Citronella oil is pale yellow to yellowish brown in colour. Main uses of the oil are as mosquito/ insect repellent and as air freshner. Citronella oil repels insects such as mosquitoes, black flies, fleas and ticks, therefore, preventing its bites. It is used on humans and their clothing in the form of oil, liquid and patch. Citronella oil is an effective natural, non-toxic alternative to chemical insect repellents. Further, citronella oil possesses activating and warming qualities both physically and mentally. The aroma is quite similar to lemongrass oil. Citronella oil is also used in perfumery industry and is often used as a starting point for perfume materials, as its constituents citronellal and geraniol are important and widely used as perfume building blocks.
