Today we will learn about the process of extracting lemongrass oil and the procedures required. Lemongrass is a naturally scented tall sedge that grows throughout tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia and Africa. In India, it is grown in Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Its essential oil is extracted from the leaves and stalks of the lemongrass plant.
What is lemongrass oil useful for?
Lemongrass has been used to treat stomach issues and high blood pressure, but the essential oil offers several additional potential health advantages. It is also becoming a popular aromatherapy oil for reducing stress, anxiety, and sadness. Also, it is used in cooking and herbal medicine.
Cultivation and Harvesting of Lemongrass Oil:
Lemongrass oil is cultivated and harvested in tropical nations like India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. It grows in thick bunches and thrives in moist, warm regions with well-drained, loose soils. Lemongrass leaves are green with sharp edges, similar to grass on a lawn but considerably bigger. It demands full light and a soil temperature of 21°C to 24°C (70°F to 75°F).
Lemongrass flowers bloom in the winter months. The first harvest is typically collected 4 to 6 months after transplanting plants. Subsequent harvests occur at 60 to 70-day intervals, depending on soil fertility and other seasonal conditions. Under typical conditions, three harvests are feasible in the first year, and three to four in future years, depending on management strategies used.
How is the Lemongrass Oil Extracted?
Lemongrass Essential Oil is obtained via steam distillation of fresh or partially dried leaves. After distillation, the oil varies in color from yellow to amber and has a fresh, sweet, grassy, and citrus-like scent. Lemongrass oil is extracted from the herbage using distillation equipment for 1.5–2 hours. When the distillate cools, it separates into a layer of oil that floats above the bulk of water formed by decantation. Lemongrass can be distilled fresh or after it has wilted.
Lemongrass oil is produced using steam distillation. Lemongrass essential oil has a distinct lemon-like smell. The oil is yellowish in hue, with 75 to 85% citral and trace amounts of other minor fragrance components. The recovery of oil from grass ranges between 0.5 and 0.8 percent. It takes around four hours to recover the oil completely.
Here are two types of distillation methods:
Hydro distillation: In this technique, the herb is packed into a vessel that is partially filled with water. The unit vessel is heated directly by fire rather than using an external boiler. This technique of distillation is less efficient, but the unit is simple and inexpensive.
Steam distillation: In this method, steam from an external boiler is injected into the chamber. Despite the increased initial cost, this technique is more efficient and produces higher-quality oil. For example, to run a 500-liter stem distillation machine effectively, herbage from a 20-acre area is necessary.
The benefits of Steam Distillation Are As Follows:
- The volume and quality of the steam may be regulated.
- Lower danger of thermal deterioration since temperatures are often not exceeding 100°C.
- The most common procedure for extracting essential oils in large amounts.
This is all about the extraction method of lemongrass essential oil. Gramme Products offers 100% pure and high-quality lemongrass oil. Our lemongrass essential oil is extracted using a steam distillation technique that preserves all the therapeutic properties.

Gramme Products
Gramme Products is a reputed provider of essential oils in Uttar Pradesh, India. For more than 24 years, we have been providing perfect solutions for skin issues.