Essential & aromatic oils
Citronella Oil
Citronella Oil (Cymbopogon winterianus / Cymbopogon nardus)
Also known as Java Citronella Oil, Ceylon Citronella Oil, Citronella Grass Oil, Nardus Oil
Citronella oil is a steam-distilled essential oil from the leaves of citronella grass, sold in two forms — the bolder Java type (Cymbopogon winterianus) and the softer Ceylon type (Cymbopogon nardus). It is valued for its fresh, lemony-rosy smell, and it is widely traded as a natural source of aroma chemicals such as citronellal, citronellol and geraniol. Much of the world's output goes into soaps, candles, household sprays and insect-repellent goods rather than fine perfume.
Origin & story
The grass is native to tropical Asia. Java citronella (C. winterianus) is the mainstay of the trade and the type grown across India, while the Ceylon type (C. nardus) traces back to Sri Lanka. Within India it is raised in the North-East (Assam, Meghalaya), the plains (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh) and the South, including Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. So while it does grow in the Western Ghats states, citronella is a global commodity rather than a Ghats speciality — Indonesia (Java) and China are major world suppliers.
How it’s made
Oil is recovered by steam or hydro-distillation of freshly cut, slightly wilted grass. The oil yield is a small fraction of the herbage weight — commonly cited at roughly 0.5 to 1% — so distillation is usually done close to the field to avoid hauling bulky grass. Spent grass left after distillation is often used as fuel or returned as compost.
Sourcing & cultivation
Citronella is a hardy perennial grass suited to warm, humid areas with good rainfall and well-drained soils; it dislikes waterlogging. It is raised from rooted slips rather than seed, and a single planting keeps yielding for several years, giving multiple cuttings a year once the clump is established. CSIR-CIMAP has released improved Java-type cultivars, including CIM-Jeeva and Bio-13.
Grades & quality
Buyers grade citronella mainly on its citronellal (aldehyde) content and its "total geraniol" — the combined geraniol plus citronellol figure — since these drive both the aroma and the value as a feedstock. Java oil is markedly higher in citronellal (commonly cited around 32-45%) than Ceylon oil (roughly 5-15%), which is why Java dominates the perfumery-derivative trade. Standard lab checks are specific gravity, refractive index and optical rotation, backed by GC of the main constituents.
Uses & applications
The oil scents soaps, detergents, candles, incense, floor cleaners and air fresheners, where its lemony note helps mask other smells. It is the best-known ingredient in plant-based mosquito-repellent products — sprays, coils, gels and candles — and in the United States it has been registered as a repellent biopesticide since 1948. Industrially it is fractionated to isolate citronellal, citronellol and geraniol, which the fragrance industry works up into rose, lemon and other aroma chemicals.
For buyers & the trade
India is a modest producer set against larger suppliers like Indonesia and China, and it both grows and imports the oil. Because so much citronella ends up as a feedstock, buyers tend to be price-sensitive and watch the citronellal and total-geraniol assays closely rather than paying for "aromatherapy" framing. Demand tracks the household-insecticide and low-cost fragrance markets. For a South Indian supplier the honest pitch is consistent Java-type oil with a clean GC profile, distilled fresh — not a Western-Ghats origin premium, since this crop is not Ghats-exclusive.
Live market rate
Today’s citronella oil price
Indicative wholesale rate, range & recent trend from verified sources.
Frequently asked
What is the citronella oil price today in India?
The figure above is an indicative per-kilogram reference compiled from authorised public sources and cross-checked before publishing. Because citronella oil is volatile and grade-dependent, treat it as a broad guide rather than a firm quote.
Why does the citronella oil price vary so much?
It is a distilled essential oil whose value hinges on type (Java or Ceylon) and on certified citronellal and geraniol content. Global supply from the leading producing countries, aroma-chemical demand, fuel and freight all move the price.
What is the difference between Java and Ceylon citronella oil?
They come from different grass species. Java type (Cymbopogon winterianus) is richer in citronellal and geraniol and usually costs more; Ceylon type (Cymbopogon nardus) is lighter and more camphoraceous, and typically priced lower.
Is this AroWest's retail price for citronella oil?
No. This is an indicative wholesale/market reference in rupees per kilogram, not AroWest's retail price and not a live guaranteed quote. Finished, graded oil is priced separately in the shop.
Compiled from public agricultural, commodity-board and trade sources — indicative and educational, not medical advice and not an AroWest retail price. Confirm specifics with your local package of practices or your supplier.
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