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Citronella Candles Don’t Really Work. Stop Buying Them

Citronella, an essential oil distilled from a type of lemongrass, has long been regarded as a “natural” mosquito repellent. Citronella oil is used in many different forms—from tabletop candles to oil diffusers to 5-foot tiki torches—to attempt to keep the pests at bay. But the truth is there’s no indication that citronella candles provide more protection than any other candle-produced smoke. This is because essential oils don’t offer as substantial an invisible shield as EPA-approved repellents like DEET and picaridin do. A mosquito interprets the world through multiple chemical receptors, according to Laurence Zwiebel, the chair of biological science at Vanderbilt University. Essential oils…

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 Insect Repellent Myths

Citronella candles are only effective at repelling mosquitoes in the immediate radius around the candle and in the absence of a breeze. Unfortunately, Aedes mosquitoes prefer to feed off the lower extremities of the body, like the ankles, away from candles on table tops. Like the citronella candle, citronella plants, if at all, only provide protection for the immediate area around them. Because most people place them in pots, this can potentially become a mosquito source because of the water that accumulates in the pot saucer. Lavender plants are also a popular option, but besides potentially attracting mosquitoes, they can also be a potential source if they are stored in a plant pot with a saucer.

Articles of Interest

Do Citronella Candles Work? Repellents to Try Instead

You'll probably still get mosquito bites with a lit citronella candle nearby.

Does a Citronella Plant Really Repel Mosquitoes? Here's What Studies Say

In light of these facts, let's look at the two claims commonly made about citronella plants. The first is easy to dismiss. Simply having a citronella plant in your garden won't deter mosquitoes. Some gardeners swear that it works, but studies have found that it doesn't. Even if you plant a whole garden full of citronella plants, it still won't be enough to have a repellant effect on mosquitoes.

The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

Forget the citronella. These repellents have ingredients that are known to be effective.

Want to repel mosquitoes? Don't use citronella candles

DEET, lemon eucalyptus oil best bets for repelling bloodsuckers.

Why Essential Oils Make Terrible Bug Repellents

Even if essential oils were subject to the EPA’s efficacy-testing guidelines, all indications are that they would fall short of repellents containing picaridin and DEET. Essential oils are just not that great at repelling mosquitoes and ticks. We have tested a number of other essential oil repellents over the years and many of them have since been discontinued. This only further increases our skepticism about the overall reliability of the category in general.