In short
Makrut lime leaf oil, sold as petitgrain combava, is steam-distilled from the leaves and twigs of Citrus hystrix. Rich in citronellal, it is fresh, green and lemon-lime, and is a different product from the peel oil.
What Makrut Lime Leaf Oil smells like
AromaWeb describes kaffir lime petitgrain oil, also called combava petitgrain or makrut lime leaf oil, as distilled from the leaves and twigs, with a history of interest in perfumery rather than aromatherapy, and warns that it is not the oil cold-pressed or distilled from the rind. A 2022 composition study reports Citrus hystrix leaf oil dominated by citronellal and citronellol. The Good Scents Company lists the leaf oil for perfumery use.
- Leading note
- Green lemon-lime
- Supporting facets
- Citronella-like
- Faint facets
- Rosy
- Character
- Fresh, powerful
What makes Makrut Lime Leaf Oil distinctive
A citronellal-driven, leafy lemon-lime, greener than any citrus peel oil.
Where the descriptions disagree: Some suppliers sell a peel oil under similar names; composition varies by origin.
How Makrut Lime Leaf Oil is used
Used as a top note for green-citrus freshness in colognes and citrus compositions.
Typical role: lift (adds diffusion and radiance, especially at the top); modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
Formulation considerations
Composition varies by origin: studies report citronellal dominant in some oils and other components in others. Citronellal and citronellol are declarable allergens in some markets. Not the peel oil.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Essential oil
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Citrus / Green
- Note position
- Top note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Kaffir Lime Leaf Oil, Petitgrain Combava, Combava Leaf Oil
- Botanical source
- Citrus hystrix
No CAS number is shown: suppliers use different identifiers for this material, and none could be confirmed as its own.
Safety and compliance
This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.
Materials it works with
-
Lime Oil (Expressed)
Essential oil · Citrus / Green — citrus, green, zesty, aromatic
-
Citronellal
Aroma chemical · Citrus / Green — lemony, citronella, green, fresh
-
Lemongrass Oil
Essential oil · Citrus / Green — lemon, grassy, herbal, fresh
Used in formulas and accords
Not currently used in any published formula.
The Formula & Accord Library lists Makrut Lime Leaf Oil here as soon as a published formula, accord or base uses it.
Further reading
Questions about Makrut Lime Leaf Oil
Is Makrut Lime Leaf Oil natural or synthetic?
Makrut Lime Leaf Oil is natural. It is a volatile oil obtained from plant material by steam distillation or, for citrus peels, by cold expression.
Sources
- AromaWeb — Kaffir Lime Leaf (Petitgrain) Essential Oil — published perfumery reference.
- Journal of Tropical Biodiversity and Biotechnology — Citrus hystrix leaf oil composition (2022) — published literature.
- The Good Scents Company — citrus hystrix leaf oil — odour database.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 4 November 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.