The 8 Best Citronella Oils Reviews & Guide for 2024

If you’re shopping for the best citronella oil, you’re in the right place. Perhaps you want to make an essential oil mosquito repellent diffuser. Or maybe you want to see if citronella oil is good for treating a fungal infection or lifting a bad mood. In any case, let’s talk about how to use citronella essential oil.

How to use citronella oil as mosquito repellent

Is citronella oil effective against mosquitoes? Yes, studies have repeatedly shown that citronella repels the kind of mosquitoes that spread Zika, malaria, and dengue fever (1). It works even better if the citronella is mixed with vanillin. However, the citronella oil needs to be reapplied or renewed every 2 to 3 hours to maintain protection.

What repels mosquitoes better than citronella? DEET does – it’s more effective and defends against biting insects for hours longer than citronella without needing to be reapplied. It’s also proven to be safe for use on the skin even for children.

But you can’t diffuse DEET like you can citronella. Bring your diffuser with you the next time you picnic outside and add a few drops of citronella to the reservoir. This oil also blends well with other mosquito-repelling favorites like rosemary, lavender, cedarwood, and tea tree oil.

Moreover, diffusing essential oils like citronella, bergamot, and lemon can uplift your mood and help you feel more energetic.

However, be careful about diffusing essential oils if you have pets or small children. What may seem fragrant to you might be overwhelming for them.

You can also create DIY mosquito repellent candles with citronella oil. But one of the easiest options is to simply put citronella on exposed skin.

How to use citronella on the skin

Like any essential oil, you need to dilute citronella before putting it on the skin. Diluting it with a carrier like fractionated coconut, grapeseed, or sweet almond oil doesn’t weaken its ability to repel biting insects. Instead, it simply protects your skin from allergic reactions caused by highly concentrated essential oils.

For every teaspoon of carrier oil, add two to five drops of citronella. Use only two if you have sensitive skin. Five drops are pushing the limit and should only be used short-term over a small portion of the body if you tend to attract mosquitoes. (Some blood types are apparently tastier than others).

If you’re treating a fungal infection like athlete’s foot, follow the same dilution rule. Apply it morning and night and try to keep the skin dry throughout the day. Keep in mind that it may take weeks to resolve (2).

For safety’s sake, it’s a great idea to do a patch test. Apply pre-diluted citronella to a small spot and wait 24 to 48 hours to see if your skin reacts badly. At any time if you experience a rash, redness and itching, or hives, wash the skin and seek medical care. Please get urgent medical care if you have an anaphylactic reaction with shortness of breath, a racing heart, etc.

Which is the best citronella oil?

Remember to check the fine print on the label. The scientific name of true citronella is Cymbopogon nardus, the Ceylon type from Sri Lanka, or Cymbopogon winterianus, the Java type from Indonesia.

Sometimes citronella is confused with tiger grass, which is Cymbopogon citratus. Hence the need to read the label.

You can learn more about choosing the best brand of citronella oil and more in the reviews below.

The best citronella oils	Why we love them
Plant Therapy Citronella Organic Essential Oil	USDA-certified organic Cymbopogon winterianus Steam-distilled, unrefined, undiluted Packaged in protective dark class with a euro dropper Brand uses third-party labs to perform batch-specific GS/MS and organoleptic tests Sold directly to the public Certified aromatherapists available to answer questions
NOW Essential Oils Organic Citronella Oil	Steam-distilled Cymbopogon winterianus available in 1-ounce and 4-ounce bottles Produced in the USA, certified non-GMO Bottled in amber glass with a euro dropper top
Edens Garden Citronella Essential Oil	GC/MS tested by a third-party laboratory Batch specific reports available to the public Produced by a woman-owned, family-operated business in the USA Packaged in protective dark glass
Citronella Essential Oil Roll-On by UpNature	Pre-diluted roll-on ready to use on the skin Cymbopogon winterianus blended with MCT oil (similar to coconut oil) Comes with a money-back guarantee
Healing Solutions Citronella Essential Oil	GC/MS test results available for free to the public Steam-distilled oil is sourced worldwide and bottled in the USA Comes with a quality guarantee
SVA Organics Citronella Essential Oil	Certified organic Cymbopogon winterianus GC/MS tested for purity Comes with an eyedropper and a satisfaction guarantee
Rocky Mountain Oils Citronella Essential Oil	Steam-distilled Cymbopogon winterianus for skincare and diffusing GC/MS tested by an independent laboratory, results available to customers Packaged with a Euro dropper
Citronella Essential Oil by Nature’s Oil	USDA-certified organic by Oregon Tilth Produced by a brand that supplies other essential oil companies GC/MS test results available upon request