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Quick answer: lemongrass essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of Cymbopogon grasses, mainly East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). Its bright, lemony scent comes from citral, which usually makes up most of the oil. Citral is a recognized skin sensitizer, so lemongrass is one of the oils that most needs low dilution and fresh stock. Unlike many citrus peel oils, it is not considered phototoxic. Lemongrass is related to, but different from, citronella and palmarosa. Do not swallow it, and keep it away from children and pets.
Lemongrass is one of the most familiar scents in a home oil collection. It smells sharp, fresh and lemony with a grassy edge, it is inexpensive and it shows up in everything from cleaning sprays to candles. It is also one of the oils people most often misuse, because its friendly kitchen-herb reputation hides a real skin-allergy risk.
This guide covers what lemongrass oil is, how it compares with its close relatives and how to use it without irritating your skin. For dilution and storage rules across all oils, see our essential oils guide.
Sources: Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition (Churchill Livingstone, 2014); EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III fragrance allergens; International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Standards (citral); US Food and Drug Administration, 21 CFR 182.20 (essential oils generally recognized as safe as food flavorings); US EPA minimum risk pesticide active ingredients list under FIFRA section 25(b); Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plants of the World Online; NCCIH, “Aromatherapy” fact sheet. Checked October 2026. General information, not medical advice.
The Plant
Lemongrass is a tall, clumping tropical grass in the genus Cymbopogon, part of the grass family (Poaceae). Two species supply most lemongrass oil:
- East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus). Grown mainly in India and widely used for essential oil production.
- West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). The species most often used fresh in Southeast Asian cooking, grown across the tropics, including in Guatemala, Brazil and parts of Africa and Asia.
Oil is distilled from the leaves, usually after they have been cut and partly dried. Lemongrass grows quickly and can be harvested several times a year, which helps keep the oil affordable.
Lemongrass in the kitchen
Fresh West Indian lemongrass stalks are a staple of Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Indonesian cooking, used in soups, curries, marinades and teas. The US Food and Drug Administration lists lemongrass among the essential oils and extracts that are generally recognized as safe for use as food flavorings (21 CFR 182.20). That listing applies to tiny amounts used by food manufacturers. It does not mean undiluted essential oil is safe to swallow at home.
Citral: What Gives Lemongrass Its Scent
Lemongrass oil’s lemon scent comes mainly from citral, a mixture of two closely related compounds called geranial and neral. Citral usually makes up the majority of lemongrass oil, which is why it smells more intensely lemony than most actual lemons.
East Indian lemongrass is typically very high in citral. West Indian lemongrass contains citral too, along with a noticeable amount of myrcene, which gives it a slightly softer, greener character.
Citral is also the reason lemongrass needs care on skin, as explained below.
Lemongrass and Its Relatives
Several Cymbopogon grasses are distilled for oil. They are easy to confuse, but they are not interchangeable.
| Oil | Botanical name | Main constituents | Scent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemongrass (East Indian) | Cymbopogon flexuosus | Citral (geranial and neral) | Sharp, intensely lemony, grassy | Most common lemongrass oil |
| Lemongrass (West Indian) | Cymbopogon citratus | Citral, myrcene | Lemony, softer, greener | The common culinary lemongrass |
| Citronella (Java type) | Cymbopogon winterianus | Citronellal, geraniol, citronellol | Lemony, sweet, “bug spray” | Common in insect repellent products |
| Citronella (Ceylon type) | Cymbopogon nardus | Geraniol, citronellal, camphene | Woodier, sharper | Lower grade for perfumery |
| Palmarosa | Cymbopogon martinii | Geraniol | Rosy, grassy, soft | Often used to stretch rose and geranium |
Lemongrass and citronella both smell lemony, but their chemistry differs. Lemongrass is dominated by citral; Java citronella is dominated by citronellal, geraniol and citronellol. Palmarosa, despite its grassy origin, smells rosy because of its high geraniol content.
How People Use Lemongrass Oil
Cleaning and home fragrance
Lemongrass is a favorite in homemade cleaning sprays and room fresheners because its scent reads as “clean.” Laboratory studies have found that lemongrass oil and citral have antimicrobial activity in test tubes, but a homemade spray is not a substitute for an EPA-registered disinfectant when you need to kill germs. Use it for fragrance and follow product labels for disinfection. Our guide to essential oils for cleaning explains where oils help and where they do not.
Insect-repellent products
Lemongrass oil and citronella oil both appear on the EPA’s list of active ingredients allowed in minimum risk pesticides under FIFRA section 25(b). Products made with these ingredients can be sold without full EPA registration if they meet the program’s conditions. That status does not guarantee strong or long-lasting protection. Where mosquitoes or ticks may carry disease, use an EPA-registered repellent and follow its directions.
Soap, candles and personal care
Lemongrass is common in soaps, candles, deodorants and body care, where its scent is popular and its cost is low. Manufacturers in regulated markets keep citral below set limits.
Diffuser blends
At home, lemongrass is often diffused in energizing daytime blends. As with all aromatherapy, the NCCIH notes that research on health outcomes is limited and mixed. Use it for the scent rather than for a specific benefit.
Safety: Why Lemongrass Needs Respect
Citral is a skin sensitizer
Citral is a well-documented skin sensitizer, meaning it can trigger an allergic reaction that, once developed, may recur every time your skin meets the compound. For this reason:
- Citral is on the EU list of fragrance allergens that must be named on cosmetic labels above set levels.
- IFRA standards restrict how much citral fragrance products may contain, unless it is used together with compounds that reduce its sensitizing effect.
- In Essential Oil Safety, Tisserand and Young recommend a low maximum skin concentration for lemongrass oil, well below the dilutions often seen in online recipes.
In practical terms, lemongrass is not an oil for strong body blends or “neat” application. Keep skin dilutions low, use it occasionally rather than daily and avoid it on broken or sensitive skin. Our essential oil dilution chart explains how to measure low percentages accurately.
Use fresh oil
Citral oxidizes over time, and old oil can be more irritating. Buy small bottles, keep them tightly closed and cool and replace them regularly.
Not phototoxic, but still irritating
Some citrus peel oils, especially cold-pressed bergamot, lime and bitter orange, can cause phototoxic burns when skin is exposed to sunlight. Lemongrass is distilled from leaves and does not contain the furanocoumarins responsible for that reaction, so it is not considered phototoxic. Our guide to citrus essential oils and sun sensitivity explains which oils are and are not a sunburn risk. Lemongrass can still irritate skin directly, sun or no sun.
Other precautions
- Do not swallow. Food-grade flavoring use involves tiny, controlled amounts. Undiluted essential oil can harm the mouth, throat and stomach.
- Eyes. Lemongrass is very irritating to eyes. Wash hands after handling.
- Children. Keep bottles out of reach and avoid using lemongrass on young children’s skin.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Tisserand and Young advise caution with high-citral oils during pregnancy. Ask a qualified healthcare provider before use.
- Pets. Cats are particularly sensitive to essential oils, and the ASPCA lists lemongrass plants among those that can upset pets’ stomachs. Diffuse briefly and make sure animals can leave the room. Our guide to essential oils and pets has more detail.
- Medication. If you take prescription medication or have a medical condition, ask a healthcare provider before regular use.
If a rash, itching or swelling develops after using lemongrass, stop, wash the area with soap and water and seek medical advice if it is severe or spreading. Our article on essential oil skin reactions explains what to do next.
Safer Ways to Use Lemongrass at Home
The easiest way to enjoy lemongrass is to keep it off your skin.
- Diffuser. Add a few drops to an ultrasonic diffuser for a fresh daytime blend. Run it for short periods in a ventilated room.
- Surface spray scent. Add a small amount to a cleaning spray for fragrance, keeping in mind that oils can damage some finishes and that fragrance is not disinfection.
- Trash can freshener. Put a drop or two on a cotton ball and drop it in the bottom of a bin under the bag.
- Linen closet. Scent a cloth sachet or wooden block rather than applying oil directly to fabric.
- Skin use, if at all, at very low dilution. If you want lemongrass in a body product, use a very small amount in a larger blend and patch test first.
Blending partners
- Citrus: sweet orange, grapefruit, lime (distilled)
- Herbal: basil, rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus
- Floral: lavender, geranium
- Woods: cedarwood, vetiver (to soften and anchor)
- Spice: ginger, black pepper
A drop of lemongrass goes a long way. In blends, it can quickly overwhelm softer oils.
Other Lemon-Scented Oils Compared
Lemongrass is only one of several oils that smell like lemon. They differ in source, chemistry and safety profile, so they are worth telling apart.
| Oil | Source | Main lemony compound | Phototoxic? | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemongrass | Cymbopogon leaves | Citral | No | Strong sensitizer; very low skin dilution |
| May chang (litsea) | Litsea cubeba fruit | Citral | No | Similar sensitization concerns to lemongrass |
| Lemon (cold pressed) | Citrus limon peel | Limonene (citral in small amounts) | Yes | Avoid sun on treated skin; oxidizes quickly |
| Lemon (distilled) | Citrus limon peel | Limonene | Not considered phototoxic | Lighter, less true-to-fruit scent |
| Lemon eucalyptus | Corymbia citriodora leaves | Citronellal | No | The refined repellent ingredient (oil of lemon eucalyptus, or PMD) is a separate, EPA-registered product |
| Lemon balm (melissa) | Melissa officinalis leaves | Citral, citronellal | No | Very low yield; expensive and frequently adulterated |
Two lessons come out of this table. First, “lemon-scented” tells you nothing about safety; citral-rich oils such as lemongrass and may chang need lower skin dilutions than lemon peel oil, while cold-pressed lemon is the one to watch in the sun. Second, the insect-repellent ingredient recommended by public health agencies is a refined, registered product made from lemon eucalyptus, not lemongrass or plain lemon eucalyptus essential oil.
Common Mistakes With Lemongrass
- Following “neat” or high-percentage recipes. Many online blends use lemongrass at levels far above what safety references recommend.
- Daily skin use. Sensitization risk builds with repeated exposure. Occasional use at low dilution is the safer pattern.
- Keeping an old bottle. Oxidized citral is more irritating. Replace lemongrass more often than woody oils.
- Treating it as a disinfectant. Pleasant-smelling sprays are not a substitute for registered disinfectants.
Buying Lemongrass Oil
Lemongrass oil is inexpensive, so outright fakes are less common than with rose or sandalwood. Mislabeling between species and confusion with citronella are more common issues.
Look for:
- Botanical name (Cymbopogon flexuosus or Cymbopogon citratus)
- Country of origin
- Plant part (leaves) and extraction method (steam distillation)
- Batch GC/MS report showing citral content
Storage
Store lemongrass oil in a tightly capped dark glass bottle, away from heat and light. A refrigerator works well for longer storage if you keep the bottle sealed and labeled. Because citral oxidizes, aim to use an opened bottle within a year or two and discard any oil that smells sour, flat or harsh.
Lemongrass at a Glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Botanical names | Cymbopogon flexuosus (East Indian), Cymbopogon citratus (West Indian) |
| Family | Poaceae (grass family) |
| Plant part | Leaves |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Key constituent | Citral (geranial and neral) |
| Scent | Sharp, lemony, grassy |
| Phototoxic? | Not considered phototoxic |
| Main uses | Home fragrance, cleaning sprays, soap, candles |
| Key caution | Strong skin sensitizer; very low dilution, fresh oil |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lemongrass oil the same as citronella oil?
No. Both come from Cymbopogon grasses, but lemongrass is dominated by citral, while citronella is dominated by citronellal, geraniol and citronellol. They smell different and are used differently.
Can I put lemongrass oil on my skin?
Only at a very low dilution and after a patch test. Citral, its main component, is a recognized skin sensitizer, so lemongrass is more likely than many oils to cause allergic reactions.
Does lemongrass essential oil cause sun sensitivity?
It is not considered phototoxic, unlike some cold-pressed citrus peel oils. It can still irritate skin directly.
Can I cook with lemongrass essential oil?
Fresh or dried lemongrass is the better choice for cooking. Food manufacturers use tiny, controlled amounts of flavoring oils; undiluted essential oil should not be swallowed at home.
Does lemongrass oil repel mosquitoes?
Lemongrass oil is listed as a minimum risk pesticide ingredient, but its protection is typically short-lived. Use an EPA-registered repellent where mosquitoes carry disease.
Is lemongrass oil safe around cats and dogs?
Use caution. Cats are particularly sensitive to essential oils. Diffuse only briefly in a ventilated room and make sure pets can leave.
