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How Effective Is Burning Citronella Oil With Mosquitoes?

Citronella oil comes from dried cymbopogon grasses native to Southeast Asia, South America and the Caribbean. The oil has been used for more than 50 years as an insect repellent in candles, lotions and sprays. It repels insects without inflicting injury or death. People use citronella candles at outdoor functions like cookouts and pool parties with varying degrees of success to provide protection from mosquitoes.

  1. Chemicals

    • Chemical analysis of citronella oil reveals a mixture of more than a dozen monoterpenes, organic compounds produced by plants. A terpene serves several functions in a plant including protection against disease and insects. These terpenes form the basis for the effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes. It is uncertain how they work when burned in candles but it is believed they block the neural pathways of the mosquito. This affects the movement and metabolism without killing the mosquito.

    Smoke

    • The smoke from citronella candles reduces the chances of mosquito bites. Part of the protection comes from citronella and part comes from the smoke itself. Burning any candle will provide some protection from mosquitoes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The reason is unsure but it may result from the generation of carbon dioxide. Stay close to the candle; protection diminishes as the distance increases.

    Length of Time

    • The length of time it works is an important component of any insect repellent's effectiveness. Studies have shown that citronella oil as a lotion has a short period of protection. Burning citronella oil provides longer protection; burn in the form of a candle and it lasts until the candle burns out. Citronella oil is not as effective as DEET, the most widely used ingredient in insect repellents. DEET lasts up to five hours while citronella oil in lotions provides less than one hour of protection.

    Toxicity

    • Effectiveness of an insect repellent is tied to its toxicity; if it presents dangers to humans then it cannot be used against mosquitoes. Citronella oil has been used since 1948 without any reports of adverse effects, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Citronella oil is considered safe and the EPA has not issued any regulations concerning its use. Burn citronella oil without any concern for safety to humans or animals.

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