Note · Aromatic herbs
Citronella
Cymbopogon nardus
Distilled, citronella leaves give a lively, lemony, herbaceous oil, greener and sharper than lemon zest.
What it brings
A green, lemony sparkle that energises the opening.
Origins and uses
Ceylon citronella, Cymbopogon nardus, is a tall perennial grass that forms dense tufts more than a metre high. It is native to tropical eastern and southern Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is one of the sources of citronella essential oil, obtained by distilling its leaves and used both in perfumery and to repel insects. It should not be confused with lemon verbena, nor with culinary lemongrass, a related species.
In perfumery, citronella gives a lively, lemony, herbaceous note, greener and sharper than lemon zest. It is used at the top, to give momentum to citrus, aromatic and fresh woody fragrances.
In our catalogue, citronella opens Drunk Lovers by Born To Stand Out, with bergamot, lemon and grapefruit, before a heart of spiced cognac.
Text written with the help of AI, based on reference sources: encyclopedias, raw-material manufacturers and official information from the fragrance houses.
Material profile
- Family
- Aromatic herbs
- Nature
- Natural material
- Botanical name
- Cymbopogon nardus
- Origin
- A grass grown in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and China.
- How it is obtained
- Steam distillation
- On Volute
- 1 fragrance