What Is Citrepel® 75 and Why Do We Use It Instead of Synthetic Actives?

If you have been looking for a natural insect repellent, you may have come across the ingredient Citrepel® 75. It is the key active ingredient used in THEYE® insect repellents, but what exactly is it, and how is it different from citronella oil?

The answer starts with a plant called Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus).

What is Citrepel® 75?

Citrepel® 75 is a refined PMD-rich botanical active ingredient used in insect repellent formulations.

PMD stands for p-menthane-3,8-diol, a naturally occurring molecule with insect repellent properties. Citrepel® 75 is a refined version of PMD Rich Botanical Oil and contains approximately 75% PMD.

The important point is that Citrepel® 75 is not simply citronella oil.

It starts with botanical material from Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus), which is then processed and refined to produce a concentrated PMD rich active suitable for use in insect repellents.

This makes Citrepel® 75 very different from simply applying citronella essential oil to the skin.

Citrepel® 75 vs Citronella Oil: What's the Difference?

The two are often confused because they originate from the same plant, but they are not the same ingredient.

Citronella oil is the aromatic essential oil obtained from citronella grass. It contains a complex mixture of naturally occurring compounds and is particularly well known for its distinctive citrus like fragrance.

Citrepel® 75, on the other hand, is a refined PMD-rich botanical active. Its refinement concentrates the PMD component, producing an ingredient that is much more specifically suited to use as an insect repellent making it highly effective at repelling insects. 

So, in simple terms:

Java citronella → citronella oil → refinement → PMD rich Citrepel® 75

This distinction is important when comparing natural insect repellents. A product containing citronella essential oil isn't equivalent or effective compared to a product formulated with a defined concentration of PMD.

What Is PMD?

PMD, or p-menthane-3,8-diol, is the important insect-repellent molecule in Citrepel® 75.

PMD is recognised as an insect repellent active by the NHS, EPA & CDC which lists p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) among active ingredients used in skin applied insect repellents.

Citronella oil in its raw form is not an effective insect repellent, and it not recognised to be effective to be used by any regulatory body. Citronella based insect repellents can be what give natural insect repellents a bad reputation as being un-effective. However pick the right natural ingredient like Citrepel®75 which is scientifically formulated by THEYE® in our own unique blend and you end up with a highly effective natural insect repellent. 

Why Do We Use Citrepel® 75 Instead of Synthetic Actives?

Many insect repellents use synthetic active ingredients such as DEET or picaridin. These are well established insect repellents and can provide excellent protection when used correctly.

At THEYE®, however, we wanted to develop a different option: an insect repellent based around a plant derived active ingredient while still taking the science and performance of insect protection seriously.

Citrepel® 75 gives us that opportunity.

Rather than simply using an essential oil because it is natural, we use a refined, PMD-rich botanical active that has been specifically developed for use in insect repellent formulations.

For us, this is an important distinction:

Natural origin is only part of the story. The active ingredient, its concentration and the finished formulation all matter.

Natural Doesn't Have to Mean Simply Using Essential Oils

There is sometimes an assumption that a natural insect repellent means putting an essential oil into a bottle and hoping it works.

That's not the approach we take.

Citrepel® 75 allows us to use a botanical source while benefiting from a refined and concentrated active ingredient. The result is a more sophisticated approach to plant based insect repellent formulation.

The CDC similarly makes an important distinction between tested repellent actives and simply using essential oils. It specifically recommends repellents containing active ingredients with evidence of safety and effectiveness, and notes that pure essential oils should not be confused with formulated PMD based repellent products.

The principle is worth remembering: the source of an ingredient and the finished repellent product are not necessarily the same thing.

Why Citrepel® 75 Fits the THEYE® Philosophy

At THEYE®, we wanted to create insect repellents for people who are looking for an alternative to conventional synthetic actives without simply compromising on formulation quality.

Citrepel® 75 is a good fit because it provides:

• A plant derived starting material

• A source of PMD, a recognised insect repellent active

• A refined and concentrated botanical ingredient

• An alternative to traditional synthetic actives such as DEET

• A foundation for modern, effective insect repellent formulations

Our aim is simple: to make plant based insect protection that fits modern life.

Whether you're travelling, camping, gardening or simply enjoying time outdoors, choosing an insect repellent is about more than whether an ingredient sounds natural. You need to consider the active ingredient, concentration, formulation and how the product is intended to be used.

Citrepel® 75: From Java Citronella to Modern Insect Repellent

The journey from plant to finished repellent is what makes Citrepel® 75 interesting.

It begins with Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus), a botanical source. Through controlled processing and refinement, a PMD-rich active is produced. That active can then be incorporated into a finished insect repellent formulation.

So when you use a THEYE® product containing Citrepel® 75, you're not simply using citronella oil.

You're using a carefully formulated insect repellent built around a refined PMD rich botanical active.

And that is exactly why we chose it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Citrepel® 75 the same as citronella oil?

No. Citrepel® 75 is a refined PMD-rich botanical active derived from Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus). It is very different from ordinary citronella essential oil.

Is Citrepel® 75 natural?

Citrepel® 75 is derived from botanical material and is described by its technical documentation as a refined PMD-rich botanical oil. It is then processed to concentrate the PMD-rich fraction.

What is PMD in insect repellent?

PMD stands for p-menthane-3,8-diol, a naturally occurring molecule with insect-repellent properties. 

Is PMD recognised as an insect repellent?

Yes. The  NHS, CDC lists PMD among active ingredients that can help prevent mosquito bites, while the US EPA lists PMD among active ingredients used in registered skin applied insect repellents.

Why doesn't THEYE® simply use citronella oil?

Because citronella oil and Citrepel® 75 are not the same thing. Citrepel® 75 is refined to provide a concentrated PMD-rich botanical active, making it much more appropriate for a modern insect repellent formulation. Citronella oil alone does not prove to be effective when used as an insect repellent. 

Further Reading & Independent Information

If you want to learn more about insect repellents, mosquito bite prevention and the science behind repellent ingredients, these independent sources are useful:

• NHS – Dengue: UK health guidance on preventing mosquito bites when travelling, including the use of insect repellent. NHS: Dengue

• NHS – Japanese Encephalitis: UK travel-health advice on avoiding mosquito bites and using insect repellent. NHS: Japanese Encephalitis

• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively: Practical guidance on applying insect repellents correctly and safely. EPA: Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively

THEYE® — plant-based insect protection, refined by science.