Zero In Citronella Terracotta Burner & Coil - 6-Pack, Repels Mosquitoes, Natural, For Gardens and Patio Areas

Product Information

Citronella oil is also a great option to use in a diffuser, or you can dilute the citronella oil and add it into a lotion or a carrier oil like coconut oil, and apply it to your skin! This will help keep flies and insects away from you at all times, and even help lessen mosquito bites!

When burning one of these candles, skin and eyes might be exposed to citronella, or it might be inhaled. Unless you have a serious allergy or consume a large amount, only minor irritation will likely occur. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) states that multiple studies have been done, and none has found citronella oil to cause serious harmful side effects in the short or long term. To minimize exposure, don’t burn candles when it’s windy, and try to leave ample space between where the candle is and where you and guests are sitting or dining. Because citronella oil has a shorter time span of effectiveness than repellents like DEET, you will need to reapply more often if you’re using it as an insect repellent. Diffuser

This item is sold and dispatched by a Range Plus Partner

If you are using the candle, having the candle placed in the middle of the dining table outdoors, or on a side table – will work best. If indoors, using it on a window sill, or any place where there will be a lot of food or easy access for flies, is the way to go.

The citronella plant or oil does not actually eliminate flies, however, it simply repels them. The lemony smell of the citronella plant is so strong and so aromatic, that it will mask any smells that a fly or other insect may be attracted to, and will, in turn, make it harder to find and locate those stinky smells flies and other insects seem to love. A spray application may be good for freshening up a room or applying to your skin as an insect repellent. To make a citronella oil spray:A 2011 review of 11 studies looked at the effectiveness of various citronella preparations in preventing mosquito bites. It concluded that using citronella oil together with vanillin (found in vanilla beans) provided mosquito protection for up to three hours. If flies are a constant problem, planting citronella plants alongside fly-prone spaces is an amazing place to start. However, before planting these grasses, make sure to crunch or rub the leaves of the plant to activate the oils. If you plant the plant as is, you may not grasp all the benefits of the oils – so agitating the greenery a bit is an important step. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Martínez-de la Puente, J., Merino, S., Lobato, E., Rivero-de Aguilar, J., del Cerro, S., & Ruiz-de-Castañeda, R. (2009). Testing the use of a citronella-based repellent as an effective method to reduce the prevalence and abundance of biting flies in avian nests. Parasitology research, 104(5), 1233-1236. Citronella is fresh-smelling and lemony, and although attractive to us, the smell is very overwhelming to insects and will make it difficult to smell other nearby smells. Alt hough very effective when being used, Citronella candles only work when burning. And the sprays that contain citronella will need to be reapplied to the skin every few hours. The study also found that DEET provided protection for a much longer period of time than just citronella oil on its own. Although Citronella Geranium is in the same plant family, it does not do too well with repelling insects. It’s a beautiful, purple-flowering plant to look at, but it will not be as effective as Citronella Grass. Does Citronella Get Rid of Flies?There are a variety of ways that you can introduce citronella into the spaces that need some extra protection from flies and other insects, but first, let’s talk about the types of citronella. Types of Citronella Plants I know this is kind of a gross one, but when you keep your trash actually looking like trash, it will bring flies directly to it. Remember, they love trash. Keeping trash cans closed, using a trash bag rather than throwing garbage directly into the bin, and keeping your filled trash cans in a low-moisture area, will help keep flies and other unwanted pests away. Speaking of keeping the flies at bay, bay leaves are another smell that is loved by humans and hated by flies. Crumbling some bay leaves and sprinkling them around the perimeter of your garden or home can actually be an effective measure in keeping flies and insects away. Other Ways to Keep Flies Away A 2013 study evaluated the antifungal activity of citronella oil against a strain of fungus known as Aspergillus niger. This common fungus is thought to cause lung and sinus infections in people with weakened immune systems. Citronella oil is naturally occurring on the perennial plant, citronella grass. The oil on the plant is the essential ingredient used to repel flies and other insects.

If you’re having a fly problem, it would be best to try a natural method like citronella before any other route. The citronella scent isn’t necessarily undesired by flies and insects, rather, the aroma is just so strong that it takes over the insect’s senses, and frankly – makes feeding more difficult for them.No food to eat means no flies to speak! What Smells are Flies Attractive to? The gist of it all is that flies basically eat all the things that typically repel humans – but, no matter what the flies’ desired taste might be, all food attracts all flies, AND, nothing masks these smells as well as citronella can. How to Use Citronella as a Fly Repellent Outside Citronella oil can also be added to oils and creams for topical applications. Using citronella oil in this way may help kill germs and fungi on the skin and also promote wound healing. Citronella is an oil that comes from the leaves of Citronella grass, and the Citronella Geranium plant. Often used as a plant-based, natural alternative in keeping bugs away, citronella oil is often added to candles, bug repellents, and sprays as a means to repel bugs.Fruit Flies are the flies you see around your foods, and they eat fermented foods, like bananas, pineapples, and mostly all fruits that we’d consider going bad, and even things like vinegar, sugary things, or candy may attract them. You can read more about what attracts fruit flies here.