9978 Citronella oil

I have a large Citronella bush outside my kitchen door, does anyone know how to make Citronella oil?, have googled to no avail.
Thanks
A

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

You're right Angie. Difficult. to find online. All I know is the oil is derived from the stems and leaves. Are you being bitten again then???

No more than usual Sal, it just seems I could do something useful with the plant if not oil then some distillation, or infusion? all I need is a cauldron and a recipe, I have the black cats already.
A

Apparently, if you have the right 'citronella plant' it can be steam distilled

[url=http://www.gardenandhearth.com/Plant-Guides/Citronella.htm]Citronella, Grow Your Own Mosquito Repellant[/url]

.

Thanks Alan, it is not a grass though, more a woody shrub, when I googled I came up with lemon grass, which it isnt, didnt think this would be so difficult, as for cat repellant , it doesnt seem to repell all of mine!
A

No but if it's citronella then propagate it Angie. Should deter insects surely if there is a lot of it.

Found this for steam distilling lavender - would probably work on [crushed] citronella clippings

[url=http://www.instructables.com/id/Be-a-Romantic-Scientist:-Distill-your-own-perfume-/]Be a Romantic Scientist: Distill your own perfume oil. - Instructables - DIY, How To, science, craft[/url]

.

My advice - enjoy the shrub, buy some Autan or if you must go down the natural route buy some citronella oil, it's not cheap and keep it in a cool dark place.

If the insects like you then take vitamin B compound. I do and it works. You emit an odour that puts off the insects but is undetectable to humans! It is mostly women that attracts the little blighters suppose we should be flattered??:no:
B