Citronella: does it really keep bugs away?

Citronella is one of the most familiar scents of a British summer evening, dabbed onto ankles before a barbecue or sprayed on before an evening in the garden. Best known as a natural insect repellent, it's just as loved in beauty and wellbeing circles for its fresh, uplifting scent and cooling feel on the skin, and it's the star ingredient in our own Citronella Formula spray.

In this guide, we'll explain what citronella is, the difference between the citronella plant and citronella oil, and what it can, and can't, do against mosquitoes, flies and wasps. We'll also look at its place in a natural beauty and self-care routine, how to use citronella oil and spray safely, whether it's worth growing in a UK garden, and what to know if you have a dog.

Before going any further, it's worth clearing up a common mix-up: the citronella grass the oil comes from, and a separate plant often sold in garden centres as the 'mosquito plant'.

True citronella grass, Cymbopogon nardus, is a tufted, aromatic perennial grass. Along with Cymbopogon winterianus, it's the plant that genuine citronella oil is made from.

The 'mosquito plant' or 'citronella geranium' widely sold in garden centres is actually a different species, Pelargonium 'citrosum', bred to smell like citronella rather than to contain much of it. Simply growing this plant in a pot or border is unlikely to keep mosquitoes away on its own. It's the extracted, concentrated oil that does the work, not an intact leaf in a pot.

Citronella masks the scents, mainly carbon dioxide and lactic acid, that mosquitoes and other biting insects use to find us, making it harder to track us down.

Because its natural compounds are quite volatile, citronella evaporates from the skin fairly quickly. That's why reapplying regularly is so important, and why citronella tends to offer shorter protection than synthetic repellents like DEET.

Mosquitoes are where citronella's reputation really comes from, and it's the insect it's most commonly used against. When used correctly and reapplied often, citronella can help reduce mosquito bites, making it a popular natural choice for evenings outdoors.

It won't offer quite the same lasting protection as DEET-based repellents, which is why you may need to do a light spritz and reapply every couple of hours rather than one application to last all evening.

Citronella is less well known for repelling flies, and it's not as reliable here as it is against mosquitoes. Many people still find citronella sprays helpful in outdoor settings, including around stables and paddocks, but it's best to think of this as a possible bonus rather than a guarantee.

Wasps are drawn to us mainly by sight and the smell of food and sugary drinks, especially late in summer, rather than the scent cues that citronella is designed to mask. If wasps are a persistent problem, covering food and sweet drinks outdoors is likely to help more than any citronella product on its own.

How you use citronella matters just as much as what you're trying to deter, and it starts with the oil itself. Citronella essential oil is the concentrated form that sprays and lotions are made from, and it should never be applied directly to the skin without diluting it first. If you like to make your own blends from our essential oils collection, a fragrance-free base gives you something to dilute into, with a general guide of around 10 to 15 drops per 30ml of water for a spray, or a 1 to 2.5 percent dilution in a carrier oil such as jojoba for a massage oil, with a lower dilution best for sensitive skin.

Always do a patch test on a small area of skin before wider use, especially if you have sensitive skin, and keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets. Our sensitive skin collection may be suitable if your skin tends to react to fragranced products.

If measuring and mixing your own blend doesn’t sound ideal, a ready-diluted option is a convenient alternative.

Citronella isn't just about keeping bugs at bay. Its bright, citrusy character has a natural place in beauty and wellbeing routines too, which is exactly why it's found in a cooling body spray rather than only in outdoor pest control products.

A quick mist of Citronella Formula feels genuinely refreshing on warm skin, whether that's after time in the sun, on tired feet at the end of a long day, or as a pick-me-up before heading out for the evening. 

In aromatherapy, citronella's scent is generally considered uplifting and energising, which is part of why it sits so naturally within a wider self-care routine, alongside other citrus and herbal notes, rather than being reserved purely for practical use.

With the practical and safety side covered, it's worth stepping back to look at everything citronella does as a natural, plant-based ingredient, well beyond just repelling insects. Here's a closer look at what makes it worth keeping in your summer routine.

1. A natural alternative to synthetic repellents

For anyone who'd rather avoid synthetic chemical repellents like DEET, citronella offers a plant-derived alternative that's been used for well over a century.

2. Helps mask the scents that attract mosquitoes

Citronella works by masking the natural scents on our skin, mainly carbon dioxide and lactic acid, that mosquitoes and other biting insects use to find us, rather than relying on harsh chemicals to do the job.

3. Comes from a naturally growing plant

Citronella oil is steam distilled from citronella grass, Cymbopogon nardus and Cymbopogon winterianus, so it's a plant-based ingredient rather than something created synthetically in a lab.

4. Has a fresh, uplifting scent

Alongside its practical use, citronella has a naturally fresh, citrusy aroma that many people find far more pleasant to wear than the smell of traditional chemical repellents, and it's valued in aromatherapy for its energising, feel-good qualities.

5. Suits an easy outdoor routine

Citronella is simple to build into your routine, whether that's a quick spray before heading into the garden or reapplying part way through a barbecue.

6. Works well alongside cooling, soothing ingredients

Citronella blends easily with other naturally cooling and calming ingredients like witch hazel and lavender, which is why our own Citronella Formula spray combines all three for extra comfort on warm skin.

7. Comes ready-diluted in easy-to-use products

Rather than measuring and mixing your own blend, citronella is widely available in ready-diluted, ready-to-use products, so there's no guesswork involved.

8. Has a long history of safe use

Citronella has been used as a natural insect deterrent for well over a hundred years, making it one of the more established plant-based options available.

9. A more natural-feeling addition to your routine

For anyone drawn to organic and natural skincare, citronella fits easily alongside other plant-based ingredients, without the need for synthetic alternatives.

10. Suitable for regular use throughout summer

Because it's gentle enough for frequent reapplication, citronella can be worked into your routine throughout the warmer months, rather than being reserved for occasional use.

11. Doubles as a cooling, refreshing body mist

Beyond keeping bugs away, a citronella spray gives warm skin a genuinely cooling, refreshing feel, making it as welcome after a hot day or a spell in the sun as it is before an evening outdoors.