How to use - Citronella Oil

Mosquito Repellent
Mix 1 part Citronella Oil with 10 parts carrier oil of your choice. Apply to exposed skin surfaces as required.

Fly Spray
Mix together 8 ml Citronella Oil, 1 tbsp Methylated Spirits, 2 tsp dish-washing liquid, 2 tsp white vinegar and 150 ml strong black tea. Add water to make 1 litre. Pour into a spray bottle.

Lice
Add a drop to your palm with your regular shampoo. This will treat lice, and add volume to your hair.

Ticks and Fleas
Diffuse 10 drops in a spray bottle with water.

Room Refresher
Mix together 20 drops each of Citronella Oil, Lavender Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, and Tea Tree Oil. Add 200 ml of water and 100 ml Methylated Spirits. Pour mixture into a spray bottle and shake well before use.

Do not spray near oil or watercolour art, polished or stained wood.
Helps manage cigarette smoke, animal smells and stale house odours.

It all started in the 90s...

Home Essentials was born from a simple idea: that the best remedies are often the ones your grandparents already knew.

Long before the internet was full of advice, Kiwi families were reaching for trusted, time-honoured solutions: Eucalyptus oil for a comforting bedtime routine, sweet almond oil for baby massage, or acetone for tackling stubborn stains! Simple. Effective. Honest.

For over 3 decades, we have made traditional first aid and everyday remedies available to every New Zealand household.

Used in kitchens, bathroom cabinets, and laundry rooms across the country, our products have been trusted, adapted, and passed on by generations of Kiwi families.

Chances are, some of them are already part of your cupboard staples!

1990s - where it all began

The Home Essentials adventure started in New Zealand in the 1990s, with a clear ambition: to bring simple, trustworthy everyday products and traditional household remedies into Kiwis' everyday lives.

At a time when families wanted reliable, no-fuss solutions they could trust, Home Essentials was there, on the shelf, ready when it mattered most.

2010s - Growing with kiwi families

As New Zealand families evolved, so did we.

In 2014, Home Essentials introduced a refreshed look with updated packaging, reflecting our continued commitment to quality and trusted care.

The products remained the same ones parents and grandparents had relied on for years, now presented with a cleaner, clearer look for a new generation.

2020s - A new chapter, the same values

In 2023, Home Essentials unveiled an apothecary-inspired redesign and expanded internationally, growing its range to meet the needs of modern Kiwi families.

Alongside its classic staples, Home Essentials introduced ingredients that kiwis are actively now looking to weave into their everyday routines. From soothing Aloe Vera, to skin-loving Vitamin E, and innovative Hypochlorous Acid, we have broaden the range, only building on the same honest values.