Our fresh Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil from South Africa has an enlivening yet relaxing aroma that is very fresh, cool, lemony, with rosy-citronella notes and a sweet balsamic, slightly floral drydown; it has a softer, less medicinal aroma than our other Eucalyptus oils. Eucalyptus citriodora (now known as Corymbia citriodora) is part of a group of oils (including Litsea Cubeba, Melissa, Verbena and Citronella) that feature the soft, lemony aldehydes – distinctly different molecules from limonene, the tart, citrus-sourced terpene. Lemon Eucalyptus oil adds these lively, lemony (non-citrus) overtones to natural perfume formulations.

For hundreds of years, the Aborigines of Australia have used the leaves of Eucalyptus for their antiseptic and healing actions. In the mid-1800s, groves of Eucalyptus trees were planted in one of the most swampy and unhealthy districts of Algiers, North Africa – a brilliant botanical strategy – to halt the spread of malaria. The trees required large amounts of water to thrive, thus lowering the water table and eliminating breeding habitat for malaria-carrying mosquitoes as well as repelling these insects with the aroma exhaled from the leaves.

We now know that in addition to a wide range of aromatherapeutic benefits, Lemon Eucalyptus is especially useful to discourage insects due to a tiny percentage of p-menthane-3,8-diol (aka PMD), a molecule that can be synthesized from citronellal. In 2000 the EPA registered PMD as a ‘biopesticide repellant’, i.e., derived from natural materials. An alternative to toxic chemical repellants, PMD acts by masking or confusing the environmental cues that mosquitoes use to locate their target. Aldehydes have another important attribute: that of addressing physical discomfort after sports or physical over-exertion. This is a well-known application to massage therapists and it is no wonder that moderately-priced Lemon Eucalyptus is used with such frequency.

Aromatic Profile: Very fresh, cool, lemony, with rosy-citronella notes and a sweet balsamic, slightly floral drydown; has a softer, less medicinal aroma than our other eucalyptus oils.

Appearance: Colorless to very pale yellow, transparent, mobile liquid.

Blends well with:  Basil, black pepper, cedarwood, clary sage, clove, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, ginger, juniper, lavender, marjoram, orange, peppermint, pine, ravensara, rosemary, sage, tea tree, thyme, vetiver, ylang ylang

Safety Considerations: None known; when tested at 10% on 25 volunteers, it was neither irritating nor sensitizing. May cause skin or mucous membrane irritation if undiluted. Dilute before using. A patch test should be performed before use for those with sensitive skin.