, soaps, and insect repellents, it is one of the most popular oils in aromatherapy with a wide range of health, skin, and hair benefits.
Find below several advantages of using citronella essential oil:
In This Article
Benefits of Citronella Oil for Health
Citronella oil has many uses, including massage therapy, promoting wellness, stress relief, relaxation, boosting immunity, improving digestion, and supporting respiratory health. Here are some of the important benefits:
1. Citronella can help manage gastrointestinal problems caused by the Myrothecium fungus. It also fights against Aspergillus, Chaetomium Pencillium, and Trichoderma spp. fungi. (1).
2. It is a natural detoxifier that helps our body get rid of harmful toxic materials and sometimes, prevents them from being active in our body. The oil is diaphoretic by nature (2), which increases sweating in our body and facilitates the detoxification by eliminating additional fat, oil, salt, uric acid, etc.
3. Due to its detoxifying property, it can also be used for healing orthopaedici The area of medicine dealing with issues related to muscles, joints, and the skeletal system. problems like osteoarthritisi A form of arthritis that develops as the cartilage cushioning the bones and joints wears down. , rheumatoid arthritisi A condition that causes persistent inflammation and affects several joints, especially the hands and feet. , etc (3).
4. It works as a natural diuretic. Regular use of citronella oil can promote the production of urine, which ultimately accelerates detoxification. It keeps our renal system, as well as the entire body, healthy (4).
5. The essential oil is extremely helpful in curing problems related to fluid retention. It maintains the water balance in our body and helps reduce spasms or cramping of stomach muscles (5). Its spasmodici Muscle contractions that are unintentional, usually painless, but occasionally unpleasant. nature and warming effects help ease abdominal cramps.
6. It is a great pain reliever. Be it muscle pain or joint pain, the application of only 3 drops of citronella oil on the painful region can do magic! However, it must be mixed with a carrier oil prior to massaging (6).
7. Citronella oil has great anti-inflammatory properties (7). It offers calming and soothing effects for internal inflammation (in digestive tract, stomach, intestines, etc.) caused by certain drugs, alcohols, etc. The best thing about the oil is that it works very fast and gives complete relief from pain.
8. Like all other essential oils, citronella also has strong antiseptic, antimicrobial and antifungal properties (8). It reduces the chances of developing infections in various internal as well as external injuries and heals the wounds faster.
9. The oil is also an effective antidepressant. It helps people get rid of gloominess and mental fatigue. It also works as a great mood elevator (9).
10. Citronella oil has a lemony aroma, which is very efficient in driving body odor away. Just a few drops of the oil can be mixed with bath water to get a refreshing body fragrance (10).
11. Anecdotal evidence suggests that citronella oil may help alleviate anxiety and stress through aromatherapy. However, limited data is available in this regard.
Key Takeaways
- Citronella oil is an adaptable, natural oil that can provide a variety of health and beauty advantages, from enhancing skin health and
- Lowering stress to boosting hair development.
- Citronella oil can elevate mood and lessen tension and anxiety when used in aromatherapy.
- Always use pure, unadulterated citronella oil because some lower-quality oils could include dangerous ingredients.
- Before applying citronella oil to broad skin regions, it is crucial to dilute it and do a patch test to check for skin sensitivity.
Benefits of Citronella Oil for Skin
12. Being an awesome detoxifier, citronella oil keeps our internal system clean and pure, which reflects on our skin. By using this oil, you can get healthy and glowing skin.
13. Its antibacterial properties are helpful in reducing skin infections like acne, wartsi Contagious, tiny, painless, fleshy lumps on the skin or mucous membrane caused by the human papillomavirus. , boils, etc. The antiseptic nature of the oil also prevents the wounds and injuries from getting septic (11).
14. Application of citronella oil on skin can aid our complexion to a great extent. It improves the skin tone by making it smoother and also tightens up the skin pores effectively. Due to various skin benefits, citronella oil is used in a number of skincare products including sunscreen lotions, acne removal creams, oil control creams, etc.
15. This essential oil is also a good insect repellent. It can be applied on the skin to avoid insect bites, which eventually prevents allergies (12).
Benefits of Citronella Oil for Hair
16. The best use of citronella oil for hair is controlling oil on the scalp. It can be availed as spray and is very effective in eliminating excessive greasiness of hair.
17. Apart from conditioning oily scalp and hair, it soothes and softens them too.
18. Citronella oil can be mixed with shampoo to add volume to the tresses (13). It also helps deal with frizzy hair by detangling the hair strands properly.
Clearly using citronella oil may help improve your health, skin, and hair. But, how should you use it? Find out in the section below.
How To Use Citronella Oil
You can use citronella in many ways. Here are a few suggestions.
As a massage oil
- You may add it to other oils and apply it to the affected area.
- Add 15 drops of citronella oil to an ounce of coconut or jojoba oil. If you have sensitive skin, reduce the amount of citronella to 6 drops.
As a cream or lotion
- You may add the oil to creams or lotions for topical applications.
- Add 10 drops of citronella oil to an ounce of unscented cream or lotion and mix well. If you have sensitive skin, reduce the amount to 2 to 6 drops per ounce.
Elise, a vlogger, shares how he uses homemade citronella oil. He says, “When mixed together, it is ready to be applied to my skin. It can repel insects, and it is an antifungal agent, so if you have any fungus anywhere, like on your feet, you can apply it there. It lifts your mood and helps fight fatigue (i).”
While citronella oil has a variety of uses, safety measures must be taken to minimize risks and ensure appropriate use. Scroll down to learn more.
Safety Precautions To Follow When Using Citronella Oil
While citronella oil has many advantages, it is vital to use it safely. Before using it topically, it is strongly advised to conduct a patch test because some people may develop allergic reactions or skin irritation. This precaution is a responsible step in ensuring your safety. Small children and pregnant or nursing women should speak with a healthcare professional before using citronella oil. In addition, keep it away from the eyes. If you experience any adverse reactions, discontinue use immediately and seek medical advice. Always follow the dose recommendations and usage instructions to ensure safe and effective use.
Infographic: 5 Must-Know Benefits Of Citronella Oil
Citronella oil is extracted from the aromatic leaves of the citronella plant. This essential oil is a natural insect repellent that keeps mosquitoes at bay without the need for harsh chemicals. However, its advantages do not stop there. The following infographic focuses on the top health and skin benefits of citronella oil. Check it out!
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
We hope you found the above discussion on citronella oil for health helpful and are glad to know about its endless benefits. From treating appetite loss to detoxifying your body, reducing the chances of infection development in both internal and external injuries, conditioning oily hair, and taming frizzy hair, citronella offers a lot. So without any further delay, get your hands on this amazing oil, make a list of issues that you can use it for, and get ready to be surprised by the amazing results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Citronella harmful to humans?
While it’s safe to apply to skin when diluted, citronella could prove harmful when inhaled or ingested.
Can citronella oil be used for cooking?
No, citronella oil is not meant for cooking.
Is citronella oil the same as lemongrass oil?
No, they are both different oils that come from closely related plants that look similar. While there are various citronella oil and lemongrass essential oil benefits in aromatherapy, they differ in their intrinsic properties and usage.
Illustration: Amazing Benefits & Uses Of Citronella Oil For Skin, Hair and Health
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team
Discover the amazing benefits of Citronella essential oil. Click on this video to learn how this wonderful oil can help you improve your health and well-being while smelling refreshing.
Personal Experience: Source
StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Homemade Citronella Oil from my backyard garden.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdxyjBR4jPA
Read full bio of Tracy Tredoux
Read full bio of Tanya Choudhary
Read full bio of Ravi Teja Tadimalla
Read full bio of Himanshi Mahajan
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our empowering community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with other beauty, lifestyle, and health enthusiasts.