GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Lemon Myrtle
Backhousia citriodora F. Muell.
Chemotype: citral
- 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
- 80 / 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
- 0.35%
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- Unknown
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No phototoxic furocoumarin limit was identified in the cited lemon myrtle sources; the restriction observed here is a citral-driven dermal use limit rather than a UV phototoxicity limit.
Contraindications & cautions
- moderateTisserand & Young note a risk of teratogenicity for lemon myrtle oil (high citral content); use should be avoided or minimized during pregnancy.
- moderateTopical use is contraindicated for children and infants under 2 years of age, per Tisserand & Young's lemon myrtle monograph.
- moderateAvoid use on hypersensitive, damaged, or diseased skin due to high citral content and associated sensitization/irritation risk.
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 record uses a directly read NHR GC batch profile for Australian lemon myrtle leaf oil. The profile is citral-dominant, with geranial and neral together accounting for about 90% of the sample, which matches AromaWeb's summary that lemon myrtle commonly contains upwards of 96% citral as geranial plus neral.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geranial | 51.89% | 51.89–51.89% | monoterpene aldehyde | View sourceNHR Organic Oils Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography: Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil, batch 260219-9 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Lemon%20Myrtle%20CofA%20GC%20260219-9.pdf (p.2, geranial 51.89%) |
| Neral | 38.1% | 38.1–38.1% | monoterpene aldehyde | View sourceNHR Organic Oils Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography: Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil, batch 260219-9 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Lemon%20Myrtle%20CofA%20GC%20260219-9.pdf (p.2, neral 38.10%) |
| trans-Isocitral | 2.37% | 2.37–2.37% | monoterpene aldehyde | View sourceNHR Organic Oils Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography: Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil, batch 260219-9 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Lemon%20Myrtle%20CofA%20GC%20260219-9.pdf (p.2, trans isocitral 2.37%) |
| Linalool | 2.01% | 2.01–2.01% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceNHR Organic Oils Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography: Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil, batch 260219-9 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Lemon%20Myrtle%20CofA%20GC%20260219-9.pdf (p.2, linalol 2.01%) |
| Geraniol | 1.58% | 1.58–1.58% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceNHR Organic Oils Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography: Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil, batch 260219-9 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Lemon%20Myrtle%20CofA%20GC%20260219-9.pdf (p.2, geraniol 1.58%) |
| Nerol | 0.94% | 0.94–0.94% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceNHR Organic Oils Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography: Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil, batch 260219-9 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Lemon%20Myrtle%20CofA%20GC%20260219-9.pdf (p.2, nerol 0.94%) |
Profile source: NHR Organic Oils Lemon Myrtle GC profile; NHR Lemon Myrtle IFRA 50 certificate; AromaWeb Lemon Myrtle profile · https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Lemon%20Myrtle%20CofA%20GC%20260219-9.pdf (botanical name, steam-distilled leaves, chromatogram); https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/20240227150713e_Lemon_Myrtle_IFRA_50.pdf (IFRA Category 5A maximum use level 0.35% for this oil; citral 65.00-85.00%); https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/lemon-myrtle-essential-oil.php (perfumery note: top; strength of initial aroma: strong)
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, cleansing effects
- reported to support respiratory comfort and mental clarity due to high citral content
- used in perfumery and flavoring for an intensely fresh, lemony aroma
- traditionally associated with purifying, energizing blends
- used in household and personal care fragrancing for a clean citrus scent
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 · 1 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- No public source located in this pass gave a directly measured 0-100 volatility rate or tenacity range.