Citronella is not food

No.

Don’t eat citronella. Don’t cook with it. Don’t put it in your drink. It’s an essential oil meant for repelling insects, not for human consumption.

The problem is confusion with lemongrass. Both are grassy plants that smell lemony, but they are not the same. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is edible and used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking. Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus or winterianus) is too concentrated and too harsh. Ingesting even small amounts can cause throat irritation, stomach upset, and at higher doses, central nervous system depression.

You see citronella in candles, sprays, and lotions. That’s its job. If a recipe calls for “lemongrass” and you reach for citronella, you’re going to have a bad time.

Stick to the candle.