Citronellol, or dihydrogeraniol, is a natural acyclic
monoterpenoidThe terpenoids , sometimes called isoprenoids, are a large and diverse class of naturally occurring organic chemicals similar to terpenes, derived from five-carbon isoprene units assembled and modified in thousands of ways. Most are multicyclic structures that differ from one another not only in...
. Both
enantiomerIn chemistry, an enantiomer is one of two stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other that are non-superposable , much as one's left and right hands are the same except for opposite orientation. It can be clearly understood if you try to place your hands one over the other without...
s occur in nature. (+)-Citronellol, which is found in
citronella oilCitronella oil is one of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon. The oil is used extensively as a source of perfumery chemicals such as citronellal, citronellol and geraniol...
s, including
Cymbopogon nardusCymbopogon is a genus of about 55 species of grasses, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World and Oceania. It is a tall perennial grass...
(50%), is the more common isomer. (−)-Citronellol is found in the oils of
roseA rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
(18-55%) and
PelargoniumPelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as scented geraniums or storksbills. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called Cranesbills. Both Geranium...
geraniums.
Citronellol is used in perfumes and insect repellents, and as a mite attractant. It is also a raw material for the production of
rose oxideRose oxide is an organic compound of the pyran class and the monoterpene class and a fragrance found in roses and rose oil. The compound has both a cis- and a trans-isomer, each with a - and -stereoisomer, but only the -cis isomer is responsible for the typical rose fragrance...
. The United States FDA considers citronellol as
generally recognized as safeGenerally recognized as safe is an American Food and Drug Administration designation that a chemical or substance added to food is considered safe by experts, and so is exempted from the usual Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act food additive tolerance requirements.-History:On January 1, 1958,...
(GRAS) for food use. Citronellol should be avoided by people with perfume allergy.
See also
- Citronellal
Citronellal or rhodinal or 3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-1-al is a monoterpenoid, the main component in the mixture of terpenoid chemical compounds that give citronella oil its distinctive lemon scent....
- Geraniol
Geraniol is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol. It is the primary part of rose oil, palmarosa oil, and citronella oil . It also occurs in small quantities in geranium, lemon, and many other essential oils. It appears as a clear to pale-yellow oil that is insoluble in water, but soluble in most common...
- Rhodinol
Rhodinol is a monoterpene alcohol that occurs naturally in geranium and citronella oils. It is used in cosmetics and perfumery to impart flowery odors....
- Pelargonium graveolens
Pelargonium graveolens is a species in the Pelargonium genus, which is indigenous to various parts of southern Africa, and in particular South Africa. It is often called geranium as it falls within the plant family Geraniaceae, although more correctly, it is referred to as Pelargonium. This...
- Perfume allergy
The most common allergic reactions to perfume or fragrance added to products is contact allergy, although other symptoms may occur, including allergic conjunctivitis....