The 8 Best Citronella Oils Reviews & Guide 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.

Best Citronella Oil in 2024

Plant Therapy Citronella Organic Essential Oil

Cymbopogon winterianus plant and left unrefined and undiluted. The oil comes in an amber glass bottle with a euro dropper top. (The euro dropper is a plastic insert that allows the bottle to dispense one drop at a time).

Pros:

• 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

Cons:

• None

NOW Essential Oils Citronella Oil

Cymbopogon winterianus. It’s produced by NOW, a family-operated business based in the USA.

NOW has decades of experience making essential oils and health supplements in its state-of-the-art laboratories. Moreover, the business carries a wide variety of certifications including Non-GMO Project Verified, Leaping Bunny Certified Cruelty-Free, Kosher, etc.

At this price, there’s no reason to hesitate. While you’re at it, remember that the citrusy musk of citronella blends well with lemon, lavender, and cedarwood. Happily, NOW sells all of those essential oils, too.

Pros:

• 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

Cons:

• None

Edens Garden Citronella Essential Oil

essential oil brands in the reviews today, it’s not a multilevel marketing company. This family-operated business sells directly to the public. It also employs certified aromatherapists to answer questions.

The oil is packaged in amber-colored glass to keep it fresh. (You probably already know to keep it in a cool, dark place so that sunlight and heat don’t spoil it).

Pros:

• 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

Cons:

• None

Citronella Essential Oil Roll-On by UpNature

coconut oil but it has a higher concentration of medium-chain triglycerides. Its molecular structure absorbs more quickly into the skin, delivering the citronella ASAP. That’s good news if you’re using citronella to balance the complexion or soothe bug bites.

The citronella is Cymbopogon winterianus, harvested from GMO-free sources around the world and bottled in California. Here it’s packaged in a roll-on that comes with a full money-back guarantee.

Pros:

• 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

Cons:

• Not ideal for diffusing as the roll-on doesn’t dispense drops and it’s pre-diluted with a carrier

Healing Solutions Citronella Essential Oil

Pros:

• 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

Cons:

• None

SVA Organics Citronella Essential Oil

Cymbopogon winterianus is good for hair care, too. It might be all you need to jumpstart hair growth and heal a dry scalp. Add citronella to your moisturizer to help your skin become more elastic and to reduce oiliness.

This therapeutic grade citronella oil is made from certified organic plants grown in India. It’s steam-distilled and undergoes GC/MS analysis before bottling. Plus, it’s packaged with an actual eye dropper not a euro cap. It comes with a satisfaction guarantee.

Pros:

• Certified organic Cymbopogon winterianus
• GC/MS tested for purity
• Comes with an eyedropper and a satisfaction guarantee

Cons:

• None

Rocky Mountain Oils Citronella Essential Oil

Look at the bottom of the bottle to find the batch number of the citronella oil. Then visit the Rocky Mountain Oils website to see the GC/MS test performed on that batch. The analysis is done by an independent laboratory.

The citronella is Cymbopogon winterianus with a lemony aroma. It’s excellent for cleansing oily skin and avoiding mosquito bites. The oil is packaged in dark-colored glass with a Euro dropper.

Pros:

• Steam-distilled Cymbopogon winterianus for skincare and diffusing
• GC/MS tested by an independent laboratory, results available to customers
• Packaged with a Euro dropper

Cons:

• None

Citronella Essential Oil by Nature’s Oil

Pros:

• USDA-certified organic by Oregon Tilth
• Produced by a brand that supplies other essential oil companies
• GC/MS test results available upon request

Cons:

• None

Conclusion

We hope our reviews helped you find the best citronella essential oil for your plans today. Be sure to let us know if you’re happy with it in the comments below. We also love to hear your ideas for future articles reviewing the best essential oils and other natural products.

Sources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21481108/ Kongkaew C, Sakunrag I, Chaiyakunapruk N, Tawatsin A. Effectiveness of citronella preparations in preventing mosquito bites: systematic review of controlled laboratory experimental studies. Trop Med Int Health. 2011 Jul;16(7):802-10. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02781.x. Epub 2011 Apr 11. PMID: 21481108.

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8893526/ Pattnaik S, Subramanyam VR, Kole C. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro. Microbios. 1996;86(349):237-46. PMID: 8893526.