Few scents say summer evening on the patio quite like citronella. Few say summer kitchen quite like lemongrass. The two smell related because they are: both come from tall tropical grasses in the genus Cymbopogon, close cousins that have traveled the world from South and Southeast Asia.
Lemongrass in the kitchen and the garden
Lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus, is the one you find in the produce aisle, with its pale, firm stalks and long, blade-like leaves. It is central to Thai, Vietnamese and many other Southeast Asian cuisines, where the bruised stalks perfume soups, curries and marinades. Its bright lemony scent comes largely from a compound called citral, which is also found in lemon peel.
Lemongrass grows beautifully in a Georgia summer. Plant a few market stalks that still have roots attached, or buy a small plant, and set it in a large pot in full sun. By August it can form a fountain of leaves several feet tall. It is a tropical plant, though, and Middle Georgia winters can be hard on it. Many gardeners grow it as a summer annual, or divide a clump in fall and keep a piece indoors in a bright window until spring.
To harvest, cut a stalk near the base and use the tender lower portion in cooking. The leaves are too fibrous to eat but make a pleasant tisane steeped in hot water, or a few blades can be tied in a knot and dropped into a pitcher of cold water.
Citronella and the scent of summer evenings
Citronella oil comes from two related grasses, one long associated with Sri Lanka and the other with Java. The oil was traded widely by the nineteenth century and became familiar in soaps and, eventually, in the candles and torches that scent so many American backyards. Its aroma is grassier and woodier than lemongrass, with less sweetness.
The potted plant sold as a citronella plant in garden centers is usually not the grass at all but a lemon-scented geranium. It smells pleasant when you rub a leaf, which is the best way to enjoy it.
A citronella candle adds a familiar summer atmosphere. For dependable protection from mosquito bites, especially when traveling or anywhere mosquito-borne illness is a concern, choose a repellent registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and follow its label. The EPA offers a tool for finding one at epa.gov, and your doctor can answer questions about what is right for your family.
Handling both oils with care
Lemongrass and citronella essential oils are potent, and both can irritate the skin, lemongrass in particular. A few guidelines:
- Never apply either oil undiluted. Use a low dilution in a carrier oil and try a small patch first.
- Keep them away from the eyes and wash your hands after handling.
- Use them sparingly in a diffuser. A drop or two blended with a softer oil, such as lavender or sweet orange, goes a long way.
- Keep oils out of reach of children and pets, and ask your veterinarian before diffusing around animals.
- Talk with your doctor before using them if you are pregnant, nursing or have a health concern.
Used thoughtfully, these two grasses offer a little bit of the tropics on a Georgia summer evening: a stalk simmering in a pot of soup, a candle flickering on the table and that bright, green scent drifting across the yard.