Tiny, obnoxious pests ruin outdoor parties and adventures for many people.
Mosquitoes are the bane of outdoor adventurers and people who simply like to be outside. Options such as poisonous DEET or expensive zappers do not appeal to everyone. Citronella oil as a mosquito repellent is a natural and affordable alternative. Does this Spark an idea?
Identification
Oil of citronella is derived from citronella grass, which is similar to lemon grass. Citronella grass and oil have a characteristic strong, citrus scent believed to repel mosquitoes.
Function
When the scent of citronella oil is in the air, mosquitoes have difficulty smelling human and animal targets to bite. Synthetic citronella fragrances do not work as well as real citronella oil.
Types
Citronella oil can be added to candles. Citronella candles perfume the air when burning and repel mosquitoes. Citronella oil is also an ingredient in many natural bug repellent sprays and lotions. It is nontoxic and therefore may be applied to the skin.
Other Uses
Citronella oil repels more than mosquitoes. It is also used to repel fleas, no see-ums and other outdoor insect pests. Natural flea collars for cats and dogs are scented with citronella oil and other flea repellent oils.
Tags: repel mosquitoes