Cymbopogon citratus aka Fever Grass, Steam Distilled from the leaves in India.
Aroma: Fresh, lemony, earthy, herbaceous.
C. flexuosus has a higher citral concentration than C. citratus. Citral is a known skin irritant.
C. citratus has a higher myrcene level that increases the antibacterial action of the lemongrass essential oil.
History: Traditional Indian medicine has used Lemongrass Essential Oil to treat infectious illnesses and fever.
Common Uses: Lemongrass is known for its invigorating and antiseptic properties. It can be used in facial toners as its astringent properties help fight acne and greasy skin. An excellent anti-depressant, Lemongrass tones and fortifies the nervous system and can be used in bath for soothing muscular nerves and pain. Lemongrass shares similar properties with citronella and has a great reputation for keeping insects away.
I use lemongrass in blends to dissolve old scar tissue and provide the opportunity for fresh, normal skin to replace scar cells.- TTF
Possible Uses: Acne, athlete's foot, excessive perspiration, flatulence, insect repellent, muscle aches, oily skin, scabies, stress. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.]
Colour: Pale Yellow to Vivid Yellow
Consistency: Thin
Perfumery Note: Top to middle
Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong
Constituents: Citral, Geranyl Acetate, Linalyl Acetate, Geranial, Neral, Limonene, Myrcene, Beta-caryophyllene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.]
Safety Information: Avoid in glaucoma and with children. Use caution in prostatic hyperplasia and with skin hypersensitivity or damaged skin. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 146.]
Cautions: It is recommended that this essential oil be stored in dark amber, blue or green glass bottles since it has been found to dissolve aluminum bottles.
Photo thanks to By Nativeplants garden - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link