Citronella, << `siht` ruh NEHL uh, >> is an oil used in perfumes and in citronella candles. It is also a source of two other ingredients used in perfumes: citronellal and geraniol.
Citronella comes from various citronella grasses, which are cultivated in many tropical regions. Workers obtain citronella by cutting the grass, leaving it in the sun for a few days to dry, and then distilling it (see Distillation ).
