# Is The essential Oil in Thai Lemongrass The Same as in Lemons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-essential-oil-in-thai-lemongrass-the-same-as-in-lemons/740420 "2015-12-14T15:00:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![botsgotme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@botsgotme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/botsgotme)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-essential-oil-in-thai-lemongrass-the-same-as-in-lemons/740420/1 "2015-12-14T15:00:08Z")
I love the scent to lemongrass-is it the same as from real lemons? does anybody make a concentrate of this oil? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-essential-oil-in-thai-lemongrass-the-same-as-in-lemons/740420/2 "2015-12-14T17:26:39Z")
No. Lemongrass is a totally different plant than lemons. Lemongrass comes from a [short fernlike bush](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/YosriNov04Pokok_Serai.JPG). Lemons grow on [trees](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Lemon_Tree_in_Santa_Clara_California.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-essential-oil-in-thai-lemongrass-the-same-as-in-lemons/740420/3 "2015-12-14T20:20:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No. Lemongrass is a totally different plant than lemons. Lemongrass comes from a [short fernlike bush](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/YosriNov04Pokok_Serai.JPG). Lemons grow on [trees](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Lemon_Tree_in_Santa_Clara_California.jpg). Maybe I’m just being pedantic here, but the lemongrass as pictured is, unremarkably, a grass. It’s not a bush nor a fern, and looks like neither. Lemongrass oil is [widely available](http://smile.amazon.com/Lemongrass-Essential-Undiluted-Therapeutic-Grade/dp/B005XQWYXC?sa-no-redirect=1). ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-essential-oil-in-thai-lemongrass-the-same-as-in-lemons/740420/4 "2015-12-14T20:28:30Z")
Both lemon and lemon grass are skin sensitizing and may make sunburns a whole lot worse, though. As lemongrass is frequently used in natural bug repellant, this can be a problem. Keep it on your clothes or hair if you want to wear it, and make sure it’s well diluted in a carrier oil. A little goes a long way. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-essential-oil-in-thai-lemongrass-the-same-as-in-lemons/740420/5 "2015-12-14T20:38:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No. Lemongrass is a totally different plant than lemons. Lemongrass comes from a [short fernlike bush](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/YosriNov04Pokok_Serai.JPG). Lemons grow on [trees](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Lemon_Tree_in_Santa_Clara_California.jpg). Also, the sour taste that is common in Thai dishes doesn’t come from the lemon grass, as many think. Limes are used for that. Lemon grass is mostly for aroma, and imparts only a very faint taste. ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-essential-oil-in-thai-lemongrass-the-same-as-in-lemons/740420/6 "2015-12-14T20:44:48Z")
No. Apparently lemon essential oil is 90% limonine and 5% citral while lemongrass is primarily citral. See here for more details. [http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/](http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/) (Edited to correct typo)