Does Citronella Repel Mosquitoes? | What Science Says

Citronella does repel mosquitoes, but only weakly and briefly — most products offer 10 to 30 minutes of protection, far less than DEET or picaridin, and the popular “citronella plant” sold at garden centers contains almost none of the active oil.

That potted “citronella plant” on your patio? It’s almost certainly a scented geranium with less than 0.1% citronellal — the oil’s key compound. Real citronella oil, extracted from tropical lemongrass species, does work, but not the way most people expect. Candles provide protection only within about three feet and fail entirely in a breeze. Even skin-applied formulas need reapplying every half hour or so. The question isn’t whether citronella works at all — it’s whether it works well enough for what you need.

How Well Does Citronella Really Work?

The numbers tell a clear story. In field studies, citronella candles reduced mosquito landings by about 50%, but didn’t eliminate them. On skin, a 10% citronella lotion provides roughly 30 minutes of protection — compared to DEET’s 6 hours. One study clocked average complete protection time for citronella oil at 10.5 minutes. By the second hour, a 50% citronella oil formulation’s repellency dropped from 81.5% to 42.8%; by hour three, it hit just 7.0%.

Why The Citronella Plant Is A Myth

Garden centers heavily market a plant they call “citronella,” but it’s a scented geranium (Pelargonium species), not a true citronella grass. It contains less than 0.1% citronellal — essentially undetectable. You’d need to crush the leaves and rub them directly on your skin for any effect at all, and even then the protection is minimal. The NPIC’s citronella fact sheet confirms the plant itself is largely ineffective.

Which Citronella Products Actually Help?

Not all citronella products perform the same. The table below shows what works and what doesn’t.

If you want more than a half-hour of peace, look for products combining citronella with vanillin — . For serious, lasting protection against disease-carrying mosquitoes, the CDC recommends sticking with EPA-approved repellents like DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and using citronella as a supplement rather than a primary defense. For a curated selection of the most effective products on the market, see our tested citronella repellent recommendations.

Getting The Most Out Of Citronella

If you choose citronella anyway — and many people do for its familiar scent — use it strategically. Apply lotion or spray directly to skin, not clothing, and reapply every 30 to 60 minutes. Place candles on the ground, not tables, because Aedes mosquitoes bite lower extremities. Eliminate standing water in pot saucers and gutters, because even the best repellent can’t overcome a breeding site in your own yard. And never rely on citronella alone in areas with Zika, dengue, or yellow fever risk — pair it with an EPA-approved repellent as your base layer.