5 Reasons Citronella is Good for More than Mosquitoes

The light citrus aroma of citronella often brings back memories of evenings spent toasting marshmallows around a campfire, summer barbecues, and Saturday afternoon soccer games. Citronella is the primary ingredient known for repelling bugs away in a store-bought insect repellent, but it can be used for so much more. Commercial products have only just begun to tap into its potential with outdoor candles, lotions, and other odds and ends. Using the essential oil, you can make great use of this summertime favorite throughout the entire year.

Are you unsure where to begin when it comes to using a bottle of this bright and fresh citronella essential oil? Here are five ways you can make use of it for more than just mosquitoes.

1. Combat Depression and Anxiety

Have you been feeling down in the dumps lately? Citronella oil’s bright scent can often act as a home remedy to lift you up when you’re feeling low. Aromatherapy can be a powerful way to harness the energy found in citronella essential oil. You can add a few drops to your favorite diffuser and enjoy the final result. Alternatively, you can add a couple drops to the palm of one hand and then rub them together. Cup the hands around the nose and inhale deeply for two minutes.

For an even more uplifting blend, you can try combining citronella with lemon, orange, lemongrass, or eucalyptus oil.

Another amazing way you can use citronella oil to combat depression is to infuse your bathwater with it. An excess amount of citronella could be irritating to your skin, so add only five to ten drops. However, you should start to feel your sadness melting away in a relaxing and refreshing bath with this scent.

2. Reduce the pain from Arthritis or Sore Muscles

Citronella is actually a great essential oil to massage into a sore and tired body for a little refreshment. It can help to reduce swelling and muscle spasms as well as relieve the pain from mild arthritis. This oil is both anti-inflammatory and can improve blood flow which is what makes it an ideal selection for this application. Add a few drops into your favorite carrier oil such as almond oil or jojoba oil before massaging it into the affected area.

Even if your muscles and joints aren’t sore at the moment, this massage oil is a great way to feel invigorated and to take care of yourself. It can be a relaxing way to finish off a long day with a short citronella massage.

3. Make your own Deodorant

Store-bought deodorants can be extremely harmful to your health long-term. Now, you can make your own effective deodorant using citronella oil and a few other key ingredients. This is a more natural way to cover up body odor without exposure to parabens and other harmful chemicals that can contribute to bigger problems within the body. In order to start making your own deodorant, you will need:

• 2 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder
• 1 tablespoon of beeswax
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 4 drops of citronella essential oil
• 4 drops of lemon essential oil

Mix all of the powders and essential oils together in a bowl while you melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler until liquefied. Add the powdered ingredients to the melted ingredients and stir well. Pour into an old (but clean) deodorant container and place in the refrigerator for one hour.

4. Keep your pets off the Furniture

If your dog has a habit of climbing up on the couch when you aren’t around, a few spritzes of citronella oil might cure this habit. Animals don’t typically like to use items that have this citrus scent on them, so they will likely steer clear of your couches, beds, or anything else that has this sprayed on them. Mix up a clean spray bottle with water and five to ten drops of citronella essential oil. You can spray everything from the couches to your sheets to the towels in the linen closet.

As an added bonus, this spray will also help to keep your fabrics smelling fresh and prevent them from growing bacteria while they sit stagnantly. This spray doubles as both an air freshener and a tool to train your pup.   Don’t worry Citronella is Dog & Cat safe when used properly.

5. Improve your Circulation

Do you have a particular part of your body that doesn’t receive as much blood flow as it should? You can try to improve your circulation with citronella oil. Passively breathing in citronella oil from a diffuser for an hour each day can give significant gains in your circulation, but a direct application is even more effective. Add a few drops directly to the skin in order to boost the blood flow in that area.

Because your skin might find citronella essential oil to be rather irritating, you should consider diluting it with a few drops of carrier oil. Coconut oil is a great choice to mix with citronella oil to massage on the hands, feet, or chest muscles for better blood flow.

About our Citronella Essential Oil

Possible Benefits

Air freshener, analgesic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antiseptic, anxiety, calming, cold, depression, fatigue, fever, fleas, flu, foot odor, headache / migraine, insect repellent, insomnia, menstrual, oily skin, stress

Conclusion

Once you know all of the amazing benefits of citronella oil beyond its use as an insect repellent, you won’t want to part with your precious bottle. You can use this handy oil for everything around the home, in your personal care items, and even to help improve your mental health. With such a long list of benefits, it’s a surprise that most people only think to use citronella for to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

BONUS

DIY Citronella Bug Spray

Here is the classic recipe for a homemade insect repellant to get you started. Keep in mind that there is much more to citronella essential oil than simply keeping the bugs away.

A DIY bug spray consisting of equal parts water and witch hazel. ½ cup of each alongside twenty drops of citronella essential oil in a spray bottle is a great summertime solution. You can even add in other essential oils for a more effective spray, including tea tree oil, lemongrass, eucalyptus oil, or peppermint oil. Rub the spray into the skin for more effective coverage.

• ½ cup Witch Hazel
• ½ cup Water
• 20 Drops of Citronella Essential Oil
• 20 Drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil
• Mix in a Glass Spray Bottle and apply to skin
  
  

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Citronella Essential Oil

Starting at $5.97