Scent Almanac
Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus / C. flexuosus
Loud, grassy lemon with an earthy, slightly hay-like and herbal undertone. More grassy than zesty.
- Made from
- Steam-distilled from the chopped leaves of lemongrass.
- Strength
- ●●●●● a little goes a long way
- Cost
- Budget
- Moods
- EnergizingRefreshingClean
- Seasons
- Summer, Spring
- Rooms
- Kitchen, Bathroom, Laundry
Cautions
- Skin sensitizer — keep low in anything touching skin
- Commonly advised against in pregnancy
High in citral, so it can sensitize skin at high levels — keep it modest in soap and body products. Often advised against in pregnancy.
How it behaves
CandlesGood
Throws well hot and cold for an essential oil; a little goes a long way.
Wax meltsGood
Reed diffuserGreat
Room & linen sprayGreat
Electric (water) diffuserGreat
Cold-process soapGreat
One of the best-sticking EOs in cold process, and it anchors weaker citrus. Can make soap slightly warmer to the touch in a sensitive recipe, so keep it moderate.
Melt-and-pour soapGreat
Laundry & cleaningGreat
Strong and grassy enough to hold in cleaning products and homemade detergent.
Pairs well with
Ginger
Middle · Spicy
Essential oil
Lime
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Basil
Top · Herbal
Essential oil
Lavender
Middle · Floral
Essential oil
Patchouli
Base · Earthy
Essential oil
Virginian Cedarwood
Base · Woody
Essential oil
Coconut
Middle · Gourmand
Fragrance oil
Eucalyptus
Top · Herbal
Essential oil
Green Tea
Top · Green
Fragrance oil
Geranium
Middle · Floral
Essential oil
Don't have it? Try Litsea Cubeba (May Chang), Palmarosa.
In these blends
Kitchen Window
Lemons, fresh ginger and a cutting board — a kitchen that smells cleaned.
Lemon · Ginger · Lemongrass · Virginian Cedarwood · Lime
EnergizingCleanSummerSpring
Spring Clean Citrus
Grapefruit, lime and herbs for scrubbing sinks and freshening drains.
Grapefruit · Lemongrass · Rosemary · Lime · Virginian Cedarwood · Tea Tree
CleanUpliftingSpringSummer
Berry Patch Lemonade
Pink lemonade and a bowl of strawberries at a summer picnic.
Freesia · Strawberry · Lemon · Lemongrass · Vanilla · Sandalwood
UpliftingEnergizingSummer
Green Tea & Lemongrass
A bamboo-screened tea room with a pot of green tea just poured.
Green Tea · Lemongrass · Bamboo · Hinoki · Lime · Ginger
FocusingRefreshingSpringSummer
Coconut Lime Verbena
A tall glass of lime over ice by a pool — creamy coconut, zesty verbena.
Coconut · Lime · Lemongrass · Sandalwood · Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) · Vanilla
RefreshingUpliftingSummer
A little lore
Lemongrass oil was long a commercial source of citral, the raw material chemists used to make ionones for violet perfumes.