LEMONGRASS

Lemongrass has a vivid lemon-like smell with a grassy, herbal character. Natural oils can also suggest tea and a faint earthy undertone, giving the freshness more than a simple fruit-peel impression. In a perfume, it may add a clear, incisive accent to a green composition or draw a citrus theme towards aromatic herbs. The material can be powerful, but its prominence in a finished fragrance depends on the perfumer’s dosage and the other notes.

Lemongrass comes from aromatic grasses, notably Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus. Natural essential oil is obtained by distilling the plant material with steam; the leaves are an important source. It is botanically distinct from both lemon fruit and lemon balm. Citral is a major contributor to the familiar lemon-like character of many lemongrass oils, although the composition and finer scent details vary between materials.