As the warmer months bring more time outdoors and open windows, now is the time to focus on Citrefort, a high-performance bio-repellent ingredient designed for use in formulations.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Van Aroma has established itself as a leading supplier of Indonesian essential oils, aroma molecules and botanical extracts. Its global reputation has been built on the outstanding quality of ingredients sourced directly at origin, as well as on the complete transparency it maintains with both customers and suppliers.
As a provider of natural solutions for cleaner formulations that are equally — and in some cases even more — effective, the company is now addressing a recurring challenge during periods of hot weather: biting insects, particularly the one we all dread — the mosquito!
According to research by Mordor Intelligence, the insect repellent market grew significantly in 2026, driven by concerns over vector-borne diseases such as Zika and dengue, as well as by increasingly outdoor-oriented lifestyles. Worldwide, consumer preference for natural repellents has increased by 1.4%, a trend that could continue to grow in light of the limitations of DEET, until now the widely favoured solution.
Aayush Tekriwal, Chief Executive Officer Van Aroma, introduces Citrefort as an alternative.
What makes Citrefort an attractive alternative to the repellents currently available on the market?
Connecting with nature has become an essential part of today’s lifestyles. Time spent outdoors should be synonymous with relaxation, fresh air and adventure, yet unfortunately it can become far less idyllic because of insect bites, which may transmit disease or simply cause discomfort.
Derived directly from sustainably sourced Indonesian citronella, Citrefort addresses the efficacy gap in modern formulations. It provides a non-toxic, environmentally friendly alternative, delivering efficacy equal to or greater than that of DEET (diethyltoluamide) and picaridin (also known as icaridin), without the associated risks of skin toxicity or plasticising effects.
In France, an experimental study conducted by the University of Tours’ Institute for Research on Insect Biology aims to demonstrate that insects associate DEET’s characteristic synthetic scent with a potential source of food — namely, our blood.
What are its properties?
Citrefort delivers high-performance protection thanks to its high concentration of PMD (p-menthane-3,8-diol), providing proven, long-lasting protection against mosquitoes.
Safe and gentle, it is a biodegradable, plant-derived active ingredient that is pleasant to use and suitable for the whole family as well as for people with active lifestyles.
Its residue-free formulation is also ideally suited to clear mists, lotions and body sprays designed for outdoor use, while providing a pleasant and subtle scent.
Let’s talk about its olfactory profile. How would you describe it?
We like to describe it as evoking a carefully composed garden rather than a chemical barrier. With its refreshing profile, vibrant citrus notes and subtly herbaceous nuances, it can easily be incorporated into premium personal care products as a functional active ingredient, bringing genuine added value to the formulation.
Java citronella and lemongrass oils are more than simply functional repellents; they are olfactory signatures of summer, awakening the senses and evoking emotions.
Can your customers or prospective customers test its efficacy beforehand?
Of course, simply upon request. As always, we provide technical data sheets and Citrefort samples so that formulators can form their own opinion of the considerable potential of this natural, highly pure ingredient, backed by science and full traceability.
If you had to summarise its benefits in two sentences?
I would say that Citrefort bridges the gap between botanical wisdom and molecular precision. Derived from Java citronella, our PMD isolate (over 90% purity) embodies a “clean luxury” approach to synthetic repellents.