Ever feel like you’re a square peg in a round hole? If my outdoor dining setting was a sentient being, it would be nodding, given it’s currrently inside getting acquainted with my sofa and armchairs. (Actually, they are armless armchairs. I’m guessing they have a technically proper name, but I’m more versed in plant names than in furniture. What can I say.)
My back yard and patio are in the midst of some renovation work, hence the square peg, round hole deal. But if dining outside was a possibility right now, I’d be diffusing citronella to help ward off the mozzies and bugs.
Most of us are familiar with citronella’s capabilities when it comes to insects thanks to manufacturers of jumbo citronella candles. Me, I recommend beeswax candles and a large diffuser and authentic essential oils instead. This gives you all the benefits with clean air and none of the added synthetics and petrochemicals. Please click here to get my help with choosing and ordering a diffuser.
Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) plants are typically found in Sri Lanka, and the essential oil – the lifeblood of the plant – is extracted through steam distillation of the aerial parts (aka the bits that show above ground) and leaves. Constituent-wise, citronella is rich in geraniol and limonene.
My favourite source of citronella essential oil is via Young Living Purification™. (They also have citronella available as a single oil in some markets.) This blend includes other oils with citronella to optimise each other’s benefits. Lemongrass is also known for its purifying properties. Rosemary, melaleuca alternifolia, lavandin (not lavender – there’s a big difference) and myrtle combine well together for a refreshing blend. It’s great in the diffuser regularly not just for deterring insects, but for general freshening and deodorising by neutralising unpleasant smells.
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Citronella combines well with cedarwood to help its effectiveness, so for bug prevention in your wardrobes, try boosting your authentic cedarwood essential oil with Purification™. Diffusing regularly in bedrooms and wardrobes is a great move. You can also put Purification™ and cedarwood oils on cedar balls in your wardrobe. File or sand the cedarwood balls from time to time to help reactivate the natural oils in the wood. A few drops of essential oils through the final rinse of your washing is a super-easy way to put those helpful molecules through your fabrics.
Aside from diffusing, Purification™ with its mozzie deterring citronella makes an excellent natural DIY insect repellent. You’ll find a recipe here. It’s also a nurturing spray for your skin if you’ve brushed up against a scratchy shrub or tree while in the great outdoors.
From a mood perspective, citronella is a bit of a surprise package. It’s known to inspire clarity and bring comfort and courage. If anger, pessimism or conflicts have chased your joy under a rock somewhere , Joy™ is an obvious blend to try, but for a wild card, rub a little Purification™ over your chest and under your rib cage and see how it feels. Please dilute as necessary and as always, follow the usual guidelines for safe use.
