How Do Citronella Candles Work?
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Citronella Oil
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Citronella oil is used to scent citronella candles. This oil is made from citronella grass, which grows in several countries in Southeast Asia. This tall grass has a pleasant lemon scent. This scent keeps some flying insects away, including mosquitoes, with its natural aroma. When the plant is pressed and the citronella oil is extracted from the plant, the citronella oil has a highly concentrated scent. This scent is poured into liquid wax to make a citronella candle.
Candle Making
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Once the citronella oil and the liquid wax are mixed together in the melting pot, the wax additive Vybar is added to the wax. This allows paraffin wax to hang onto more of the scent, keeping it concentrated in the wax in order to keep the scent of the candle strong. An orange or yellow candle pigment is usually added as well. All of these ingredients are poured into a candle mold and allowed to harden. Once the wax has cooled, the candle retains the citronella scent in order to ward off mosquitoes.
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Candle Burning
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Citronella candles are burned outdoors in order to disperse the scent farther than if the candle were simply placed outside. A citronella candle placed outdoors may keep bugs away from the candle itself, but it will keep mosquitoes away from a far wider area once it is burned. Many people use one or more citronella candles on the porch or patio in order to keep mosquitoes away. The larger the outdoor area, the more citronella candles are needed in order to keep the scent dispersed over the entire area.
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References
- Photo Credit Photo by Flosim
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Comments
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A better mosquito repellent is made off 3 essential oils at 3% each; citronella, geranio, and crisantemo (spanish) mixed with alcohol for perfume mixing. You will smell like pantheon flowers and it is a bit strong but mosquitos will be at bay , or be bitten your choice.
