The scent of citronella oil is a natural mosquito repellent.
Mosquitoes are uninvited guests that spoil summer parties. Repellents such as Deet that prevent mosquito bites are, unfortunately, also toxic to humans. Faced with the unhappy choice of staying inside or using poisons, some people may look for safer ways to deter mosquito bites. Does this Spark an idea?
Citronella
Citronella oil is the active ingredient in mosquito-repellent candles. It is derived from naturally growing grasses that are similar to lemon grass. Citronella has a strong odor that some find unpleasant, but it is nontoxic. Citronella is found in candles as well as lotions and natural insect repellents because it is generally safe. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, citronella oil has been used extensively since 1948 without any reports of serious adverse effects.
Function
The odor that a citronella candle emits does not injure or kill mosquitoes or other pests. Instead, the strong scent interferes with the mosquito's's ability to find a target to bite.
Potential
Some candle makers craft their own citronella candles at home. This allows them to control the amount and quality of the citronella oil in the candle. This is a useful and fun amateur candle-making project.
Tags: citronella candle, mosquito bites, odor that