Lemongrass essential oil is used primarily for insect repellent, muscle and joint pain relief, anxiety reduction, and skin care. Its versatility comes from a high concentration of citral, a compound that makes up 60 to 80% of the oil and drives most of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and calming properties. Here’s what the evidence actually supports.
Reducing Anxiety and Lowering Heart Rate
One of the most popular uses for lemongrass oil is aromatherapy for stress and anxiety. Inhaling lemongrass oil has measurable effects on the body: in a randomized clinical trial of patients undergoing a dental procedure, those who received lemongrass aromatherapy saw their pulse rate drop by about 5 beats per minute, while the control group’s pulse actually increased by 3 beats per minute. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure both decreased in the aromatherapy group and rose in the control group.
These aren’t dramatic shifts, but they reflect a genuine calming response. Adding a few drops to a diffuser during stressful work periods or before bed is the most common way people use it for this purpose. The citrusy, slightly herbal scent is generally well tolerated in shared spaces, though personal preference varies.
Easing Muscle and Joint Pain
Lemongrass oil is a common ingredient in massage blends for sore muscles and stiff joints. Lab research on human skin cells shows the oil significantly reduces multiple markers of inflammation, including proteins involved in immune cell signaling and tissue remodeling. Animal studies confirm that topical application inhibits the skin’s inflammatory response.
In practice, this means diluting lemongrass oil in a carrier oil (like coconut, jojoba, or sweet almond) and massaging it into achy areas. A 2 to 3% dilution is standard for adults, which works out to roughly 12 to 18 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. You’ll often find lemongrass blended with peppermint or eucalyptus in commercial pain-relief rollers for this reason.
Repelling Mosquitoes and Other Insects
Lemongrass oil is one of the most widely used plant-based insect repellents. Formulations containing lemongrass oil provide at least 50% repellency against mosquitoes for two to three hours, which is comparable to some commercial repellent products. The citral content is the main driver of this effect.
The limitation is duration. Synthetic repellents like DEET can last six to eight hours, so lemongrass-based products need reapplication more frequently. Creams and ointments at around 15% concentration tend to last longer than sprays. If you’re in a low-risk area and prefer a natural option, lemongrass works well for short outdoor sessions like a backyard dinner. For hiking in areas with disease-carrying mosquitoes, it’s not a reliable standalone choice.
Protecting the Stomach Lining
Animal research suggests lemongrass oil has a gastroprotective effect. In mice with ethanol-induced stomach ulcers, a relatively small oral dose of lemongrass oil reduced ulcer area by about 52%. One of its minor compounds, geraniol, was even more effective at accelerating healing of existing ulcers, shrinking them by roughly 81% compared to untreated animals. The oil also partially inhibited the enzyme responsible for producing stomach acid.
This is promising but still limited to animal models. Some people add a drop of food-grade lemongrass oil to tea or warm water for digestive comfort, a practice with roots in Southeast Asian and West African traditional medicine. The tea made from lemongrass stalks (not the concentrated essential oil) is a gentler option for everyday digestive support.
Fighting Bacteria and Fungi
Lemongrass oil has broad antimicrobial activity thanks to its citral content. It’s effective against a range of bacteria and fungi in laboratory settings, which is why you’ll find it in natural cleaning products, surface sprays, and even some skin care formulations targeting acne or fungal skin conditions.
For household use, adding 10 to 15 drops to a spray bottle with water and white vinegar creates a simple surface cleaner with a pleasant scent. For skin applications like spot-treating blemishes, the oil needs proper dilution in a carrier oil to avoid irritation. Citral is a known skin sensitizer at higher concentrations, so more is not better here.
Skin Care and Hair Care
Beyond acne, lemongrass oil appears in toners, scalp treatments, and natural deodorants. Its astringent quality can help minimize the appearance of pores, and its antimicrobial properties make it useful in products designed to control scalp buildup or body odor. A few drops added to an unscented shampoo is a common DIY approach for an oily scalp.
Because citral can cause contact sensitization in some people, patch testing is important. Apply a small amount of your diluted blend to the inside of your forearm and wait 24 hours before using it more broadly. People with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema should start at a lower dilution of around 1%.
Safety Considerations
Lemongrass oil should not be used internally during pregnancy. Its high citral content (which can reach 80 to 90% depending on the species) is classified as teratogenic, meaning it poses a risk to fetal development. The recommended maximum internal exposure during pregnancy is extremely low, essentially ruling out oral use entirely. Diffusing in a well-ventilated room is generally considered lower risk, but topical use during pregnancy should also be minimized.
For the general adult population, topical use at a 2 to 3% dilution is the standard safe range. Never apply undiluted lemongrass oil directly to skin. Keep it away from eyes and mucous membranes. If you’re using it on children, cut the dilution in half. Store the oil in a dark glass bottle away from heat, as citral degrades with light and temperature exposure, reducing both efficacy and shelf stability.