Spotlight on Citronella

Spotlight on Citronella

Citronella is well known for its ability to keep away the outdoor annoyances, but did you know that this lemony oil is also incredibly versatile? Citronella is cleansing and purifying, making it great for cleaning, gentle detoxing and clarifying. It is also a great addition to massage oils for supporting healthy circulation and the body's natural response to tension. This is one oil you definitely want on hand - especially in the summer!

JUST A DROP OF CITRONELLA

Has a fresh, green, lemony aroma that is reminiscent of summer

Contains geraniol, which helps to fend off outdoor pests

Can help soothe skin when applied topically

Cleansing and purifying, and helps neutralize unwanted odors

Makes a great addition to Thieves Household Cleaner and DIY cleaning recipes

Citronella has a fresh, citrusy scent that is uplifting and relaxing, similar to Bergamot! It can help you release the stress and tension of the day to find a sense of inner calm and positivity. Pair with other citrus oils in the diffuser after a long day!

This oil is a key ingredient in multiple products, including Purification essential oil blend, Young Living Insect Repellent, and the Animal Scents line of products!

BACKGROUND

Citronella is steam distilled from Cymbopogon nardus, one of several aromatic flowering grasses in the Poaceae family. Originating in tropical Asia and closely related to lemongrass, it was used historically to cleanse and deodorize surfaces. Today citronella is commonly cultivated in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, and Java.

Citronella is steam distilled from the aerial parts and leaves of the plant.

KEY CONSTITUENTS

Geraniol, Limonene, Trans-methyl isoeugenol

Because it is a concentrated form of antioxidants and phytochemicals from the plant, Citronella essential oil can be a great help to skin in need! You can dilute and apply this oil to irritated skin, which is especially helpful during the summer months! CItronella helps to support the body's natural response to inflammation, making it a great addition to your first aid kit. Check out some of the easy DIYs for this below!

DAILY HABITS WITH CITRONELLA

Use Citronella in your health and self-care routines

Whip up a DIY Insect Spray if you can't order the YL Insect Repellent!

4oz glass spray bottle

15 drops each Citronella, Lemongrass, Geranium, Purification

10 drops Peppermint

¼ part Witch Hazel

¾ part Distilled Water

Give your feet a little daily TLC and protect them from damp, sweaty cleats or running shoes with this Happy Feet blend:

10 drops Citronella

5 drops Tea Tree

2 Tbsp coconut oil

Make in a roller (use fractionated coconut oil or V-6 vegetable Oil Complex as the carrier) or as a cream to apply after a day at the pool or in a public shower.

Drop Citronella into gym shoes, rain boots, the basket of pool towels, diaper pails or any other damp spaces that need a little refreshing.

Citronella can be a great addition to your favorite DIY natural deodorant recipe, especially when summer months find you sweating more! .

Cleanse and condition your hair and scalp and remove build up from water, styling products, and chlorine with this DIY Clarifying Shampoo

Young Living Bath and Shower Gel Base

DIY Clarifying Shampoo

Young Living Bath and Shower Gel Base

3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

40 drops Citronella

20 drops Lavender

Add vinegar and essential oils to a large pump bottle, then add in the Bath & Shower Gel Base and mix well.

Alternatively, you can pour out some of the Bath & Shower Gel Base, then add the oils and vinegar directly to the bottle.

Give tired, sore muscles some love and support healthy circulation with citronella! It's also great for charlie horses and supports the body's natural response to inflammation. You can use it on its own or make a simple Circulation Massage Oil to use every day or as desired.

Circulation Massage Oil

4 oz pump bottle

30 drops Citronella

20 drops Cypress

Carrier of choice

Use to support healthy airways wit this DIY Breathe Massage Oil:

4oz pump bottle

20 drops Citronella essential oil

10 drops Lemon essential oil

Carrier of choice

Add a roller top directly to the bottle and apply as desired before heading outdoors!

Use Citronella in your cleaning and home care routines!

Use the cleansing power of Citronella in your cleaning routine. Add to your cleaning DIYs, Thieves cleaner, etc. to kick the germs without the harsh chemicals. (Citronella is high in methyl isoeugenol so it's a great cleaning companion!)

Make this DIY Dishwasher & Washing Machine Cleaner that can be used for the washing machine or dishwasher. Mix powders together in an airtight glass jar, then mix in Citronella. Add 2 Tbsp to the floor of your dishwasher and run on a hot cycle. You can also place 1 cup of white vinegar + 2 capfuls Thieves Household Cleaner in a glass bowl in the top rack to further disinfect. To use in a washing machine, add 4 Tbsp of mixture into the drum of the machine and run a hot cycle. Option to add 2 capfuls of Thieves Household Cleaner to the detergent bay for extra cleaning.

¼ cup + 2 Tbsp Citric Acid

¼ cup + 2 Tbsp Baking Soda

3 Tbsp Washing Soda

20 drops Citronella

Give hard water stains the boot and get sparkling clean dishes with this DIY Dish Detergent Booster

1 cup Citric Acid

40 drops Citronella essential oil

Mix well and store in an airtight jar. Add 1-2 tsp to the dishwasher soap reservoir along with the soap and run according to manufacturer directions.

Deodorize and deep clean linens, towels or clothing with DIY Laundry Stripping Solution

1 cup Baking Soda

1 cup Borax

½ cup Thieves Laundry Soap

½ cup Thieves Household Cleaner

¼ cup Thieves Fruit & Veggie Soak

30 drops Citronella

Add all ingredients to extremely hot water and allow linens or clothing to soak for up to 2 hours. Stir the clothing and gently press to release dirt and grim every 20 minutes or so. You can soak longer for tougher situations as desired.

Wring the linens as dry as possible and wash per usual.

Add to wool dryer balls to give your laundry a bright-smelling boost.

Place a few drops of Citronella on cotton balls and stash them anywhere that can use additional freshness: air vents, drawers, shoes, gym bags, rain boots, garbage cans, etc.

Drop directly into areas that need some freshening - rain boots, forgotten laundry, diaper pails, etc.

Make a DIY Carpet & Rug Freshener

To an airtight glass jar add:

1 cup Baking Soda

½ cup Fine Sea Salt

20 drops Citronella

10 drops Tangerine or Lemon

Mix well. When ready to use, sprinkle over carpets and let sit for 10 minutes before vacuuming.

Make an Herbal Deodorizing Spray for pet beds, upholstered surfaces, car upholstery, etc!

To a 4oz glass spray bottle add

¼ cup white vinegar

20 drops Citronella essential oil

15 drops Lavender essential oil

10 drops each Tangerine, Lemon essential oil

Pinch sea salt or splash of witch hazel

Filtered water

Spray lightly onto surfaces to remove unwanted odors.

Make a DIY Laundry Scent Booster:

To a large glass jar with a lid add:

1 cup Epsom Salt

½ cup Fine Sea Salt

½ cup Baking Soda

30 drops Citronella (or a mix of desired oils)

To use, add 2-3 Tbsp directly to the laundry.

Make a refreshing room spray:

2oz glass spray bottle

20 drops Citronella

10 drops Tangerine or Lemongrass

Splash of witch hazel

Fill with filtered water

DIFFUSE

Diffuse this purifying oil to help cleanse and freshen your space

Fresh Laundry: 3 drops each Citronella, Lavender, Lemongrass, Tangerine

Happy Noses: 4 drops Citronella, 3 drops each Lemon, R.C.

Al Fresco: 4 drops each Citronella, Geranium, Lavender

Spa Day: 3 drops each Lemongrass, Citronella, Lavender, Tangerine

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ESSENTIAL OILS

When you have a cough or cold or feel one coming on, you just want to be comfortable – especially if you still have to work, travel, or take care of your children or loved ones! (click on the individual oil pictures to learn more about the oil)

Thieves Essential Oil Blend:

This blend is our go-to for all things immune system related! It's the blend infused into the chest rub and cough drops we just talked about – and for good reason! We love to apply and diffuse this blend, add Thieves Vitality to a mug of echinacea tea, or add it to epsom salts for an immune supporting detox bath!

Frankincense Essential Oil:

Frankincense is an immune and respiratory powerhouse! This historical oil has been used for centuries for health. Apply it with Thieves, Lemon, R.C. or Purification to the chest and back, add a few drops to the Thieves Chest Rub when you apply, add Frankincense to epsom salts for a detox bath, and diffuse this oil when you're feeling down. Get it in, on and around you as much as possible!

Lemon Essential Oil:

Lemon is a wonderful oil for soothing cough and creating comfort in times of congestion. Diffuse it, apply it with Frankincense and Thieves Chest Rub, add a few drops of Lemon Vitality to echinacea tea, and add Lemon to detox baths. Lemon is high in limonene, a constituent highly regarded for its immune system support.

R.C. Essential Oil Blend:

Standing for Respiratory Comfort, R.C. essential oil blend is a gentle eucalyptus blend that we love for soothing and comforting the respiratory system. Diffuse, apply, and add this oil to detox baths as much as possible. This is a great choice for little ones too!

Purification Essential Oil Blends:

This purifying blend is another favorite for immune and respiratory needs. Containing Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Myrtle and other purifying oils, it makes a great addition to your comfort routine during times of cough or cold. Diffuse, apply, and add to bath salts.

Raindrop Technique Collection: This curated set of essential oils is a powerful tool for promoting health, wellness and vitality – both proactively and for acute needs since the oils included can be incredible tools for healing! This collection features nine essential oils with immune and respiratory support properties. We love them for making rollers and adding to detox baths!

Thieves chest rub & cough

THIEVES CHEST RUB

A must-have for every medicine cabinet, Thieves Chest Rub is a 100% plant-based alternative for over-the-counter cough and congestion relief. This natural chest rub soothes sniffles, coughs, and congestion for the whole family with a powerful blend of essential oils and natural, plant-based ingredients.Plus the easy-to-use bottle doesn't even require you to get your hands messy!! The formula is free of petroleum, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, synthetic perfumes or dyes, artificial colors, or preservatives and still packs an incredible punch when it comes to cough and cold! Pure ingredients and all the power of Thieves kicking that chest congestion to the curb? We will take some of that!

Sadly, conventional chest rubs are filled with synthetic additives and diluents, and even the ‘natural' options are less than ideal. Many options use petroleum as a base. Petroleum (petrolatum) is often not fully refined in the US, which means it can be contaminated with toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.Many ‘natural' chest rubs also contain impure essential oils or other lower-grade components that don't meet the same standards as the ingredients found in Young Living products. The active ingredient in the most popular over the counter chest rub is actually a synthetic version of Ravintsara essential oil! And we are always going to choose the original over a synthetic copy, especially when it comes to our health and our family's health!

THIEVES COUGH DROPS

Get natural, quick, and safe cough, congestion, and sore throat relief Thieves Essential Oil-Infused Cough Drops! These are a staple in our cough and cold toolbox. They are easy to keep at home or take on the go, made with naturally derived ingredients, taste great, and work wonders!

Thieves Essential Oil-Infused Cough Drops are minty, spicy, and sweet without processed sugar, dyes, artificial flavors, or preservatives found in conventional cough drops. Infused with Cinnamon Bark, Peppermint, and Lemon essential oils, these menthol-based drops make soothing coughs and colds simple and tasty.

THIEVES HARD LOZENGES

Infused with Young Living's signature Thieves essential oil blend of Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Lemon essential oils, these lozenges are one of the things we reach for to keep our immune systems firing on a daily basis! The Thieves Hard Lozenges are a sugar-free dietary supplement to add to your daily wellness regimen with more of a cinnamon taste than a menthol one.We use these daily when we need a lozenge, when we travel to bolster our immune systems, and sometimes in place of the Thieves Cough Drops when we are out or if someone doesn't want the strong menthol taste of the drops (but it's that menthol that helps open the airways and soothe the throat!).

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