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Oil of citronella is a naturally occurring insect and animal repellent distilled from two grass varieties. It is a mixture of many components which vary by grass variety. Some oil of citronella products are applied to animal or human skin, ornamental plants, or other outdoor areas. Oil of citronella is currently on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s list of minimum risk pesticides. However, some products should not be used on children less than six months old unless directed by a doctor. This information is listed on the product label.

General Questions about Oil of Citronella

What is oil of citronella? What are some products that contain oil of citronella? How does oil of citronella work? How might I be exposed to oil of citronella What are some signs and symptoms from a brief exposure to oil of citronella? What happens to oil of citronella when it enter the body? Is oil of citronella likely to contribute to the development of cancer? Has anyone studied non-cancer effects from long-term exposure to oil of citronella? Are children more sensitive to oil of citronella than adults? What happens to oil of citronella in the environment? Can oil of citronella affect birds, fish, and other wildlife?

General Fact Sheet	Insect Repellents Fact Sheet
Should kids use bug spray? Q & A	Should kids use bug spray? Podcast (2:07 min., 1.94MB)

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.

Related Topics:

What are pests?

What are pesticides?

Please read our disclaimer | Contact us | About NPIC | En español

NPIC provides objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions. NPIC is a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (cooperative agreement #X8-83947901). The information in this publication does not in any way replace or supersede the restrictions, precautions, directions, or other information on the pesticide label or any other regulatory requirements, nor does it necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. EPA.