Steam-distilled from the leaves of Cymbopogon, the tropical grass used across Southeast Asian cooking. Powerfully lemony, fresh and green — far sharper and more insistent than a citrus oil, and one of the most recognisable smells in the world.
Its character is citral, which can make up 70 to 85 per cent of the oil. That single figure explains both why it smells so intensely of lemon and why it needs more care on skin than almost anything else here.
Citral is a significant skin sensitiser
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Keep dermal use well below one per cent — around 4 drops in 30 ml of carrier oil. This is a much lower limit than most oils, and it is not a formality: lemongrass is one of the more frequent causes of allergic contact dermatitis in aromatherapy.
- Never neat, and never in a bath.
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Patch test at your intended dilution and wait 24 hours — and repeat it after a break. Sensitisation is cumulative and the reaction that matters is the one you have not had yet.
- Not on broken, sensitive or already irritated skin.
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Glaucoma: citral-rich oils are on the standard caution list, on the basis of animal data suggesting an effect on intraocular pressure. If you have glaucoma, ask your ophthalmologist before using it on skin.
- Not for young children. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding unless a health professional advises otherwise. Not around pets — cats especially.
What an essential oil may and may not claim
Lemongrass is commonly described as "a wonderful mood-booster", said to "soothe tired, aching muscles, encourage circulation and bring gentle warmth to a sluggish digestion", and called "a firm favourite for keeping little annoyances at bay when you are spending time outdoors". None of that appears here.
Claims about mood, muscles, circulation and digestion are health claims, and none is authorised in the EU for any essential oil. And the last one — the delicately worded suggestion that it repels insects — is a biocidal claim under Regulation (EU) 528/2012, which requires an approved active substance and a product authorisation. An essential oil cannot carry it, phrased plainly or phrased coyly. If you want protection from mosquitoes, buy a registered repellent that names PMD, DEET or icaridin.
What it is genuinely good for
Scent, and household use, where its strength is an advantage. It is one of the best-value smells there is — a small bottle will scent a house for a long time — and it is excellent in a cleaning spray, in a bin, or in a summer diffuser blend with lime, ginger, cedarwood or basil.
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Diffusion: one or two drops. It dominates; use less than you think. Ventilated room, short sessions.
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Household: a few drops in a vinegar-and-water spray. Keep it off unsealed wood and painted surfaces.
Safety — the essentials
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Never swallow essential oils without the direct supervision of a qualified health professional. A stalk of lemongrass in a curry and a bottle of distilled oil are separated by a factor of hundreds.
- Keep out of reach of children, in the original bottle with the child-resistant cap.
- In eyes: flush with plain vegetable oil rather than water.
- Accident or swallowing: in Portugal call CIAV on 800 250 250 — free, 24 hours. In an emergency, 112.
Storage: cool, dark, tightly closed, upright — oxidised citral-rich oil is markedly more sensitising than fresh.
Propos'Nature
Propos'Nature
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