Lemongrass Oil: Evidence, Safety and How It Is Used

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]

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] In a German-led network of dermatology clinics (IVDK), 12 essential oils were patch tested in 10,930 patients in 2010-2019; lemongrass oil gave 2.6% positive reactions, the second highest after ylang ylang (3.9%). [16] These were clinic patients with skin problems, so the figure is not a rate for the general public. 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.