dōTERRA Lemongrass oil: price, uses and what to know

Lemongrass is the bold, cheap and cheerful oil of the kitchen and the garden. It smells like a Thai kitchen and a fresh lemon at once, it cuts through grease and odours and it fills a terrace on a summer evening. It is also a strong skin irritant, so its place is in the diffuser and the cleaning cupboard far more than on the body.

In short: Cymbopogon flexuosus, steam-distilled from the grass, rich in citral, with a sharp, lemony, grassy aroma. It costs $15 wholesale in the US and £14.26 in the UK, is used in the kitchen, on outdoor evenings and for freshening shoes and bins, and must be heavily diluted on skin.

What it is and where it comes from

Lemongrass is a tall tropical grass widely grown in India, Southeast Asia and Africa. Cymbopogon flexuosus, the species used for dōTERRA’s oil, is sometimes called East Indian lemongrass. The grass is cut several times a year and steam-distilled while fresh or partly dried. The same plant is used fresh in Thai and Vietnamese cooking.

The key compound is citral, a mix of geranial and neral, often 70–80% of the oil. Citral is what gives lemongrass its intense lemon character, stronger and less sweet than actual lemon peel oil, and also what makes it irritating to skin.

Aroma

Bright lemon with a green, grassy and slightly earthy undertone, like crushed lemongrass stalks. It is sharper and longer-lasting than Lemon oil and holds up well in blends with spicy and woody oils.

How people use it

In the diffuser.

Blend	Drops	When
Lemongrass + Peppermint	2 + 2	Hot summer day
Lemongrass + Lavender	2 + 3	Balcony or terrace in the evening
Lemongrass + Eucalyptus	2 + 2	Outdoor evenings, closing windows
Lemongrass + Wild Orange	2 + 3	Kitchen after cooking

Outdoors. Many people diffuse lemongrass on the terrace on summer evenings, or put a few drops on wooden clothes pegs or a terracotta disc near where they sit. It is a pleasant, citrus-herbal background scent; it is not a substitute for insect protection where that matters for health.

In the kitchen. Five to eight drops in a 500 ml vinegar-and-water spray make a strong degreasing cleaner for hobs, extractor hoods and bins. Lemongrass also works well on chopping boards that smell of garlic or fish (rinse afterwards).

For shoes, bins and bags. Two drops on a cotton pad inside each shoe overnight, or on a pad at the bottom of the kitchen bin under the bag, keep odours down. Replace every few days.

On skin. Rarely, and very diluted: one drop per 10 ml of carrier oil in a foot or leg massage oil for adults.

In cooking (US). In the US Lemongrass carries a supplement label, and a toothpick dipped in the bottle flavours a curry or soup. Follow your country’s label.

Safety

• Lemongrass is a strong skin irritant. Never apply neat. Dilute to about one drop per 10 ml of carrier oil for adults.
• Not for children’s skin; diffuse only in small amounts in ventilated rooms with children.
• Patch-test first on the inner arm and wait 24 hours.
• Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes; wash hands after handling.
• Ask a doctor before use in pregnancy, or if you have glaucoma.
• Keep away from pets.

Is it worth the price?

At $15 for about 250 drops, Lemongrass costs around 6 cents a drop, so a cleaning spray works out at about 50 cents. It is one of the best-value oils for practical home use, and its strong scent means you need less than with Lemon. Lemongrass is occasionally blended with synthetic citral or cheaper species; dōTERRA’s batch results are at sourcetoyou.com.

What to pair it with

Lemongrass is not part of Home Essentials or Family Essentials. It pairs well with Lemon and Tea Tree for cleaning, with Peppermint for hot days, and with Lavender on summer evenings. As a cheap add-on to a first order, it is a practical choice; see where to buy dōTERRA cheaper.

Where to buy it

Buy from the official dōTERRA warehouse in your own country at the price shown in the table above. At this price there is no reason to risk a marketplace bottle of unknown origin; see how to spot a fake. Pick your country on the home page, or ask us.

Questions and answers

How much does dōTERRA Lemongrass cost?

In the US a 15 ml bottle is $15.00 wholesale and $20.00 retail; in the UK £14.26 / £19.01. It is one of the cheapest oils in the range; the table above lists ten countries from the official October 2026 price lists.

Can I put Lemongrass on my skin?

Only heavily diluted: about one drop per 10 ml of carrier oil. Lemongrass is rich in citral, a strong skin irritant, so it should never be applied neat and is not suitable for children's skin.

Is Lemongrass the same as citronella?

No, although they are close relatives in the Cymbopogon genus. Citronella is woodier and is used mainly in outdoor candles; lemongrass is sharper and more lemony, and many people use it on summer evenings outside for the same reason.

How do I use Lemongrass for smelly shoes?

Put two drops on a cotton pad or a folded tissue and leave it inside each shoe overnight. Do not drip oil directly on leather or fabric, as it can leave a mark.

Is Lemongrass in a starter kit?

No. Lemongrass is not one of the ten oils in Home Essentials or Family Essentials, so it is bought separately.

This information is for general aromatic and household use. dōTERRA products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Follow the label of the product sold in your country; ask a doctor before use during pregnancy, with children or with medical conditions.