Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
citronellol

citronellol

1 7.7
A fragrant chemical from citronella oil that people use in perfumes and insect repellents
  • noun
  • /ˌsɪtrəˈnɛlɒl/
  • Specialized
: citronelol
  • Many natural insect repellents contain citronellol as an active ingredient.

Examples

  • Perfume manufacturers often use citronellol to create floral and citrus notes.

  • The fresh scent in this soap comes from added citronellol extracted from plants.

  • The scent of citronellol is refreshing.

  • Many perfumes contain citronellol for its pleasant aroma.

  • Many natural insect repellents contain citronellol as an active ingredient.

  • Perfume manufacturers often use citronellol to create floral and citrus notes.

  • The fresh scent in this soap comes from added citronellol extracted from plants.

Surface Forms

citronellol singular
citronellols plural

Morphology

citronellol = citronella (opaque) = citronell + ol

The formation from 'citronella' and the chemical suffix '-ol' is not transparent to most learners without chemistry knowledge.

Etymology

The word citronellol comes from the plant name citronella, which comes from citron meaning 'lemon', and the chemical ending -ol meaning 'alcohol'. So citronellol is the 'alcohol' type chemical with a lemony or floral smell, which is why it is used in perfumes and insect repellents.