Citronella oil is one of the important essential oils obtained from different species of Cymbopogon. The oil is used extensively as a source of important perfumery chemicals like citronellal, citronellol and geraniol, which find extensive use in soap, perfumery, cosmetic and flavouring industries throughout the world. An essential oil, also known as volatile oil and ethereal oil, is a water-immiscible liquid produced by distillation from plant material that is used in perfumes, cosmetics, incenses, and in medicine. ... Species Over 50: see text Lemon Grass Lemon grass or lemongrass is a perennial herb used in Asian (particularly Thai, Khmer and Vietnamese) and Caribbean cooking. ... Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aroma compounds, a fixative, and alcohol used to give parts of the human body and sometimes other objects a long-lasting and pleasant smell. ... citronellal or rhodinal or 3,7-dimethyl-6-octen-1-al (C10H18O) is is the main component in a mixture of terpene chemical compounds that can be derived from citronella oil. ... This article is about a common cleaning mixture. ...

Citronella oil is classified in trade into two types: Ceylon citronella oil, obtained from Cymbopogon nardus Rendle, is the inferior type, while Java Type citronella oil obtained from Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt, is considered superior.

Both of these have probably originated from Mana Grass of Ceylon, which according to Finnemore (1962) occurs today in two wild forms--Cymbopogon nardus var. linnae (typicus and C. Nardus var. confertiflorus). Both of these forms are not known to be used for distillation to any appreciable extent. The Java citronella and the name Cymbopogon winterianus is given to this selected variety to commemorate one Mr. Winter - an important oil distiller of Ceylon, who first cultivated and distlled Maha Pangeri type of citronella in Ceylon. 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Strathisla whisky distillery in Keith, Scotland Distillation is a means of separating liquids through differences in their boiling points. ...

At present, the world production of citronella oil is approximately 7,000 tonnes, the bulk of which is produced in Taiwan, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Brazil, China, Ceylon, India, Argentina, Ecuador, Madagascar, Mexico and the West Indies. A tonne (also called metric ton) is a non-SI unit of mass, accepted for use with SI, defined as: 1 tonne = 103 kg (= 106 g). ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...