Lemon-scented gum / Lemon eucalyptus ( Corymbia citriodora)



Updated 17 January 2024

Botanical characteristics

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Division: Magnoliophyta 
  • Class: Magnoliopsida 
  • Order: Myrtales
  • Family: Myrtaceae
  • Genus: Corymbia
  • Part used: Leaves
  • Country of origin: Brazil, Australia

Precautions for use

Lemon eucalyptus essential oil poses few health risks if precautions for use are followed.

Young children can use this essential oil on the skin and by diffusion with the advice of a healthcare professional.

The cutaneous route is most commonly used, through joint or muscle massage.

Other precautions

Cutaneous use:

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil should be diluted to 20% for use on the skin (20% essential oil, 80% vegetable oil).
  • For babies, diluted skin application is possible with the advice of a healthcare professional.

Diffusion:

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil can be a tear or cough gas for sensitive people, so use with care.
  • Babies can use it in air diffusers, so it is advisable to dilute it 20-80% with other essential oils.

Allergenic components:

Lemon eucalyptus essential oil contains biochemical allergenic components:

  • Lemonellol (≤8%)
  • Linalool (≤1%)
  • Eugenol (≤1%)
  • Geraniol (≤0.5%)
  • Limonene (≤0.5%)
  • Citral (≤0.2%)

Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).

Authorised users

 Adults and adolescents

Children under 6 years

  Pregnant and breastfeeding women

 Pregnant women younger than 3 months

 Infants under 3 years old

How to use

 Inhalation

 Cutaneous

 Oral

 Diffusion

Risks of use

 Skin irritation

 Properties

  • Anti-rheumatic 
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Analgesic
  • Insect repellent 
  • Antifungal 
  • Sedative, relaxing
  • Antihypertensive by CNS regulation
  • Muscle relaxant 
  • Moderate anti-infective
  • Skin soothing 
  • Regulates the pancreas 

Indications

Directions for use/usual dosage

  • Painful joints, sciatica, tendonitis: local unctions on inflammatory areas of the joints or skin, or along the spine (recommended dilution of 50% in Arnica oily macerate or Calophylla inophylus vegetable oil for an anti-rheumatic action).
  • Anxiety, nervousness, stress: as a vapour or perfume, or as an unction diluted in a vegetable oil.
  • Sugar cravings: by olfaction or as an unction diluted in vegetable oil (massage the abdomen from the bottom up to the liver).
  • Physical, mental and spiritual fatigue: by diffusion and olfaction, or as an unction diluted in vegetable oil.
  • Insects, mosquitoes: diffusion in the air to repel intruders.
  • Pruritus, itching of the scalp: massage into the scalp and leave for an hour before shampooing gently, in combination with Lavandula latifolia spica (Spike lavender) and Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree).

Cosmetic

  • Soothes itchiness and itching of the scalp.

Interior use

  • Atmospheric diffusion to relax and ward off mosquitoes.

Find out more

  • Lemon eucalyptus essential oil has a very distinctive smell, like a lemon with a hint of camphor.
  • It takes between 800g and 1kg of lemon eucalyptus leaves and twigs to make 10ml of essential oil.