Ultra International B.V.
Product: Citronella Oil
Citronella grass
Citronella Oil China Cymbopogon winterianus
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Description
Citronella oil is extracted from a grass (Cymbopogon winteranus) native to Sri Lanka, Java (Indonesia) and China. The species Cymbopogon winteranus is used for the production of citronella oil by steam distillation.
Citronella is commonly used in soaps, candles, perfumes and other products in the cosmetic industry. It is also a plant based, non-toxic insect repellant, registered for this use in the United States since 1948. You will find it listed in many topical products.
As a perfumery ingredient it has been historically well represented due to its citronellal, citronellol and geraniol content.
China is the world's largest exporter of citronella oil (Indonesia being second). It is estimated that total world production of citronella is around 4,000 tons with China and Indonesia representing a 40% share of this volume.
Historically China has had a lower cost basis for this product and as a result is the dominant producer.
Based on unconfirmed data China's citronella exports can be summarised as follows:
Year 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Quantity (MT) 2200 1200 980 750 730 -
Product Details
- Botanical name: Cymbopogon winterianus
- Origin: China
- Crop Season: June - December
- Plant/part used: Grass
- Method of extraction: Steam distillation
- TSCA CAS: 908000-29-1
- EINECS CAS: 89998-15-2
- EINECS: 289-753-6
- INCI Name: Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella) oil
- Appearance: Pale yellow to tan mobile liquid
- Organoleptic Properties: Fresh Sweet, Geraniol, Weed, Woody
- Density: 0.875- 0.893
- Refractive index: 1.466- 1.474
- Optical rotation: -7º to 0º
- Chemical constituents: Geraniol, Citronellol, Geranyl acetate, Citral, Caryophyllene
- Fragrance usage: max. 3%
- IFRA: Restricted by IFRA
- Allergens: Contains fragrance allergens
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Latest Market Information January 19, 2026
Citronella prefers fertile, well-drained soils and abundant rainfall. The grass thrives in warm, humid, tropical to subtropical climates. It grows in the Yunnan, Hainan, and Guangdong provinces of China. After cutting, fresh grass is steam-distilled to yield an oil rich in citronellal and geraniol. It has a crisp lemony aroma and is used in insect repellents, personal care products, aromatherapy, household cleaners, and as a natural deodorising and antimicrobial agent.
There was strong global demand for the oil with southeast Asia accounting for almost half of the exported volumes. Other key export destinations included North America, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK. Oil prices mostly remained stable, though there was a noticeable low in July and the highest price was recorded in September.
Market prices : USD 32.00 /kilo -
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