Citronella Oil

Citronella Oil molecular structure

5+ year old childrenSkin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Is this kid-friendly to use Citronella Oil?

YES - Generally Safe
Danger Score: 3 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Citronella Oil is generally considered safe for 5+ year old children when used in topical products. Kids may have different tolerance levels.

ℹ️General Overview

For children aged 5 and up (school-age kids, children, tweens, teens), citronella oil is usually okay when used in products made for kids and when it is diluted. It can irritate some children’s skin and, in a few cases, cause an allergic reaction. There have also been notes about possible contamination in some sources, so choose tested products.

What to Do

If you want to use a product with citronella oil for a child 5 or older: 1) Choose a ready-made product that lists safe use for children and has testing or batch information. 2) Do a small patch test first: put a little on the inner forearm and wait 24 hours. 3) Use only as directed and make sure the product is diluted (do not apply pure oil). 4) Avoid the face, hands that go to mouth, and broken or irritated skin. 5) Stop use and talk to your child’s doctor if you see redness, itching, swelling, blisters, or any breathing trouble.

⚠️Warnings

What to watch for and avoid: - Contamination reports: some assessments have flagged possible contamination (for example, traces of formaldehyde) in certain sources or poorly tested products, so prefer products with third-party or batch testing. - Skin reactions: limited evidence of skin irritation or allergy has been reported (European Chemicals Agency). Watch for redness, hives, swelling, or blisters and stop use immediately. - Do not use undiluted essential oil directly on children. - Some product-verification programs restrict use of this ingredient unless the product provides adequate safety testing; avoid unverified homemade mixtures. - If your child has a history of sensitive skin, eczema, or asthma, check with your pediatrician before use.

Confidence: HIGH

Are you holding the product?

Scan the full ingredient label and understand if it's safe for your child.

Scan the full label for free
Get instant analysis of all ingredients together

Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Cancer: The ingredient data flags high contamination concerns and lists formaldehyde as a possible contaminant. Formaldehyde is linked by health authorities to an increased cancer risk, so contaminated citronella oil could carry that long-term risk.
Irritant: The data shows a high contamination concern (formaldehyde) and essential oils can irritate skin. Formaldehyde and similar contaminants can cause redness, itching, or rash when applied to baby skin.
Asthma: The ingredient information lists formaldehyde as a contamination risk. Formaldehyde is known to worsen breathing and can trigger or worsen asthma and respiratory irritation, so contaminated topical use poses that risk.
Banned: The ingredient record notes a product-certification restriction: verified products cannot include this ingredient without special proof. That restriction signals that some safety programs limit or control its use.

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for Citronella Oil

This ingredient may also be listed as:

citronella oilCITRONELLA OILSCITRONELLA GRASS OILCEYLON TYPE CITRONELLA OILCYMBOPOGON NARDUS (CITRONELLA) ESSENTIAL OILCITRONELLA ESSENTIAL OILCYMBOPOGON NARDUS ESSENTIAL OILOIL OF CYMBOPOGON NARDUSOIL OF CITRONELLACITRONELLA OILCYMBOPOGON NARDUS (CITRONELLA) OIL

Always check ingredient labels carefully, as ingredients may be listed under different names.

Common Questions About Citronella Oil

Is this kid-friendly to use Citronella Oil?

Yes, Citronella Oil is generally considered safe for 5+ year old children based on current research.

What are the cancer risks of Citronella Oil for children?

Connected to cancer risk with long-term or repeated exposure.

What are the irritant risks of Citronella Oil for children?

Can cause skin redness, itchiness, or rashes—especially on sensitive baby skin.

What are the asthma risks of Citronella Oil for children?

Can make breathing issues like asthma worse in babies and kids.

What are the banned risks of Citronella Oil for children?

Banned or heavily restricted in one or more countries.

What products contain Citronella Oil?

Citronella Oil is commonly found in skincare products, cosmetics, and topical applications. Always check ingredient labels before use.

When can kids start using products with Citronella Oil?

The appropriate age depends on the specific ingredient properties and concentration. This analysis is for 5+ year old children. Use the age selector above to check other ages.

📱

Want to scan another product?

Use our camera scanner to analyze more ingredient labels

Scan Another Product