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Mosquito Repellent Candles, Torches and Coils: What Works and What the Label Says

By Andrew Rothaus, Founder · · Updated

Short answer: For citronella candles, a little, and less with distance in the one study that measured it. In a field study, 3% citronella candles reduced bites from Aedes mosquitoes by 42.3% overall, and in an outdoor study, candle repellency measured at 1 meter dropped significantly when the distance increased to 2 and 3 meters. The candle, torch fuel and coil labels we read restrict them to outdoor use, and the CDC Yellow Book tells travelers to supplement spatial repellents, which it says include mosquito coils, with an EPA-registered repellent on skin or clothing.

Do mosquito repellent candles actually work?

For citronella candles, somewhat in four of the five tests below, and not at all in one. In a field study in a woodlot in Guelph, Ontario, Lindsay and colleagues tested 3% citronella candles against bites of Aedes mosquitoes: subjects received on average 6.2 bites per 5 minutes at positions with citronella candles, 8.2 with plain candles and 10.8 with no candles, and the authors described the overall reduction from the citronella candles as only 42.3%.

Other tests used different oils, settings and measures, and got different numbers. In human landing assays in a high biting pressure environment in Israel, Muller and colleagues (2008) measured a repellency rate of 29.0% for 5% citronella candles and 85.4% for 5% geraniol candles. Outdoors, at a distance of 1.0 meter, a second 2008 paper by Muller and colleagues found citronella candles reduced the number of female mosquitoes caught in traps by 35.4%. In a 2009 paper, Muller and colleagues reported that indoors the repellency rate of citronella candles was only 14%, while citronella diffusers reached 68%. And in a wind tunnel test of Aedes aegypti by Rodriguez and colleagues, the citronella candle had no effect.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison's entomology department sums up the tests of candles and other devices emitting citronella as suggesting relatively small reductions in the number of biting mosquitoes. The plant-oil evidence is covered in full in our post on citronella and plant-based repellents.

What is in a mosquito candle, and is it EPA-registered?

It depends on the product: some are registered with EPA and some are sold under an exemption. EPA's fact sheet on oil of citronella says it is found in many familiar insect repellent products, candles among them, and that these products vary in efficacy. One registered citronella candle, EPA Reg. No. 90266-1, lists oil of citronella at 3% as its active ingredient.

The same fact sheet says some citronella products are exempt from the usual regulation, and that registration is required for those that do not meet the criteria for exemption. The exemption is EPA's minimum risk category. EPA says it has determined that certain minimum risk pesticides pose little to no risk to human health or the environment, and has exempted them from the requirement that they be registered. A product has to meet six conditions to qualify. EPA publishes a list of active ingredients that can be used in products exempt under the minimum risk regulations, and citronella oil and geraniol are on it. All of its ingredients, active and inert, must be listed on the label, with the active ingredients shown by percentage by weight. Its label claim may only be for the pest as a pest, and not as a disease vector. EPA adds that states may require registration under state laws.

What the exemption means for a shopper is in EPA's own words: EPA does not review exempted products, and on its page about skin-applied repellents, EPA says products made from the active ingredients in unregistered repellents have not been evaluated for effectiveness. On the shelf, the tell is the number. EPA says you will see an EPA Registration Number on the product label of any EPA-registered product, and it says statements that could suggest federal review are a problem on an exempt product: because EPA does not review exempted products, such a statement is misleading, and consumers could mistakenly assume that EPA or another federal agency has reviewed or accepted the product. EPA also says it is not simple to determine the status of products in many cases. Our guide to natural bug repellents covers the registered and exempt plant oils.

What can you burn outside: candles, torches or coils?

All three exist as labeled products, and still air matters for all of them. The American Mosquito Control Association says oil of citronella is the active ingredient in many of the candles, torches, or coils that can be burned to produce a vapor or smoke that repels mosquitoes, and that these are only useful outdoors when the wind is not blowing.

Torches burn a fuel: one registered citronella torch fuel, EPA Reg. No. 33025-6, lists oil of citronella at 3%, and its label says for outdoor use only. Coils are a different kind of product. The CDC Yellow Book says spatial repellents, including mosquito coils, contain active ingredients such as metofluthrin and allethrin, and one registered coil, EPA Reg. No. 4822-602, lists metofluthrin at 0.02%. The American Mosquito Control Association says mosquito coils use a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide that has repellent properties, and are most effective in situations of little wind.

One study supports coils. In field trials in Illinois in June 1998, Jensen and colleagues found that mosquito smoke coils containing a pyrethroid significantly reduced mosquito landing rates relative to untreated controls. The University of Wisconsin-Madison says studies indicate that area repellents emitting small doses of allethrin can reduce the number of biting mosquitoes, that many lanterns, coils, and candles reduce mosquito bites, and that some devices use repellents to protect a small area like a patio. Whatever you burn, use a product labeled for that purpose and follow its label. Other patio gadgets have their own posts: bug zappers and ultrasonic repellers.

Where should a candle or coil go, and how far does it reach?

Close to the people, outdoors, in still air. The distance data are short. In the second 2008 paper by Muller and colleagues, an outdoor test, candles were measured at a distance of 1.0 meter, and the repellency dropped significantly when the distance increased to 2 and 3 meters. The University of Wisconsin-Madison says that in an outdoor setting, geraniol candles gave moderate protection to volunteers seated within a 1 meter distance from the candles. Diffusers are a different device: in the 2009 paper by Muller and colleagues, citronella diffusers placed outdoors 6 meters from mosquito traps repelled female mosquitoes by 22%.

Labels give placement in their own terms, and each one applies to its own product. The label of the registered citronella candle, EPA Reg. No. 90266-1, says to use more than one candle in still air, with multiple candles spaced 18 inches apart around the perimeter of the outdoor space, within 3 feet of where people will gather. The label of the registered coil, EPA Reg. No. 4822-602, says to place the coils outdoors in semi-confined areas such as porches, patios and yards where there is minimal breeze, not to use them in wind, and to use one coil for each 10 by 10 foot area. The torch fuel label's optional language says not to use it in windy conditions. For the rest of the patio plan, see how to keep mosquitoes away from your patio.

Is the smoke a problem, and how do you avoid a fire?

The CDC's advice is to avoid breathing the smoke directly. The CDC Yellow Book says to use spatial repellents with caution and to avoid direct inhalation of spray or smoke. The registered coil's label says not to use it indoors and not to touch the lit end of the coil.

The smoke research gathered here is about coils. Liu and colleagues characterized the emissions from four common brands of mosquito coils from China and two common brands from Malaysia, and when they applied the measured emission rates to predict indoor concentrations under realistic room conditions, they found pollutant concentrations could substantially exceed health-based air quality standards or guidelines. That finding covers those coil brands under modeled indoor conditions. The sources gathered here do not address smoke from citronella candles.

Fire safety is label territory too. The registered candle's label says to place the candle on a heat-resistant surface away from anything flammable and away from children and pets, and that the container and wax will be hot when the candle is lit. The torch fuel label's optional language says not to place a torch under covered shelter or umbrellas, or near pedestrian traffic or combustibles. The U.S. Fire Administration's candle rules: keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns, blow out candles when you leave a room or home or when you go to bed, and use stable holders placed where they cannot be knocked down easily.

Can a candle replace repellent on your skin?

None of the sources here treats a candle as a substitute. In the Illinois field trials, which included citronella candles and mosquito smoke coils, Jensen and colleagues reported that the DEET topical repellent had a consistently lower landing rate than all the nontopically applied products tested. The American Mosquito Control Association says citronella candles, torches and coils are less effective than repellents applied to the body or permethrin applied to clothing.

The CDC Yellow Book says spatial repellents have not yet been adequately evaluated in peer-reviewed studies for efficacy in preventing vector-borne diseases, and that travelers should supplement them with an EPA-registered repellent on skin or clothing. The CDC's bite-prevention steps include using EPA-registered insect repellents, wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and wearing clothing and gear treated with permethrin. It says an EPA registration number on a repellent's label means the company provided EPA with technical information on the effectiveness of the product. You can compare registered skin repellents by their label data in The Repellent Index.

About Longsleeve

Longsleeve is an EPA-registered insect repellent lotion with 20% picaridin (EPA Reg. No. 101457-1). It repels mosquitoes and ticks for up to 14 hours, is fragrance free, and goes on exposed skin as the label directs.

Common questions

Are citronella candles EPA-registered?

Some are. EPA's records list a citronella candle under EPA Reg. No. 90266-1, with oil of citronella at 3%. EPA's citronella fact sheet says some citronella products are exempt from the usual regulation, and EPA's minimum risk rules say a product that meets all six conditions does not need to be registered with EPA. EPA says any EPA-registered product shows an EPA Registration Number on its label.

Can you burn a mosquito candle or coil indoors?

The labels we read say no. One registered citronella candle (EPA Reg. No. 90266-1) is labeled for outdoor use only, and one registered coil's label (EPA Reg. No. 4822-602) says do not use indoors. The CDC Yellow Book also says to avoid direct inhalation of spray or smoke from spatial repellents.

How many citronella candles do I need for a patio?

One registered candle's label says to use more than one candle in still air, with multiple candles spaced 18 inches apart around the perimeter of the outdoor space, within 3 feet of where people will gather. That is one product's label, so follow the label on yours.

Do mosquito coils work?

In field trials in Illinois in June 1998, mosquito smoke coils containing a pyrethroid significantly reduced mosquito landing rates relative to untreated controls, though the DEET topical repellent had a consistently lower landing rate than all the nontopically applied products tested. The American Mosquito Control Association says coils are most effective in situations of little wind.

Do mosquito candles work in the wind?

The sources say wind works against them. The American Mosquito Control Association says citronella candles, torches and coils are only useful outdoors when the wind is not blowing. One registered candle's label calls for still air, and one registered coil's label says not to use it in wind.

Are citronella candles toxic to dogs or kids?

The label of one registered citronella candle, EPA Reg. No. 90266-1, says "Hazardous to humans and domestic animals. Harmful if swallowed," and says to place the candle away from children and pets. EPA's 1999 citronella fact sheet says that when used according to the label, citronella products are not expected to cause harm to humans, pets or the environment.

Can a citronella candle replace bug spray?

The CDC Yellow Book tells travelers to supplement spatial repellents, which it says include mosquito coils, with an EPA-registered repellent on skin or clothing. The CDC says that to protect yourself against germs spread by mosquitoes, it and EPA recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent.

Sources

  1. EPA, Minimum Risk Pesticides. https://www.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides
  2. EPA, Conditions for Minimum Risk Pesticides. https://www.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides/conditions-minimum-risk-pesticides
  3. CDC, Preventing Mosquito Bites. https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/index.html
  4. Lindsay et al., J Am Mosq Control Assoc 1996;12(2 Pt 1):293-4 (PubMed abstract, PMID 8827606). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8827606/
  5. Muller et al., J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2008;24(1):150-3, 'Indoor protection against mosquito and sand fly bites' (PMID 18437831). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18437831/
  6. Muller et al., J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2008;24(1):154-60 (PMID 18437832). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18437832/
  7. Muller et al., J Vector Ecol 2009;34(1):2-8 (PMID 20836800). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20836800/
  8. Rodriguez et al., J Insect Sci 2017;17(1):24 (PMID 28423421). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28423421/
  9. University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Entomology, Area Repellents. https://mosquitosite.russell.wisc.edu/preventing-mosquito-bites/area-repellants/
  10. EPA, Citronella (Oil of Citronella) (021901) Fact Sheet, issued 11/99. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-021901_01-Nov-99.pdf
  11. EPA Pesticide Product and Label System record, EPA Reg. No. 90266-1 (Patio Essentials Citronella Candle). https://ordspub.epa.gov/ords/pesticides/cswu/ppls/90266-1
  12. EPA, Active Ingredients Allowed in Minimum Risk Pesticide Products (last updated August 10, 2026). https://www.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides/active-ingredients-allowed-minimum-risk-pesticide-products
  13. EPA, Active Ingredients Eligible for Minimum Risk Pesticide Products (list, 2015-12-15). https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-12/documents/minrisk-active-ingredients-tolerances-2015-12-15.pdf
  14. EPA, Regulation of Skin-Applied Repellents (last updated June 25, 2026). https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/regulation-skin-applied-repellents
  15. American Mosquito Control Association, Repellents. https://www.mosquito.org/repellents/
  16. EPA Pesticide Product and Label System record, EPA Reg. No. 33025-6 (TIKI BiteFighter Clean Burn torch fuel). https://ordspub.epa.gov/ords/pesticides/cswu/ppls/33025-6
  17. EPA-accepted label, TIKI BiteFighter Clean Burn torch fuel, EPA Reg. No. 33025-6, label dated 1/25/2022. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/033025-00006-20220207.pdf
  18. CDC Yellow Book, Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods (web.archive.org snapshot 2026-09-19). https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-hazards-risks/mosquitoes-ticks-and-other-arthropods.html
  19. EPA Pesticide Product and Label System record, EPA Reg. No. 4822-602 (OFF! mosquito coil family). https://ordspub.epa.gov/ords/pesticides/cswu/ppls/4822-602
  20. Jensen et al., J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2000;16(2):148-52 (PMID 10901639). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10901639/
  21. EPA-accepted label, EPA Reg. No. 90266-1. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/090266-00001-20260918.pdf
  22. EPA-accepted label, OFF! mosquito coil family, EPA Reg. No. 4822-602, notification April 8, 2019. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/004822-00602-20190408.pdf
  23. Liu et al., Environ Health Perspect 2003;111(12):1454-60 (PMID 12948883). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12948883/
  24. U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), Candle Fire Safety (page last reviewed April 1, 2023). https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/candle/

Last reviewed 2026-10-02 · every claim on this page is sourced above