Cymbopogon nardus oil (inci)

Cymbopogon nardus oil is the essential oil of Cymbopogon nardus, the citronella grass (also known as citronella or citronella), a plant from the genus lemongrass in the sweet grass family, obtained by steam distillation from the fresh or dried stems, flowers and leaves.

Citronella is a perennial plant up to 2 m high, with robust stalks (grasses) that give off an aromatic lemon-like scent. To produce citronella oil, the reed-like leaves are distilled using steam.

The main components are monoterpenes such as geraniol (up to 18%), geranyl acetate, citronellol (concentrations in various oils vary from 8.5% to 50%), borneol (6.5%), citral, camphene, limonene.

The oil, which smells intensely of lemon, is used in cosmetic products as a skin care product for acne and wrinkles and as a fragrance.