Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus)

Aroma
Citronella essential oil has a powerfully sweet and lemony aroma, with a herbaceous undertone.
The plant
Citronella is a grass that grows to about 3 feet tall and has long flowering leaves. It is grown mainly in Sri Lanka and Java, and also found in Central America and South America.
The extraction
The citronella grass is dried first and then steam distilled. The drying stage is important because it gives the essential oil the more favourable aroma.
Affects
Citronella essential oil is commonly used as an insect repellent. It is also antibacterial and deodorising, as well as being an affective flea spray for animals and used as a moth deterrent for clothes.