Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus: What it is and How it Works
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is the active ingredient in skin-applied insect repellents including OFF!® Botanicals Insect Repellent Spray.
What Is Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus?
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), also known as Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized (EC Oil (H/C)), is a naturally sourced active substance used in insect repellents, and is effective against a range of biting insects and other arthropods.
Citriodiol®, the trade name for Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), is formed from a simple modification of sustainably harvested Eucalyptus citriodora oil (also known as Cyrombia citriodora). The main component of Citriodiol® is p-methane-3,8-diol (PMD), a compound found naturally in the leaves of the Eucalyptus citriodora tree.
How Does Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus Work?
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is used for preventing mosquito bites and deterring tick attachments, when applied to the skin. This means that insects move away from skin treated with Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus and do not feed if they encounter skin that has been treated. When applied correctly, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus forms a barrier at the skin surface that deters mosquitoes from landing on the skin.
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