What Are Citronella Products?
There are many consumer products featuring citronella oil as an ingredient. Taken from dried cultivated grasses, citronella oil is known for its distinctive odor abs is uses with insect repellents, anti-barking dog collars, aromatherapy and more. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, citronella oil and its various products have been used since 1948 and show little or no toxicity. Does this Spark an idea?
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Citronella
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Citronella oil is obtained from the Cymbopogon species of grasses, native to tropical areas of Southeast Asia, South America and the Caribbean. Although citronella oil is considered to have a low toxicity level, if the liquid is applied in too high a concentration, minor skin irritation may be the only adverse effect. According to the EPA, many citronella products are considered so unlikely to cause harmful effects that they're exempt from the usual regulations placed on similar products.
Repellent
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One common use of citronella oil is in insect repellents. Citronella oil has been deemed effective to repel common insects, such as mosquitoes, ticks, black flies and fleas. Citronella insect repellent products come in sprays, candles, cartridges or rub-on compounds. If using pure citronella oil, diluting the oil in distilled water or high proof alcohol conserves the oil. Citronella oil may be combined with other common insect-repelling oils, including lemongrass, lavender and eucalyptus to achieve a desired odor for your repellent.
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Dogs
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Citronella dog collars have been used in the United States since 1995 as a means of behavioral correction for dogs that constantly bark. As an alternative to shock collars, citronella collars react to a dog's bark by releasing an odor. These collars feature a microphone to detect the barking and may discourage a dog from continuing its habit due to the citronella odor being introduced each time the collar is alerted.
Other Uses
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Citronella oil is also used in health and beauty regimens. The oil may be added to warm bath water as a means of aromatherapy. Citronella oil may also be added to water or facial cream and used as a means of cleaning skin pores. Mixing the oil with coconut oil or another fragrance creates an underarm deodorant. The qualities of citronella oil also allow it to be used as an antiseptic or to bring down high fevers. The More Than Alive website says citronella oil, much like lemongrass, may be mixed with water or alcohol and rubbed on the abdomen to help break fevers.
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- Photo Credit mosquito image by Martin Sevcik from Fotolia.com
