GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Lemon Eucalyptus, China
Corymbia citriodora
Chemotype: citronellal-rich China type
- PLANT PART
- leaves
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- top-mid
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 62 / 100
- Note layer
- top-mid
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- No restriction cited
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- medium
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No phototoxic furocoumarin restriction was identified in the consulted public China-origin and species-level references for lemon eucalyptus leaf oil.
Contraindications & cautions
- minorLemon eucalyptus is rich in citronellal (roughly 70-85%), an aldehyde that Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Ed. flags as a moderate skin allergen above 3% dilution; oxidized oil increases irritation/sensitization risk, so keep dilution at or below 3% and store away from heat, light, and air.
- minorUndiluted lemon eucalyptus oil may cause skin or mucous membrane irritation; dilute before dermal use and patch test if skin is sensitive.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This China-specific record is anchored to two public China-origin sources: the 2007 Natural Product Communications paper on Corymbia citriodora from China and a 2025 Nature's Gift / Essential Validation Services China batch report. Both sources agree on a citronellal-dominant profile with citronellol and isopulegol-family alcohols as the principal secondaries. The journal source also provides China-specific olfactory wording for the sample.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citronellal | 72.32% | 72.32–76.3% | monoterpene aldehyde | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Leaf Essential Oil of Corymbia citriodora (Hook) from China; Lemon, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) CN-59519 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0700200518 (Citronellal 76.3%); https://naturesgift.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Lemon-Eucalytpus-CN-59519.pdf (Citronellal 72.32%) |
| Citronellol | 5.7% | 5.7–8.91% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Leaf Essential Oil of Corymbia citriodora (Hook) from China; Lemon, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) CN-59519 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0700200518 (Citronellol 5.7%); https://naturesgift.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Lemon-Eucalytpus-CN-59519.pdf (Citronellol 8.91%) |
| neo-Isopulegol | 5.5% | 5.5–5.5% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Leaf Essential Oil of Corymbia citriodora (Hook) from China https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0700200518 (neo-Isopulegol 5.5%) |
| Isopulegol | 3.43% | 3.43–3.43% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceLemon, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) CN-59519 https://naturesgift.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Lemon-Eucalytpus-CN-59519.pdf (Isopulegol 3.43%) |
| Citronellyl acetate | 3.56% | 3.56–3.56% | monoterpene ester | View sourceLemon, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) CN-59519 https://naturesgift.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Lemon-Eucalytpus-CN-59519.pdf (Citronellyl acetate 3.56%) |
| beta-Caryophyllene | 1.56% | 1.56–1.56% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceLemon, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) CN-59519 https://naturesgift.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Lemon-Eucalytpus-CN-59519.pdf (beta-Caryophyllene 1.56%) |
| Limonene | 0.36% | 0.36–0.36% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceLemon, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) CN-59519 https://naturesgift.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Lemon-Eucalytpus-CN-59519.pdf (Limonene 0.36%) |
Profile source: Chemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Leaf Essential Oil of Corymbia citriodora (Hook) from China; Lemon, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) CN-59519; Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil profile · https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0700200518 ; https://naturesgift.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Lemon-Eucalytpus-CN-59519.pdf ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/lemon-eucalyptus-essential-oil.php
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- traditionally used in aromatherapy for its fresh, citronella-like insect-deterrent reputation
- reported to be used in outdoor and travel blends for a refreshing atmosphere
- used in massage blends for muscle and joint comfort
- traditionally associated with supporting clear breathing when diffused
- used in perfumery and household products for its strong lemony-citronellal facet
- reported to support an uplifting, energized mood in diffuser blends
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 2 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- The `max_dermal_pct` value of 100 reflects the archive's unrestricted-oil convention, based on the public AromaWeb summary that Tisserand and Young do not indicate any known hazards for lemon eucalyptus oil rather than on a directly published numeric leave-on maximum specific to China-origin material.
- Odor intensity 62 is a normalization from the paper's China-specific odor description ('fresh, citrus-like and mildly fruity, with a pleasant woody background note') rather than a published 0-100 measurement.