Constituent · Oxygenated monoterpene
citronellal
citronellal is an oxygenated monoterpene (an alcohol, ester, oxide or ketone) — the group that carries much of an oil’s characteristic aroma and softer character. Across our dataset it was measured in 18 oils (190 samples), concentrating most in Lemon eucalyptus, Citronella, Melissa.
Essential oils richest in citronellal
Measured relative composition (GC peak-area %) pooled across published GC-MS samples — median, typical range (middle 50%) and the maximum seen.
| Oil | Median | Typical range | Max | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon eucalyptus | 31.3% | 18.95%–43.65% | 56% | 2 |
| Citronella | 27.7% | 23.38%–39% | 61.9% | 21 |
| Melissa | 6.36% | 2.83%–16.76% | 22.17% | 26 |
| Cypress | 5.33% | 5.33%–5.33% | 5.33% | 1 |
| Coriander | 5.02% | 3.04%–6.01% | 7% | 3 |
| Laurel | 4.04% | 4.04%–4.04% | 4.04% | 1 |
| Black pepper | 2.67% | 1.86%–3.47% | 4.28% | 2 |
| Vitex | 2.06% | 2.06%–2.06% | 2.06% | 1 |
| Geranium | 0.59% | 0.38%–10.2% | 14.2% | 32 |
| Cinnamon bark | 0.54% | 0.54%–0.54% | 0.54% | 1 |
| Lemongrass | 0.48% | 0.23%–1.11% | 17.06% | 15 |
| Grapefruit | 0.26% | 0.13%–0.31% | 0.63% | 12 |
| Lemon myrtle | 0.24% | 0.24%–0.24% | 0.24% | 1 |
| Orange | 0.2% | 0.11%–1.29% | 5.02% | 20 |
| Lemon | 0.17% | 0.1%–0.24% | 5.02% | 13 |
| Petitgrain | 0.1% | 0.1%–0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| Tangerine | 0.08% | 0.07%–0.22% | 22.2% | 12 |
| Lime | 0.05% | 0.04%–0.2% | 83.76% | 26 |
Oils in our library are linked above — open any profile for its full composition, safety panel and the research behind it.
Related constituents
Other oxygenated monoterpene compounds across the oils.
Figures are GC peak-area percentages pooled across published GC-MS samples, not concentrations, and describe chemistry — not health effects. How this is built →