Ben Carter
Citronella candles are popular for keeping bugs away, particularly mosquitoes. Citronella is a naturally occurring oil that is distilled from two types of grass. While it is approved as safe for humans and the environment by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, its effectiveness as a mosquito repellent is questionable. Some studies have shown that citronella candles only reduce mosquito bites by about half, and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention does not include citronella products on its list of recommended mosquito repellents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | Citronella candles are not very effective in keeping mosquitoes away. They are moderately effective at repelling mosquitoes but only in the immediate area surrounding the candle. |
| Safety | Citronella is approved as safe for humans and the environment by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. |
| Alternative repellents | More effective alternatives include DEET and oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays, which reduce mosquito attraction by 60%. |
Explore related products
$11.12 $12.29
What You'll Learn
- Citronella candles are not very effective in keeping mosquitoes away
- The oil of lemon eucalyptus is a more effective mosquito repellent
- The CDC does not recommend citronella products for mosquito repellent
- The candles may draw mosquitoes closer to people
- Other natural mosquito repellents include fans and mosquito-repelling plants
Citronella candles are not very effective in keeping mosquitoes away
While citronella candles are popular, they are not very effective in keeping mosquitoes away. In a wind tunnel experiment, scientists measured how many mosquitoes moved towards a human "bait" at one end of the tunnel, depending on which repellent was used. The citronella candle did not live up to the promises on its label. At a distance of 1 meter, DEET and oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays reduced mosquito attraction by 60%, while the candle only reduced bites by about half.
Eric Hoffer, president of Hoffer Pest, explains that "citronella oil is repellent to mosquitoes to a degree, but the amount being put out by a candle isn't going to be very effective." He notes that in most cases, a citronella candle contains only a 5% concentration of citronella or less. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention does not include citronella products on its list of recommended mosquito repellents, instead recommending products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is much more effective.
Furthermore, citronella candles only provide protection in the immediate area surrounding the candle. They do not keep mosquitoes out of your yard and do nothing to prevent their multiplication. Evidence also suggests that citronella candles do more harm to beneficial insects than mosquitoes, as light traps can draw mosquitoes closer to people rather than repel them.
To effectively reduce mosquito numbers, a targeted, multipronged approach is necessary. This includes eliminating all sources in which mosquitoes breed, such as standing water, and using different repellents. Fans and mosquito-repelling plants can also help keep mosquitoes away when sitting outdoors.
Woodwick Candles: Are They Paraffin-Free?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The oil of lemon eucalyptus is a more effective mosquito repellent
While citronella candles are popular, they are not very effective in keeping mosquitoes away. Eric Hoffer, president of Hoffer Pest, notes that citronella candles are only moderately effective at repelling mosquitoes in the immediate area surrounding the candle. The closer you are to the candle, the less likely you are to be bitten.
On the other hand, oil of lemon eucalyptus is a more potent mosquito repellent. It is derived from the leaves of the Eucalyptus citriodora tree and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When applied correctly, it can repel mosquitoes for up to six hours. It is also effective against ticks, including deer ticks, lone star ticks, and brown dog ticks. Oil of lemon eucalyptus-based products can be used on children aged three years and older.
In a wind tunnel test, DEET and oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays reduced mosquito attraction by 60%. The CDC includes oil of lemon eucalyptus on its list of recommended mosquito repellents, while citronella products are notably absent from this list.
While citronella candles may provide some protection, their effectiveness is limited to the immediate vicinity of the candle. For a more reliable and long-lasting repellent, oil of lemon eucalyptus is a superior option.
Selling Candles on Etsy: A Profitable Venture?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The CDC does not recommend citronella products for mosquito repellent
While many people strive to repel mosquitoes, especially during the summer, the effectiveness of citronella candles in doing so is questionable.
Citronella is a naturally occurring oil that is distilled from two types of grass, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. It is currently approved as safe for humans and the environment by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, this does not mean that it is an effective mosquito repellent.
In a study conducted to test the effectiveness of citronella candles, a human sat at one end of a wind tunnel as "bait" while scientists measured how many mosquitoes moved towards them, depending on which repellent was used. The results showed that citronella candles had a weak repellent effect and were no better than having no protection at all.
Eric Hoffer, president of Hoffer Pest, stated that "citronella oil is repellent to mosquitoes to a degree, but the amount being put out by a candle isn't going to be very effective." He added that citronella candles typically contain only a 5% concentration of citronella or less, which is not sufficient to repel mosquitoes effectively.
Additionally, citronella candles may do more harm to beneficial insects than mosquitoes, as light traps can attract mosquitoes to the area, bringing them closer to people.
Candle-Making: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Own
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The candles may draw mosquitoes closer to people
While citronella candles are popular for keeping mosquitoes away, they may not be very effective. The candles contain citronella oil, which is derived from the leaves and stems of a cousin of lemongrass. Although mosquitoes are said to dislike the light citrus scent, the amount of citronella oil in a candle is usually not sufficient to repel mosquitoes. According to Eric Hoffer, president of Hoffer Pest, the concentration of citronella in a candle is typically 5% or less, which is not strong enough to be effective.
In addition, the light from the candle can potentially attract mosquitoes to the area, bringing them closer to people rather than repelling them. Therefore, while citronella candles may provide some protection in the immediate area surrounding the candle, they are not a reliable method for keeping mosquitoes away.
The effectiveness of citronella candles has been studied by scientists, who have found that they do not work as well as other repellents. In one test, scientists placed a cage of mosquitoes near a human volunteer and applied different repellents to the volunteer to see which ones worked best. The citronella candle was not among the most effective repellents, with other products such as DEET and oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays reducing mosquito attraction by a much higher percentage.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also does not include citronella products on its list of recommended mosquito repellents, further indicating that they may not be the best choice for keeping mosquitoes at bay. While citronella candles may provide some level of protection, it is important to be aware of their limitations and consider using other, more effective repellents to protect against mosquito bites.
Bayberry Candles: Bring Good Luck and Prosperity
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Other natural mosquito repellents include fans and mosquito-repelling plants
While some sources claim that citronella candles are ineffective at repelling mosquitoes, others consider them a natural mosquito repellent. However, other natural mosquito repellents include fans and mosquito-repelling plants.
Fans are an effective way to prevent mosquitoes from biting you. Spatial repellents, such as diffusers, emit repellents into the air to deter mosquitoes, but they are ineffective in windy conditions. However, a simple room fan can create a gentle breeze that mosquitoes, being weak flyers, will find challenging to fly through.
Mosquito-repelling plants can also help keep mosquitoes away. Citronella grass or lemongrass is a popular natural ingredient in mosquito repellents. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden recommends lemon-scented plants such as citronella grass to keep mosquitoes at bay. Catmint, a member of the mint family, is another effective mosquito repellent. A study at Iowa State University found it to be ten times more effective than DEET, the chemical used in most insect repellents. Catmint is easy to care for and can be purchased from Proven Winners. Rosemary, an herb with a woody scent, is also recommended by the New York Botanical Garden and PlantShed for keeping mosquitoes away. It thrives in hot and dry climates and can be pruned into various shapes and sizes. Lavender is another plant that may help repel mosquitoes and flies, and it smells great too. Basil is a herb that can also be used to repel flies and mosquitoes, and it grows well in containers or gardens with adequate drainage and sunlight.
Woodwick Candles: Soy Wax or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
While mosquitoes reportedly hate the light citrus scent of citronella candles, the amount of citronella in a candle is not going to be very effective in repelling mosquitoes. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention does not include citronella products on its list of recommended mosquito repellents.
Products that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is extracted from the gum eucalyptus tree, are a lot more effective than citronella. The OFF! clip-on fan containing the insecticide metofluthrin is also an effective mosquito repellent.
Mosquitoes need moisture to grow and thrive, so eliminating or treating potential breeding grounds of water can help keep them away. Fans can also be used to keep mosquitoes away when sitting outdoors.
Citronella candles are moderately effective at repelling mosquitoes but only in the immediate area surrounding the candle. The closer you are to the candle, the less likely you are to be bitten by a mosquito.
