If you’re tired of furiously scratching away at insect bites, or swatting at your ears to get rid of the incessant buzzing of mosquitoes and other pesky flying insects, you may want to consider getting yourself some best citronella candles!
These wonderful candles made from all-natural ingredients claim to keep your parties mercifully insect-free while adding to a cozy, comfortable aesthetic. Sounds too good to be true? We know! Read on to see what citronella candles are and how they can help you make your house bug free today!
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What is Citronella?
Citronella is an essential oil that is taken from the leaves of different types of lemongrass plants. The oil has a natural citrusy fragrance and is believed to have insect repelling properties that help ward of mosquitoes, bugs, and other flying pests. It is referred to as a “minimum risk pesticide” by the USA Environmental Protection Agency and is widely used in a number of insects repelling products from sprays to balms to candles.
How Does Citronella Act as an Insect Repellent?
If you’re wondering how citronella can act as an insect repellent, it’s fairly simple. The citrus scent of the citronella helps mask scents that are attractive to insects. So rather than killing them, it will act more as a deterrent, making them less likely to hang around and bug you.
How to Use Citronella Candles?
There are two ways to burn citronella candles – you can either use them indoors or outdoors. While there are many candles that are meant to be used in both settings, the effectiveness of the candles vary from place to place.
For example, certain citronella candles can emit smoke that can be uncomfortable to inhale in a tighter, indoor setting. Candles made specifically for indoor use will generally be less harsh and more softly scented. As a result, they will be less effective when used in an outdoor setting.
Generally speaking, you need stronger candles when burning them outdoors, and will likely need more than one in order to cover your burn radius. The number of candles you need will depend on how big your coverage area is, the frequency of insects in the area, and the strength of your candle.
Once you have that figured out, using the citronella candle is fairly simple. Just place it in the area you would like to get insect coverage from, and light it at least an hour before you are to occupy that space.
As with all candles, you should be careful to follow any and all safety procedures. This includes making sure that you do not leave a candle burning while unattended and protect it from the likes of pets, children, and flammable items. Some candles also require to be put out by an extinguisher lid as coming into contact with water can cause problems.
While many people still debate the effectiveness of citronella candles, the truth is that they are a gentler option to bug repellent than using something harsher like a physical bug repellent cream or a pungent, harsh repellent spray.
Best Citronella Candles to Buy in 2019
With the market so saturated with candles, it can be overwhelming to decide which one suits your needs best. Especially since not all citronella candles are meant to be insect repellents – some of them are simply aromatherapy candles.
This is why we have selected 9 of the best citronella candles of 2019 including both candles meant for indoor and outdoor use. So whether you want a small candle with gentle coverage or need something stronger for a large outdoor gathering or camping trip, you’ll find something here for everybody!
1. Coleman Scented Citronella Candle
Features
Seller: Coleman
Burn time: 25 hours
Scent: Smores, Pine, Campfire
Weight: 6.0-ounce tin
Rating:
Review
This candle is perfect for using outdoors. The different fragrance options give a pleasant scent and the long burn time ensures you can keep it burning for extended periods of time without worrying about it. However, it does have a tendency to flicker out in the middle of burning, and the tin can get very hot to the touch after burning for a while.
- Different scent options make it a more pleasant candle than other insect repelling candles
- Repels insects and mosquitoes fairly efficiently
- Compact size is perfect for packing on a camping trip
- The candle has a tendency to go out sometimes in the middle of burning.
- Small size means you’ll need more of them for burning outdoors
- The wick does not have the ‘cackling’ effect it promises
- Tin can get dangerously hot to handle after burning for a while
2. Cutter Citro Guard Candle
Features
Seller: Cutter
Burn time: 40 hours
Scent: Citronella
Weight: 20.0-ounce tin
Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars
Review
This insect repellent candle is meant for outdoor use and can burn up to 40 hours. The triple wick makes it a more powerful candle than others of the same size. Its stylish design makes it blend in with the décor easily, and the natural citronella oil makes it fairly effective at warding off some insects. However, it requires multiple candles to have a wide burning radius.
- Long burn time
- Triple wick makes it a stronger candle, perfect for using outdoors
- Stylish appearance makes it easy to use as a décor piece too
- Has difficulty staying lit
- Can be a weak insect repellent on its own
3. Citronella Soy Candle
Features
Seller: Just Makes Scents Candles and Gifts
Burn time: 40 hours
Scent: Orange, Berry, Lime, Citronella
Weight: 1.05-pounds
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
Review
The natural citrus scent of citronella blends beautifully with other fruity notes of berries and mandarin to make this candle a pleasant addition to your home. It is perfect if you are looking for indoor citronella candles.
- No smoke while burning
- Self-trimming wick with cotton and paper fiber wick
- Has a pleasant, fruity scent
- Not meant for outdoor use
- Can only be burned for 3 hours at a time which may not be enough
4. Imanom Citronella Candle
Features
Seller: Imanom
Burn time: 40 hours
Scent: Citronella
Weight: 12.8-ounces
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
Review
This small candle is perfect to use in intimate settings. It is made from natural, non-toxic materials and looks beautiful placed on any surface because of the intricately detailed packaging. However, if you want to cover a larger space, you may need more than just one candle as one will not be enough to ward off mosquitoes and insects efficiently.
- Pretty packaging
- Natural materials make it non-toxic
- Can be used both indoors and outdoors
- Doesn’t always repel insects on their own
- On the pricey side
5. Cutter Scented Citronella Candle
Features
Seller: Cutter
Burn time: 30 hours
Scent: Vanilla and Lavender, Fresh Rain, Sweet Cedar, Unscented, Cinnamon Spice, Tropical Oasis, Honeysuckle, and Lilac
Weight: 11-ounces
Rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars
Review
Enjoy being outdoors without worrying about pesky insect bites with these fragrant citronella candles. With over 7 fragrances to choose from, you have your pick of the kind of aroma you want to evoke around you. The stylish frosted glass design makes it a gorgeous addition to any outdoor space. The 30 hour burn time means you can have this going for long hours, even through the night as long as you have someone to keep an eye on it!
- Different fragrance options
- Attractive, frosted glass appearance
- Uses real citronella oil
- Cannot be used indoors
- The candle is fragile; therefore, is sensitive to breaking
6. Murphy Soy Citronella Scented Candle
Features
Seller: Murphy’s Naturals
Burn time: 30 hours
Scent: Citronella, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Cedarwood
Weight: 14.2-ounces
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Review
This mosquito repellent candle is made with natural essential oils that make a gorgeous blend when put together. Peppermint, lemongrass, rosemary, and cedarwood all compliment the notes of citronella, making it a pleasant aromatic experience. It’s also completely free of chemicals and petroleum that gives it a nice, clean burn.
- Chemical and petroleum free
- Refreshing scent with a blend of different essential oils
- Long burn time
- Keeps the insects away
- Burns out pretty fast
7. Repel Citronella Candle
Features
Seller: Repel
Burn time: 20 hours
Scent: Citronella
Weight: 10-ounces
Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars
Review
This candle claims to offer ‘dependable coverage’ so if you’re looking for a good outdoor citronella candle, this may be your best bet! It has a twenty hour burn time and can repel insects under any conditions.
- Has a fresh, lemony fragrance
- Works moderately well to repel mosquitoes and bugs
- Has trouble staying lit
8. Votive Citronella Candle
Features
Seller: Light in the Dark
Burn time: 10 hours
Scent: Citronella
Weight: 4.94 pounds
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
Review
Sometimes, you just want candles that will look as good as they work. This pack of 72 highly scented citronella candles can be used both indoors and outdoors with a burn time of 10 hours. They are versatile and can be used in candle holders, jars, and on their own, giving you the flexibility of incorporating them into your décor however you want. Insect repellent candles have never looked so stylish!
- Beautiful aesthetic
- Pleasant citrus aroma
- Decent insect repellent
- Works both indoors and outdoors
- Wax can melt in hot environments without being lit
- Not very long lasting
9. LA JOLIE MUSE
Features
Seller: LA JOLIE MUSE
Burn time: 75 hours
Scent: Citronella
Weight: 14.1 ounces
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
Review
A simple, freshly scented citronella candle. This pure soy candle from LA JOLIE MUSE has a surprisingly long, smokeless burn time making it perfect for both indoors as well as outdoors. The artistic design is reminiscent of a beautiful Van Gogh painting, and the triple wick is a bonus for a candle that is relatively small in size. It is on the pricier end of the spectrum though, but we think for how well it works, it’s totally worth it!
- Smokeless candle
- Can be used both indoors and outdoors
- Attractive appearance
- Long burn time
- Natural, biodegradable wax
- On the pricey side
- Wax can melt in hot temperatures even when not lit
- Small wicks make it difficult to stay lit outdoors