Fresh New Ways To Use Lemongrass Essential Oil

The history of lemongrass essential oil

Lemongrass, latin name Cymbopogon citratus, comes to us from the plant family called Poaceae, sometimes referred to as ‘the grass family’. The name is fitting, as lemongrass is quite literally a perennial grass that grows in tropical areas of the world like Asia, India, Africa and Australia. Common names for lemongrass include barbed wire grass or citronella grass, referring to the stiffness and rigidity of the shoots themselves and the distinct lemony scent of the plant. When it comes to producing essential oil, the young shoots of the plant are steam distilled which produces a fresh, lemony and pungent oil that is used to freshen the air, help to relax the body and mind and provide a sunny disposition.

Perennial plants like lemongrass are known to grow and live for many years, making it an incredibly versatile and viable plant for essential oil distillation and use. Taking 1-3 years to reach a maximum yield, the lemongrass plant is typically replaced every 6-8 years when its yield begins to lessen. Requiring exceptionally bright light for most of the day alongside damp soil and excellent drainage, lemongrass is a true tropical plant that thrives in regions of the world where the temperature never dips below freezing and the sun is almost always shining; sounds dreamy, doesn’t it?

Below we’re going to lean into some of the products we offer at Saje that contain this bright and zesty essential oil and why you should consider adding them to your personal wellness routines and rituals.

Lemongrass essential oil for a beautiful smelling home

We know that scent is powerful, and scent is also personal. A part of feeling at home in your home is surrounding yourself with the aromas you find appealing, and that help create a sense of comfort and stability in your space. Lemongrass is the perfect addition to many essential oil blends as it integrates seamlessly with other scents like mints and citruses. Because of its inherent stimulating and revitalizing properties, blends that contain lemongrass essential oil are an excellent choice when looking for a daytime option that will help you feel naturally boosted and recharged.

Products we love:

After The Rain diffuser blend: one of our longest-loved diffuser blends at Saje is this lively, fresh and exhilarating blend that makes you feel like you’ve just taken a long walk in a refreshing sun shower. Formulated with citrusy and uplifting bergamot, fresh and cooling peppermint and herbal and zesty lemongrass, we like to diffuse this blend when we’re looking to feel uplifted while staying grounded.

Elevate diffuser blend: the name really does say it all. We diffuse this cheerful and bright blend when we want to feel invigorated and revitalized during the daytime. Fresh and positive lemongrass meets sweet and citrusy orange alongside a tart and lesser-known citrus called yuzu. Comparable to the tartness of a lime, yuzu is prized for its essential oil and rarely used for its fruit. Being that it’s a bright and stimulating essential oil, it fits the bill here for an overall cheery and boosting blend that’s perfect for grey, rainy days when you’re looking to feel sunny on the inside.

Lemongrass essential oil as part of your daily cleansing routine

Lemongrass is also a common ingredient in body care products, as its refreshing and citrusy nature makes it ideal for when you’re looking for a wake up call first thing in the morning. We’re including two of our 100% natural, double milled bar soaps that are scented with essential oils, colored naturally with herbs and other plant materials, and designed to provide skin cleansing and softening benefits to the skin each time you step in the bath or shower.

Products we love:

Skin Soother bar soap: this gently cleansing bar was formulated to help soothe and smooth the skin with the delicate properties of herbal and floral lavender alongside the invigoration of warming rosemary and the deodorizing properties of lemongrass. Because sensitive skin requires the most gentle of care, this bar contains intensely moisturizing olive, palm and coconut oils to help keep skin nourished and deeply hydrated.

Liquid Sunshine bar soap: the newest bar soap to join our collection, Liquid Sunshine is a well-loved scent by our Community, made popular as our best selling diffuser blend and foaming hand soap. This formula combines the bright, citrusy and balancing benefits of tangerine with sweet, light and tangy notes of lemongrass for a natural pick-me-up each time you step into the bath or shower.

Lemongrass essential oil for natural clean cleaning

Because of its naturally deodorizing properties, lemongrass essential oil just makes sense when it comes to home cleaning products designed to help replace synthetics with natural. Look for lemongrass when you want to help cut through grease and residue, or you want to remove anything sticky or caked on.

Product we love:

Lemongrass 100% pure single note: we also offer lemongrass as a single note, meaning that it’s a 100% pure and undiluted essential oil that you can blend with other ingredients to create personalized and highly efficacious products to support your well-being. Lemongrass is fresh and sharp with a unique lemony scent that is an instant boost to the senses once inhaled. In a traditional sense, it can be used to metaphorically cut through any sort of heavy thoughts or feelings, helping to restore clarity. Just like a ray of sunshine, lemongrass can be used to help ease difficult feelings and encourage positivity. We recommend adding two drops to a carrier oil for local application, using in a facial steam, or inhaling while using a diffuser. A note of caution: because lemongrass is such a powerful essential oil, less is always considered more. It’s not advised to use lemongrass in the bath or in massage if you have sensitive or allergy-prone skin. Even with normal skin, it’s advised to use only 1-2 drops maximum and to blend with a carrier oil like grapeseed or jojoba prior to any topical application, to avoid stinging or sensitization.

Lemongrass essential oil use in traditional ayurvedic medicine:

In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, lemongrass is referred to as Bhuslrina, and is indicated as being beneficial to both the Pitta (the elemental makeup of fire and water, meaning ‘that which digests things’ ) and Kapha (the elemental makeup of water and earth, meaning ‘that which holds things together’) doshas.

In Ayurveda, lemongrass is considered to be a powerful remedy. Lemongrass essential oil is considered to have a neutral effect on vata dosha, and to help alleviate excess kapha and pitta dosha. Lemongrass is thought to act as a tonic that supports the body’s digestive, nervous and respiratory systems, and can help fortify the nerves and muscles when added to a massage oil.

As a traditional use, lemongrass helps to release too much pitta energy by encouraging sweating and detoxification. When used in a muscle rub, or added to a warm bath, lemongrass essential oil helps soothe achy areas by helping the body eliminate excess fluid and toxins. The bright, happy scent of lemongrass essential oil helps energize, and improve your outlook on the day.

Here are some of the ways it’s thought to affect the body:

Effect on Doshas: balancing and centering to Pitta and Kapha

Taste: pungent

Energetics: cooling

Traditional Main Actions in Ayurveda: can act as sedating and calming to the nervous system, as well as soothing and balancing to the body; relieving of general stressors

Our favorite ways to use lemongrass essential oil

Lemongrass has been used throughout history for its many benefits, including as a prominent feature in many culinary delights. Lemongrass has been used to flavor soups, stews, teas and many herbal preparations all over the world, bringing bright and zesty flavors to many of your favorite foods. (Here’s a tip: when shopping for lemongrass, go for the heavier stalks. Lighter stalks may indicate that the plant has dried out). Though large scale production for lemongrass as an essential oil is relatively new, it has quickly become one of the most sought after oils for its freshening properties, lemony aroma and soothing benefits to the body, mind and spirit.