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.

From Washington Post

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

From Scientific American

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.

From Wall Street Journal

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.

From Time

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

From Washington Post