Lemongrass Oil: Evidence, Safety and How It Is Used
What lemongrass oil is, how it differs from citronella oil, what small studies and repellent reviews found, and why skin sensitization is the main safety point.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), assessing lemongrass oil for animal feed, advised treating it as an irritant to skin and eyes and as a skin and respiratory sensitiser. [1] Do not swallow essential oils: Poison Control says some are poisonous if swallowed, and children may be more susceptible. [2] If one has been swallowed, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222; call 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. [2] See also essential oil safety.
What lemongrass oil is
Lemongrass oil is an essential oil from a tall grass of the genus Cymbopogon (family Poaceae). Different studies name different species, so the label matters:- EFSA's lemongrass opinion covers oil from the aerial parts of Cymbopogon flexuosus. [1]
- A Thai antioxidant study used lemongrass oil from Cymbopogon citratus. [3] [4]
- A fragrance-allergy review lists "lemongrass oil" as Cymbopogon schoenanthus, a name GBIF also accepts as its own species. [5] [4]
Citronella oil is a different product. EFSA assessed it separately, from the leaves of Cymbopogon nardus. [6] Because the two names are easy to mix up, check the botanical name on the label. See reading an essential oil label. For the herb and the tea, see lemongrass (herb) and lemongrass tea.
Traditional use
The sources we read for the oil did not describe its traditional uses, so we do not describe them here. Traditional use is not proof of effect in any case.What research shows (by use)
Most trials of aromatherapy are small and short, and smell makes blinding hard. NCCIH, for example, says little rigorous research has been done on aromatherapy for insomnia. [7]| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental anxiety | Inhaling lemongrass aroma during gum treatment lowered blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety scores compared with no aroma; pain and satisfaction did not differ. [8] | Promising but limited | 38 dental patients, Iran; inhaled, no placebo scent |
| Menopausal symptoms | A trial of ginger oil, lemongrass oil or both (20-minute daily sessions for 4 weeks) reported symptom reductions in all three groups. [9] | Insufficient evidence (all groups received an oil; no inert comparison described) | 355 women, Indonesia; aromatherapy |
| Dandruff | A split-head trial with a hair tonic containing 5, 10 or 15% lemongrass oil twice a day reported less dandruff at days 7 and 14. [10] | Promising but limited | 30 volunteers, Thailand; a leave-on scalp product (not advice) |
| Mosquito repellency | See below. | Mixed | Mostly laboratory and forearm tests |
Mosquito repellent claims. Reviews list Cymbopogon oils among the most-cited plant repellents, but say the test methods vary so much that results are hard to compare, and the results had not been tested in field conditions. [11] A systematic review of 62 trials on Anopheles mosquitoes reported good repellency for several plant oils including lemongrass, citronella and others. [12] Another review found plant oils tend to wear off quickly because they evaporate from skin, and that robust safety data are lacking. [13] The US Environmental Protection Agency lists oil of citronella among ingredients in registered repellents, noting it is also used in unregistered products that meet exemption rules. [14] We found no registered-product statement for lemongrass oil on that page. For protection against mosquito-borne illness, ask a pharmacist or local health department about EPA-registered repellents. More in essential oils for mosquitoes, bugs and lice.
Proper evidence not found for lemongrass oil treating infection, pain, blood sugar, weight or cholesterol in people. We searched PubMed on 2026-10-23 for Cymbopogon essential oil limited to clinical trials; it returned 8 records, which included animal studies. [15] Laboratory findings in a dish are not evidence of effect in people.
Safety: who should be careful
- Skin allergy and irritation. A review of fragrance allergy lists lemongrass oil among frequently sensitizing fragrance materials. [5] EFSA's citronella opinion also advises treating that oil as a skin irritant and dermal sensitiser. [6] Diluting potent oils in a carrier oil, avoiding damaged skin and washing off the oil if a rash appears are Poison Control's points. [2] See skin reactions and sensitization.
- Breathing. EFSA flags respiratory sensitisation for lemongrass oil. [1] People with asthma or breathing problems should ask a clinician before diffusing it.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies and children. The sources we read did not address lemongrass oil here. Ask a clinician; see pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Medicines. Poison Control says essential oils may interact with medications. [2] Specific interactions for lemongrass oil were not found in the sources we read. Ask a pharmacist; see medication interactions.
- Pets. Not described in the sources we read for this oil; see essential oils and pets.
- Swallowing. Never. Aspirating an essential oil can cause pneumonia. [2]
Quality
Poison Control notes it can be hard to know the species, concentration or contaminants in an essential oil. [2] The same name can cover more than one plant, as above. See quality testing.Frequently asked questions
Is lemongrass oil the same as citronella oil?
No. EFSA assessed them separately: lemongrass oil from Cymbopogon flexuosus and citronella oil from Cymbopogon nardus. [1] [6]
Does lemongrass oil repel mosquitoes?
Results are mixed. Laboratory and arm tests suggest plant oils repel mosquitoes for a limited time, but methods vary and field testing is lacking. [11] [13]
Can lemongrass oil cause a rash?
Yes. It is listed among frequently sensitizing fragrance materials, and EFSA advises treating it as a skin irritant. [5] [1]
Does smelling lemongrass oil reduce anxiety?
One small trial in 38 dental patients reported lower anxiety scores, which is promising but limited. [8]
Can I drink lemongrass oil or put it in water?
No. Poison Control warns that some essential oils are poisonous if swallowed. [2] Lemongrass tea is a different product; see lemongrass tea.
References
- EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed. Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the aerial parts of Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass oil). EFSA Journal, 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Read 2026-10-23.
- Leelapornpisid P, et al. Potential of native Thai aromatic plant extracts in antiwrinkle body creams. J Cosmet Sci, 2015. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, species match service. Names checked 2026-10-23.
- Geier J, Uter W. Diagnostic workup of fragrance allergy. Hautarzt, 2015 (article in German; English abstract read). Read 2026-10-23.
- EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed. Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the leaves of Cymbopogon nardus (citronella oil). EFSA Journal, 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Aromatherapy. Page last updated January 2020. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effect of lemongrass aroma on anxiety and hemodynamic factors during nonsurgical periodontal treatment. BMC Complement Med Ther, 2025 (38 patients). Read 2026-10-23.
- Ginger and lemongrass essential oil aromatherapy and menopausal symptoms: randomized trial in 355 women. PubMed record 41051148, 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- Chaisripipat W, Lourith N, Kanlayavattanakul M. Anti-dandruff hair tonic containing lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) oil. Forsch Komplementmed, 2015. Read 2026-10-23.
- Rehman JU, Ali A, Khan IA. Plant based products in the development as repellents against mosquitoes: a review. Fitoterapia, 2014. Read 2026-10-23.
- Plant-based repellents against Anopheles mosquitoes: a systematic review. PubMed record 31864359, searches to July 2018. Read 2026-10-23.
- Almeida AR, et al. Challenges encountered by natural repellents: Since obtaining until the final product. Pestic Biochem Physiol, 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Skin-applied repellent ingredients. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Library of Medicine. PubMed search run through NCBI E-utilities on 2026-10-23. Queries are named in the page text; record counts are not a measure of evidence quality.