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Lemongrass Essential Oil
ORY® product lines:
☑ Skincare (low-level; body and foot)
☑ Haircare (scalp)
☑ Handmade Soap (excellent scent retention)
◐ Cosmetics (limited: strict citral limits) — dual-use ingredient with strict dermal limits
Lemongrass essential oil is steam-distilled from the grass Cymbopogon flexuosus or C. citratus and is dominated (70–85%) by citral, the lemon-scented aldehyde pair geranial and neral. Citral is a potent antimicrobial and antifungal — lemongrass oil showed strong anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity in animal and laboratory studies [1, 2] — and lemongrass is a traditional insect repellent and deodorizer. That same citral is a well-documented skin sensitizer with strict IFRA limits, so lemongrass belongs in rinse-off, body, scalp, and soap products at low leave-on dilutions rather than facial skincare [3, 4]. It is one of the best-performing scents in cold-process soap, where its bright note survives saponification.
What is Lemongrass Essential Oil made of?
Lemongrass oil is steam-distilled from fresh or partly dried leaves (yield ~0.3–0.5%). Composition [1, 4]:
- Citral — geranial (35–50%) + neral (25–35%): Antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory; strong sensitizer above limits.
- Geraniol (3–8%), limonene (2–5%), myrcene (up to 15% in West Indian): Supporting terpenes; labeled allergens.
- Citronellal, linalool (traces): Minor.
- Dermal maximum: ~0.7% leave-on (Tisserand, citral-based; IFRA citral restrictions); rinse-off up to ~2%; soap 2–3% [4].
What skin type is best suited for Lemongrass Essential Oil?
Lemongrass is a body, foot, and rinse-off oil, not a facial one:
- Oily: Purifying body washes and deodorant products (rinse-off ≤2%).
- Acne-prone: Antimicrobial in body/back washes; avoid facial leave-on.
- Normal: Foot products, deodorants, body washes.
- Combination: Body use only.
- Dry: Foot creams at ≤0.5%.
- Mature: Body products; not facial.
- Sensitive: Avoid leave-on; citral sensitization risk.
What hair type is best suited for Lemongrass Essential Oil?
Lemongrass purifies oily, flaky scalps:
- Oily scalp: Antifungal citral supports dandruff control; 0.5–1% in shampoo (rinse-off).
- Dandruff-prone scalp: Antimicrobial support in shampoos and pre-shampoo scalp oils.
- Dry or damaged: Aromatic addition to hair oils (lengths and ends).
- Straight, wavy, curly, coily: Fragrance and scalp-comfort addition at low levels for all textures.
- Color-treated: Low-level use; avoid the first 48 hours after coloring.
- Sensitive scalp: Use at the lowest end of the range; patch test.
- Mature or thinning: Scalp-massage oils (with rosemary and lavender) for a healthy scalp environment.
What are the benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil?
Lemongrass essential oil’s benefits are supported by pharmacological studies [1, 2]:
- Antifungal: Citral is strongly active against Malassezia, Candida, and dermatophytes [1].
- Antibacterial: Inhibits skin and odor-causing bacteria [2].
- Anti-inflammatory: Reduced inflammation in animal models [1].
- Deodorizing: Body and foot odor control.
- Insect repellent: Citral and geraniol repel mosquitoes.
- Dandruff support: Antifungal scalp shampoos.
- Soap performance: Bright, lasting scent; mild acceleration; pairs with lavender, tea tree, peppermint, ginger.
- Uplifting aroma: Fresh citrus-grass note.
Dual use across ORY® product lines
Lemongrass serves body/foot skincare, scalp haircare, and soap; cosmetics use is limited by citral restrictions.
Pros and cons of Lemongrass Essential Oil
Pros
Cons
- Potent antifungal/antimicrobial: [1, 2].
- Superb soap scent retention: Unlike most citrus.
- Deodorant and repellent: Functional body uses.
- Affordable: High-yield grass.
- Dandruff support: Scalp use.
- Citral sensitization: Strict leave-on limit (~0.7%) [3, 4].
- Not facial: Irritating to facial skin.
- Limited cosmetics use: Citral restrictions.
- Pets: Toxic to cats and dogs.
- Oxidation: Citral degrades; keep fresh.
What is the best application of Lemongrass Essential Oil?
Lemongrass is diluted into rinse-off, body, scalp, and soap products:
- Body wash: 1–2%.
- Foot soak or cream: 0.5% with tea tree.
- Natural deodorant: 0.5% with coconut oil and arrowroot.
- Repellent body spray: 0.5% (solubilized) with citronella.
- Dandruff shampoo: 0.5–1%.
- Soap: 2–3% of oils.
Peer-reviewed references
- Boukhatem MN, Ferhat MA, Kameli A, Saidi F, Kebir HT. Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil as a potent anti-inflammatory and antifungal drugs. Libyan Journal of Medicine. 2014;9:25431.
- Shah G, Shri R, Panchal V, Sharma N, Singh B, Mann AS. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, Stapf (lemon grass). Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research. 2011;2(1):3–8.
- Uter W, Geier J, Frosch P, Schnuch A. Contact allergy to fragrances: current patch test results (2005–2008) from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology. Contact Dermatitis. 2010;63(5):254–261.
- Tisserand R, Young R. Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier; 2014. (Dermal-limit reference.)
Disclaimer:
The information on this page is provided by ORY International, LC for educational purposes only. It summarizes published research about lemongrass essential oil as an ingredient, including laboratory and animal studies and clinical studies of formulas that may differ from ORY® products. Results from these studies may not apply to every person or to ORY® products. This page is not medical advice and does not replace advice from a dermatologist, physician, or other qualified healthcare provider.
ORY® Skincare, Haircare, Handmade Soap, and Cosmetics products are cosmetics. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or condition, including eczema, acne, dandruff, infections, wounds, pain, headache, anxiety, insomnia, hair loss, or any other condition. References to FDA or Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) findings describe the ingredient, not ORY® products, and do not mean FDA has reviewed or approved any ORY® product.
Results vary by skin and scalp type, formulation, and use. Lemongrass oil is rich in citral, a known skin sensitizer, and can irritate facial skin. Any cosmetic can cause irritation, sometimes from other ingredients. Always patch test, follow label directions, and stop use if irritation occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are buying for a child, consult a healthcare provider before use.
ORY International, LC works to keep this page accurate and current but makes no warranty as to its completeness. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ORY International, LC is not liable for any loss or injury arising from reliance on this information or from use of any product contrary to its label directions. To report a reaction, contact us at [insert contact email / phone].
