citronella oil

noun

1. a light-yellowish pungent oil, distilled from citronella, used in the manufacture of liniment, perfume, and soap, and as an insect repellent.

Word History and Origins

Origin of citronella oil¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Lemongrass oil, cedarwood oil, citronella oil and peppermint oil are among the common ingredients.

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They will also continue testing other potential repellent molecules, including the main component in citronella oil, which they found also activates Or31.

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The best product containing citronella oil, which has been marketed as the “mosquito plant” and is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a biopesticide, protected volunteers for 20 minutes.

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Don’t rely solely on candles: People often put scented candles around their yards to repel mosquitoes, and candles made with citronella oil are especially popular.

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The repellent contains 5 percent geraniol — a naturally occurring compound that’s found in rose oil, citronella oil and geranium oil.

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