Do Citronella Candles Work?

The answer to Do Citronella candles do work is Maybe!  With so many conflicting online results, it’s frustrating when you just want answers.
As someone who over-reacts massively to insect bites, I feel your pain!

Read on to find out why your citronella candle might not be very good at bug repelling, and discover an amazing alternative Citronella garden solution that's as effective as DEET!

We cover some FAQs and science so you can make an educated decision.
Are you ready for a mosquito-free patio this summer?!

Do citronella candles keep bugs away?

According to one study published in 2017 in the Journal of Insect Science [1] they say no. They conducted a series of controlled tests with 11 different retail products including wearable devices, sprays and one citronella candle.

There's little detail regarding the specification of the citronella candle used, other than stating it contained 3% Citronella oil.
Of the products tested, the most effective natural repellent was a spray containing 30% PMD (Oil of lemon eucalyptus) It worked as well as the spray containing 98% DEET!

I've struggled to find any scientific studies specifically testing the efficiency of different Citronella candles. It would be impossible to conclude the insect repelling abilities based on a study using only one candle.
Given that Citronella has been used for centuries as a natural insect repellent, common sense says there's an element of effectiveness when used at high enough concentrations.

How does Citronella work?

Certain varieties of the Citronella plant contain a natural chemical called citronellal. Citronellal has molecules of PMD which are known to provide effective protection from insects by masking you from their detection systems. Unfortunately, the naturally occurring levels of PMD in citronella aren’t very high. But a UK-based company has found a way to concentrate its powers so it can be used in candles and wax melts. (More on this below)

Why is my Citronella candle not working?

It's probably badly made with poor-quality ingredients.  The problem with clearly answering why your citronella candle might not be working to repel insects starts when we try to establish if your candle contains natural citronella oil or just a synthetic fragrance. If it does use natural Citronella oil, then how much?

In the case of supermarket citronella candles, they often don't say on the label if the Citronella oil is natural.  They are also often mass-produced using cheap ingredients with unscented cores to keep the price lower.
One clue to the strength of your candle is looking for a CLP label on the base (The mandatory info for hazardous contents) If you don't have one, this either means the Citronella strength is so low, that it doesn’t trigger the requirement to have a label, or it’s non-compliant with UK regulations and it’s anyone's guess what it contains.

Many shop-bought citronella candles will leave you underwhelmed due to the lack of scent, let alone contain enough citronella to effectively work against mosquitoes.
What a waste of your hard-earned money!

If you want a well-made and safe citronella candle, then buy from a reputable professional candle maker in your local area where you can ask them all about the ingredients and the safety checks they conduct.

What repels mosquitoes better than citronella?

Products containing DEET, picaridin, and those with a sufficient concentration of PMD.  If you want an effective natural solution for your garden that doesn't involve applying products to your skin, then using insect-repellent wax melts containing Citrepel® could be the answer to your summer garden prayers!

What is Citrepel?

Citrepel® is a natural, highly effective insect repellent containing PMD-rich botanic oils.
Manufactured in the UK, it is as effective at repelling insects as synthetic products and offers protection from the bites of mosquitoes, midges, ticks, sand flies, and horse flies.[2]
It's used in a variety of natural insect-repellent products including body sprays, lotions, wristbands, and of course candles and wax melts.

Registered under the Biocidal Products Directive (BPR) Citrepel® is certified as a product of natural origin by ECOCERT.

What is PMD in insect repellent?

PMD is an effective, naturally occurring insect-repellent molecule and a decomposition product of many natural essential oils.
PMD is an active compound called p-menthane-3,8-diol, which is a first stage metabolite of menthol.  It exists in nature in plants like citronella and eucalyptus, but only in low concentrations.

The PMD level in Citrepel® has been significantly intensified through a process of refinement that boosts it to a consistently high level.  Insect repelling products containing Citrepel® have far higher levels of PMD than unrefined citronella essential oil.

How do I keep mosquitoes from biting me on my patio?

• Remove, or move away from any sources of standing water as they're a breeding ground for mosquito larvae. (Buckets with rain water, water butts, etc)
• Use insect-repellent wax melts containing Citrepel® and place the wax warmer close to where you are sitting.
• Burn incense as mosquitoes hate the smoke.
• Cover bare skin on arms and legs.
• Use a natural insect repellent spray that's high in PMD's.

Are citronella wax melts better than candles?

Yes - For outdoor use!
We love candles, but wax melts are a better choice outdoors because they are warmed using indirect heat beneath the melt.  This means more of the fragrance is released into the immediate air around you, rather than being burnt off by the flame.
Wax melts can easily be changed, and are a more affordable option if you like to have a variety of fragrances in your life.

We recommend using a tealight wax warmer outdoors when there’s little to no breeze and add some unscented tealights in glass containers to create a really relaxing summer vibe.

Is it OK to burn citronella candles indoors?

Yes - If they are made with professional ingredients that are compliant with UK regulations.  At Hunter and Walker, we produce citronella essential oil wax melts that contain a blend using insect-repelling citrepel®.  This effective bug-repellent has been professionally manufactured, specifically for use in candles and wax melts.  And our wax melts have been developed for use indoors and outdoors.

Are citronella candles safe for humans?

Yes – When professionally made with quality ingredients.
Essential oils are dangerous when used by amateurs in DIY candles because the oil can have a lower flash point than fragrance oils.  A poorly made candle can catch fire if too much oil is used, or if it's not adequately combined with the wax at the correct temperature.
Wax melts are less dangerous as there is no direct flame involved, but you must still be vigilant regarding the origins of all the ingredients.

Only buy from reputable suppliers to ensure they meet UK safety regulations.  Always follow the instructions of use and never use a tealight wax warmer for more than 4 hours.

Can burning candles be harmful?

Candles made by reputable chandlers (Candlemakers) in the UK will conform to all the current regulations and not be harmful to humans. There is no lead in the wick, despite what other search results will suggest. This is an outdated fact and modern wicks sold by UK suppliers do not contain lead.

The biggest danger is from unintentional misuse by the consumer.  Always read the safety info and care card supplied with your candle.

• Keep the wick trimmed to around 8 - 10mm after each use.
• Never place a candle in a draught or near an open window, as it will cause the candle to burn unevenly and is a fire risk if near soft furnishings. 
• Always place your candle on a heat-proof and level surface.
• Place it away from children and pets.
• Never burn a candle for more than 4 hours to avoid overheating the container.

Is it safe to sleep with a candle burning?

No! Please NEVER leave a candle burning while you sleep.  The container could get so hot that it explodes, or something could land in the wax pool and start a silent house fire.
If you ever burn candles near fresh flowers move them away.  Imagine a dry petal dropping and catching the flame before landing on your carpet alight. What a horrible thought! Please never leave a lit candle unattended.

If you want to have citronella fragrance in your room while you sleep, invest in a vapour diffuser for essential oils.  Whilst any electrical device carries a risk of fire, a properly maintained water vapour diffuser is far safer than a lit candle.

Alternatively, use a circulating fan which will disrupt the air flow and make it far harder for any insects to fly.  Plus you get the bonus of it cooling you down too!

A final word on Citronella as an insect repellent

There are too many untested variables and not enough scientific studies to conclusively answer ‘Do Citronella candles work?’
I’d urge you to avoid buying mass-produced, cheap Citronella candles and stick to natural products containing high levels of PMD.

As someone who gets bitten to pieces in summer, I’ve worked hard to find an effective alternative so I can enjoy evenings outside again in peace.  With two summers spent testing and perfecting, I’m very proud to share our Hunter and Walker Citronella and Lemongrass wax melts super-boosted with PMD! 

They come highly recommended by all our customers including wonderful 5-star reviews showing how effective they’ve found them.

I wouldn’t be in my garden without these fantastic mosquito-repelling wax melts and think I may have just produced a winning alternative to citronella candles that are 100% natural and really do work! 😉
Are you summer ready?

Citations
[1] Efficacy of Some Wearable Devices Compared with Spray-On Insect Repellents for the Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) 
[2] What is Citrepel?