GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Makrut Lime Leaf Thailand
Citrus hystrix DC.
Chemotype: citronellal type
- PLANT PART
- leaves
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- top
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
- 70 / 100
- Note layer
- top
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.
The reviewed AromaWeb safety summary cites Tisserand and Young as indicating no special precautions for the leaf-distilled oil and does not describe the oil as phototoxic.
Contraindications & cautions
- moderateManufacturer safety data classifies the oil as irritating to skin, eyes, throat, and lung via skin-contact and inhalation routes, so undiluted (neat) skin application and eye contact should be avoided; a patch test before diluted topical use is recommended.
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 profile is anchored to a Thai steam-distilled makrut leaf oil study from Mahidol University identifying citronellal as the dominant constituent at 80.04%. Because that paper only quantifies the lead constituent and notes the rest as trace, the supporting constituent set is filled from a directly read Bangkok kaffir-lime-leaf volatile profile that identifies the characteristic fresh-leaf secondary odorants also cited by AromaWeb as major constituents for the leaf-distilled oil.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citronellal | 80.04% | 80.04–80.04% | monoterpene aldehyde | View sourceAntibacterial activity of essential oils from Citrus hystrix (makrut lime) against respiratory tract pathogens https://www.scienceasia.org/2012.38.n2/scias38_212.pdf (PDF page 3, lines 160-164 and page 1, lines 24-29: citronellal 80.04% in makrut leaf oil) |
| Linalool | 3.64% | 3.64–3.64% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceEffect of drying temperature on key odourants in kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix D.C., Rutaceae) leaves https://academic.oup.com/ijfst/article/48/1/143/7865388 (lines 142-143 and 155: l-linalool 3.64% of fresh kaffir lime leaves) |
| beta-Caryophyllene | 3.36% | 3.36–3.36% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceEffect of drying temperature on key odourants in kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix D.C., Rutaceae) leaves https://academic.oup.com/ijfst/article/48/1/143/7865388 (lines 142-144 and 567-567: trans-beta-caryophyllene 3.36% of fresh kaffir lime leaves) |
| Sabinene | 2.11% | 2.11–2.11% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceEffect of drying temperature on key odourants in kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix D.C., Rutaceae) leaves https://academic.oup.com/ijfst/article/48/1/143/7865388 (lines 143-144 and 590-590: sabinene 2.11% of fresh kaffir lime leaves) |
| beta-Citronellol | 2.01% | 2.01–2.01% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceEffect of drying temperature on key odourants in kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix D.C., Rutaceae) leaves https://academic.oup.com/ijfst/article/48/1/143/7865388 (lines 143-143 and 160-160: beta-citronellol 2.01% of fresh kaffir lime leaves) |
Profile source: Antibacterial activity of essential oils from Citrus hystrix (makrut lime) against respiratory tract pathogens; Effect of drying temperature on key odourants in kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix D.C., Rutaceae) leaves; Kaffir Lime Petitgrain Essential Oil: Benefits, Uses & Insights · https://www.scienceasia.org/2012.38.n2/scias38_212.pdf ; https://academic.oup.com/ijfst/article/48/1/143/7865388 ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/kaffir-lime-leaf-petitgrain-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 uplifting, refreshing effects
- reported to support mental clarity and ease occasional stress
- used in perfumery and culinary contexts for a distinctive, green citrus-leaf aroma
- traditionally associated with cleansing, purifying blends in Southeast Asian practice
- used in blends intended to counter feelings of mental fatigue
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 · 4 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- The public Thai essential-oil paper quantifies only citronellal explicitly and describes the remaining makrut leaf oil constituents as trace, so a public Thailand-specific GC/MS table with full percentages is still missing.
- max_dermal_pct 100 is the archive's unrestricted-oil convention derived from the cited 'no special precautions' safety statement, not a directly published numeric leave-on ceiling.
- The numeric odor intensity is an archive normalization of AromaWeb's 'Medium to Strong' strength-of-initial-aroma language rather than a directly published 0-100 measurement.
- No public source located in this pass gave directly measured volatility-rate or tenacity-hour values for Thailand makrut leaf oil.