Citronella candles may reduce bee activity in a small, localized area, but scientific evidence does not support them as a reliable or consistent bee repellent.
For the full breakdown, see our best Citronella Candles For Bees guide.
The short answer is that citronella’s effect on bees is mixed at best. While some studies show repellency under controlled conditions, the real-world performance on your patio is far less predictable. If you’re dealing with bees near your seating area and wondering whether citronella candles repel bees, the evidence suggests they might help in a small zone—but they won’t solve a serious bee problem.
What the Science Actually Says
The research on citronella and bees is genuinely conflicting. A PubMed-indexed study on honeybees found that citronella improved survival and behavior in certain experimental treatments, suggesting it can affect bee responses.
But here’s the catch: those were controlled lab conditions. A general guidance source notes that citronella is not a registered bee repellent and that the evidence for real-world effectiveness is limited and inconsistent. In other words, what happens in a lab dish doesn’t always translate to your backyard.
The mechanism matters too. Citronella works by masking the floral odors bees use to locate food, and the smoke from a lit candle may add to the avoidance effect. That means it can work—but only within a small radius, and only when competing attractions aren’t stronger.
When Citronella Candles Might Work
Citronella is best suited for small, enclosed outdoor spaces where you want to clear a specific zone. Think patio tables, decks, picnic areas, or a seating spot near the BBQ.
- Place candles directly on or beside the table you want to protect
- Use several candles to create a stronger scent and smoke barrier
- Keep them lit for a while before you sit down to build up the effect
Where Citronella Fails Completely
Citronella has real limits, and knowing them saves you from wasting money. It will not work in large yards, open fields, or anywhere near flowering plants, feeders, or sweet foods. Bees chasing nectar or sugar will push right past a citronella haze to reach what they want.
Active hives are a different story entirely. If bees have established a hive on your property, candles won’t move them. That job requires a professional beekeeper or pest control specialist—no candle will make a colony relocate.
One more critical point: citronella is a repellent, not a killer. The sources describe deterrence, not lethality.
So, Should You Bother With Citronella Candles?
The honest answer: use them for light, occasional relief on your patio, and skip them if you have a real bee problem. Citronella works best as a gentle deterrent in a small seating area, not as a defense system for your whole property.
| Situation | Likely Result | Best Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Patio or deck seating | May reduce bee activity locally | Multiple lit candles near the table |
| Large yard or open garden | Minimal to no effect | Skip candles; address the attractant instead |
| Near flowering plants | Bees will ignore the citronella | Don’t place candles near blooms |
| Active hive on property | No effect on the colony | Call a professional beekeeper |
| Picnic with sweet food | Candles can’t compete with sugar | Use physical covers on food |
A final note on expectations: mosquito repellency claims don’t transfer to bees. Even the mosquito evidence for citronella candles is disputed—one prominent article in Science questions whether they work on mosquitoes at all. If the candles aren’t reliably keeping mosquitoes away, they certainly aren’t a guaranteed bee solution.
References & Sources
- PubMed. “Using Citronella to Protect Bees (honeybee Apis mellifera L.) from Pesticide Poisoning.” Documents citronella’s effect on honeybee survival under experimental conditions.
- PubMed. “Citronella as a Bee Repellent.” Reports repellency in dual-choice behavioral tests and field observations.
- Science. “Want to Repel Mosquitoes? Don’t Use Citronella Candles.” Questions citronella’s efficacy as an insect repellent in real-world use.