Citronella Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Citronella Oil, Cymbopogon nardus, Cymbopogon winterianus
A sharp, lemony grass oil for cleansing, protection and keeping unwanted energy away.
- Intentions
- Cleansing, Protection, Banishing
- Element
- Fire
- Planet
- Mars
- Day
- Tuesday
- Moon phase
- Waning Gibbous
- Parts used
- Steam-distilled oil from the leaves
- Scent
- Bright, lemony and grassy
How to use it
- Outdoor circle
Burn citronella candles at the edges of an outdoor ritual space to cleanse it and mark a protective boundary.
- Diffuser cleanse
Add a few drops to a diffuser with lemon oil to clear stale or heavy energy from a room after visitors leave.
- Banishing candle
Anoint a black or white candle with diluted citronella, rubbing from the middle to the ends, and name what you want gone as it burns.
Works well with
Substitutes
History and folklore
Citronella comes from tall grasses grown in Sri Lanka, Java and other tropical regions, close cousins of lemongrass. Its strong scent made it a classic way to keep insects away on summer evenings. In magick, that same keep-away quality makes citronella a natural fit for cleansing, protection and banishing unwanted influences.
A sharp, lemony grass oil for cleansing, protection and keeping unwanted energy away.
- Intentions: Cleansing, Protection, Banishing
- Element: Fire
- Planet: Mars
- Day: Tuesday
- Moon phase: Waning Gibbous
- Parts used: Steam-distilled oil from the leaves
- Scent: Bright, lemony and grassy
Safety: Never swallow the oil. Always dilute it before skin contact and patch test first; it can irritate skin and eyes. Keep the oil away from pets, especially cats, and never leave a burning candle unattended.
How to use it
- Outdoor circle. Burn citronella candles at the edges of an outdoor ritual space to cleanse it and mark a protective boundary.
- Diffuser cleanse. Add a few drops to a diffuser with lemon oil to clear stale or heavy energy from a room after visitors leave.
- Banishing candle. Anoint a black or white candle with diluted citronella, rubbing from the middle to the ends, and name what you want gone as it burns.
Works well with: White Candle, Black Candle, Lemongrass, Lemon, Black Tourmaline
Folklore
Citronella comes from tall grasses grown in Sri Lanka, Java and other tropical regions, close cousins of lemongrass. Its strong scent made it a classic way to keep insects away on summer evenings. In magick, that same keep-away quality makes citronella a natural fit for cleansing, protection and banishing unwanted influences.
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.