Candles are an important part of general pest control because they can protect homeowners and their loved ones from mosquitoes without the spraying of pesticides around the environment.
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What Is a Mosquito Candle?
A mosquito candle is essentially a candle that, when burned, releases fumes designed to be repulsive to mosquitoes. They come in numerous sizes, including tea lights or multiple-gallon buckets.
What are the Ingredients?
Mosquito candles can come packaged with many different ingredients. Most of these ingredients are essential oils ranging from rosemary to peppermint and of course the most popular is citronella.
Interesting in a homemade mosquito candle? Check out the below video and learn how to mix lemons and a few other ingredients to keep them at bay.
Also known as oil of citronella. It is a naturally occurring insect repellent that manufacturers distill from two varieties of grass.
It’s considered a minimum-risk pesticide by the Environmental Protection Agency and one that is relatively safe to use. It first became popular in the United States around its registration in 1948.
The other common ingredients are oils derived from plants like mint and rosemary. These aren’t as popular because they have less research to support their effectiveness against mosquitoes and other pests.
How Do Mosquito Candles Work?
Mosquito candles typically work by releasing a strong enough scent that blocks out other, more attractive smells for bugs. For example, a citronella candle can muffle the smell of blood or sweat that attracts mosquitoes to humans.
Where Should You Place Mosquito Candles
Mosquito candles should be placed in public areas near the places where people will be sitting. For example, homeowners who like to sit on the patio should try to keep the candles near the seating area, either on tables or around the chairs.
People who want to protect a larger area should consider laying candles in a semi-circle formation for better protection.
What Are the Risks of Mosquito Candles?
Scientists and general researchers best know the risks of mosquito candles which use oil of citronella since it is the most popular and effective ingredient.
According to research, the main risk appears to be an allergic reaction to citronella. Otherwise, these mosquito candles have been deemed to pose little to no risk to adults, children over 6 months of age, and the environment.
Is it Harmful to Inhale the Fumes from Mosquito Candles?
Citronella shouldn’t be harmful but people should still avoid inhaling too much of the fumes because they can cause skin and lung irritation in substantial qualities.
Are Mosquito Candles Effective?
In general, mosquito candles tend to be hit or miss and nowhere near as strong as pesticides. It really depends on how bad your mosquito infestation is.
Homeowners should view mosquito candles as a minor repellent versus a surefire way to keep mosquitoes away.
If you really want to reduce your mosquito population around your house, we recommend reading our guide to trapping mosquitoes as well as our guide on spraying around your home.
Top 5 Best Mosquito Candles
In the below section we break down each of our product recommendations in a little more detail.
- Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Tea Light Candles (Our Top Pick)
- Cutter Citro Guard Candle (2nd choice)
- Repel Citronella Insect Repellent
- Mosquito Guard Repellent Candle
- BiteFighter Citronella Bucket Torch
Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Tea Light Candles
Murphy’s Naturals produces mosquito candles which are 100% organic and free of DEET, a known toxic pesticide found in other pest control products. The candles include a mixture of citronella, rosemary, peppermint, cedarwood, and lemongrass to create a fresh but not overpowering scent.
Each tea light mosquito candle is about 1.5 in. in diameter and there are 12 in a box. Each candle should last for 4 hours for a total period of effectiveness of 48 hours (when the candles aren’t used at once). One of the benefits of the tea lights is that it’s easy for users to set up a perimeter around resting areas outside.
This product is entirely made in the United States and can go in small lanterns for easy carrying.
I recommend Murphy’s Naturals to people who want something without an overpowering smell, that is easy to carry, and is verified to be safe.
Cutter Citro Guard Candle
The Cutter Citro Guard Candle is a large option that weighs roughly 1 lb. The candle features a wide base and sits in a bucket to stop the product from tipping or being pushed around by environmental factors like the wind. It also has a metal lid for extra protection.
According to the manufacturer, the Cutter Citro should burn for between 30-40 hours and contains at least 3% pure citronella oil for maximum effectiveness. It should be effective in areas around 150 sq. ft. in size but the best results occur within 3 ft. of the candle.
The buckets are around 5 in. tall and only have one wick on the inside. The entire bucket is made from galvanized metal, and it is possible to peel the sticker off to improve the appearance.
I recommend this product to individuals who know they will be spending a lot of time outside and want something that will last a long time.
Repel Citronella Insect Repellent Candle
The Repel Citronella candle weighs around 10 oz. and is supposed to last for roughly 20 hours. It is made solely for outdoor use and has citronella oil as its primary ingredient.
The product comes with a lid and is portable and easy to carry. There is no handle, but the candle is secure in a metal tin and easy to smother when the user is done.
This mosquito candle works best within 3 ft. of the flame, but some people claim it is effective within 20 sq. ft. The candle is roughly 4 in. tall and only comes with one wick. The citronella isn’t as strong to the human nose as some other candles, making it preferable for some.
I recommend the Repel candle to individuals who want something reliable, simple, and portable without being too small.
Mosquito Guard Repellent Candle
Another great product by Mosquito Guard, these 12oz candles contain natural plant based ingredients including citronella ,peppermint, rosemary, cedarwood and lemongrass.
For being DEET free, these are pretty effective and give off a pleasant smell that has been seen in the reviews of many people who have tried these repellent candles.
Lastly, these are easy to transport because of the easy to seal container. That makes them great for packing and bringing on any outdoor trip or to any recreational activity.
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