Essential Nose Lemon Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus citriodora
Lemon Eucalyptus stands apart from every other eucalyptus species by being dominated by citronellal rather than 1,8-cineole, giving it a bright, lemon-like aroma and a therapeutic profile centred on insect repellency rather than respiratory support. Citronellal is the precursor to p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), the active insect-repellent compound derived from this oil; research confirms PMD synthesised from E. citriodora is an effective bio-sourced alternative to DEET with a more favourable toxicological profile.[1] A field study demonstrated repellency of 85% against Ixodes ricinus ticks on the first day of testing, supporting its use as a plant-derived repellent.[2]
- Also Known As
- Citron-scented Gum, Lemon-scented Gum, Spotted Gum
- Family
- Herbal
- Perfumery Note
- Top
- Intensity
- Strong
- Extraction
- Steam Distillation
- Plant Parts
- Leaves
- Origins
- Australia, Brazil, China, South Africa
- Effect
- Refreshing, Insect-repelling, Clearing
- Aroma
- Citrusy, Fresh, Lemony, Clean
- Applications
- Aromatherapy, Inhalation, Medicinal, Cleaning
- Price
- $$$$Corymbia citriodora is cultivated mainly in Australia and Brazil; moderate yield but a more specialised market means smaller production runs and a modest price premium over standard eucalyptus
References
- [1]Comparison of the cytotoxicity and zebrafish embryo toxicity of insect repellent ingredients: p-Menthane-3,8-diol synthesized by green chemistry from Eucalyptus citriodora and N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide — Özokan G et al. Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2024
- [2]Repellency of oils of lemon eucalyptus, geranium, and lavender and the mosquito repellent MyggA natural to Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the laboratory and field — Jaenson TGT et al. Journal of Medical Entomology, 2006