When your outdoor space is swarming with pesky, blood-sucking mosquitos, it can make spending time outside almost unbearable, especially if you (like me) get an intense allergic reaction to bug bites. My legs (and arms, and shoulders) have the red, itchy welts to prove it.
Even when I was dousing myself in some serious, chemical-filled bug sprays, the mosquitos were still undeterred. Despite the sweltering heat, I wore jeans and sneakers to protect myself, only to have the bloodthirsty bugs bite the exposed inch of ankle between my pants and sneakers. I invested in enough citronella candles to encircle my small outdoor bench and patio table in a ring of bug-repelling essential oils, but the citronella seance simply wasn’t enough. They kept biting.
That’s when I tried some all-natural mosquito-repelling incense. I have to admit, having never been a fan of incense or the smoke it produces, I was hesitant to try it out—but Farm Raised Candle Co.’s promise that theirs is DEET- and chemical-free convinced me. And after a few nights of testing them out, I was sold. With one incense stick burning on either side of my outdoor table, I could finally enjoy an evening outside without getting bitten.
Incense Sticks Mosquito Repellent
While incense can oftentimes be overwhelming, I was glad to find the scent pretty mild. The chemical-free sticks are made from bamboo sawdust, with a blend of citronella, lemongrass, and peppermint essential oils. The smell is smoky with a subtle hint of mint. The only downside is how quickly I seem to burn through these—each stick lasts for between 30 and 45 minutes, depending upon how windy it is. The packaging recommends placing several sticks around the perimeter of your patio, and from my personal experience, this method helps repel the mosquitos in all directions. Luckily, the pack comes with 100 sticks, because you’ll want to keep lighting more to keep the bugs at bay.
The true sign of a bug repellent that actually works: I’ve gone through so many of the 100-pack of incense sticks, I’m already placing another order. These have earned themselves a top spot on my summer stay-cation must-have list.
- Incense comes in the form of coils and sticks. You can burn these on any old dish in your kitchen cabinet, or you can purchase incense holders to add to your home decor. Secure the incense coil or stick into one of these holders and light the tip with a candle lighter (you can use a regular lighter, but be careful). After a few seconds, gently blow out the flame and leave the incense burning.
These items can be found on any major online retailer like Amazon or Walmart. Most of the time, you can also purchase incense products at local smoke shops and head shops. You may even find some at your local gardening store, though those might be limited in your area.
- To sum things up, burning citronella, sage, etc. to create an incense is not a guaranteed way to reduce the presence of mosquitoes. Candles, incense sticks, citronella coils: all of these are pricey and, in my opinion, not worth the risk.
Due to incense being vulnerable to wind, other scents, and any outside force, it may not spread around the area in an effective fashion. Your yard may smell good, but your arm won’t be feeling good after the mosquitoes get to it. We recommend burning some incense if you feel like leaving your window open for a little while on a summer night, but you’ll probably need extra protection if you plan on going outside.
Sources
1 – skeeterbite.info – “Now we’re being just plain silly. Incense (the stick kind which you can buy at the mystic’s store, anyway) in fact attracts mosquitoes rather than repels them. This myth arises from confusion with citronella candles and torches, which do, indeed, repel mosquitoes.”
2 – today.com – “These repellent incense sticks are plant-based and DEET-free. The sticks use a combination of citronella, rosemary, peppermint, lemongrass, cedar wood and bamboo to ward of mosquitos.”
3 – mosquitonix.com – “Since coils emit smoke, they must be used outside. That also means that winds can waft the smoke in various and shifting directions, providing spotty protection at best.”
Other Household Items as Mosquito Repellents
Checkout our analysis of other household items as natural mosquito repellents:
- Vinegar
- Listerine Mouthwash
- Dryer Sheets
- Tiki Torches
- Coffee Grounds (Burned)
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Coconut Oil
Incense Sticks Mosquito Repellent
Making incense sticks for mosquito repellent is a great way to go green and save money. This is because you can use all organic ingredients and make them at home. The process requires only a few simple steps and some patience.
The first thing you need to do is gather all of your ingredients. You will need:
-Essential oils (a combination of citronella, lemongrass, eucalyptus, cedar wood, patchouli and lavender)
-Coconut oil (for the base)
-Scented candles or wax melts for fragrances
-A small saucepan or double boiler (to melt the wax)
List Of Incense Sticks Mosquito Repellent
- NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Our Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks are made with Citronella, Lemongrass, and Rosemary plant based essential oils
- DEET FREE — Our Citronella Incense sticks are completely DEET FREE
- OUTDOOR MOSQUITO ERADICATOR: Each one of our mini mosquito sticks outdoor stays lit for about 45 mins (wind may impact burn time) so you can enjoy your time outdoors
- RECOMMENDED OPTIMAL PLACEMENT: Place 4-5 mosquito repellant incense sticks to create a perimeter around a patio or deck, spaced 12-15ft apart. Keep the sticks as low to the ground as possible
- PERFECT FOR ANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITY: Ideal bug repellent sticks when outdoors whether at home on the patio, deck, or backyard; at the park, beach, or pool deck; while camping, fishing, or any other events
Additional Info :
| Color | Green |
- 2.5 Hours of Mosquito Protection: Enjoy Life Outdoors with our mosquito repellent incense sticks – a natural and effective solution to all your mosquito troubles
- Harness the Power of Nature: We use a combination of plant-based repellent oils that other manufacturers tend to overlook, to provide you with the best mosquito protection
- Five Key Plant-Based Repellent Oils: Rosemary Oil, Peppermint Oil, Citronella Oil, Lemongrass oil, Cedarwood Oil
- Provides Protection For 12ft Area: Once stick catches flame for 10-20 seconds, blow out and place in a holder or pot filled with sand around your desired area for a mosquito free evening
- No Petroleum, No Synthetic Fragrances, No Harsh Chemicals: No questionable fillers for hours of worry-free relief!
Additional Info :
| Color | Original Packaging |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 4.62 Inches |
| Width | 2.31 Inches |
| Length | 11.25 Inches |
- Our All Natural Mintronella Bamboo Brown Mosquito Sticks are made from Natural Ingredients of Lemongrass oil, Citronella Oil, Peppermint Oil.
- 100 Sticks Per Pack. 11 Inches Long. Sticks ar BROWN not Dark Green. We Removed the Synthetic Dye from Manufacturing to be Natural in Color.
- Burn 30 to 45 Minutes Each on average
- Place lowest to the ground when possible. Place in planters flower beds and grassy spots for best results in a 10 foot perimeter.
- Made In America. Local Veteran Owned and Operated In Suwannee County Florida.
- Helps to Deter Mosquitoes – Gnats- No See Ums – And other Flying Pests
Additional Info :
| Color | Brown |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 1 Inches |
| Width | 2 Inches |
| Length | 12 Inches |
- ★ DEARTAGNAN MOSQUITO INCENSE STICKS 50 PIECES
- ★ REPELLENT INCENSE STICKS Are 50 STICK With Burnt Time of 40-45 MIN Approximately (wind May Reduce Burn Time) You Will Receive 50 Repellent Incense Sticks
- ★ NATURAL INGREDIENTS made with plant based ingredients- DEET FREE and pet friendly – Smell Pleasant While Deterring Unwanted Guests / DEET FREE — Our Repellent Incense sticks are completely DEET FREE.
- ★ MOSQUITOS OUTDOOR PROTECTION our repellent incense sticks are useful to deter mosquitoes especially around your favorite outdoor spaces – swimming pool, backyard, porch, patio, camping, picnic, fishing or just working at the garage during mosquito season.
- ★ MOSQUITO REPELLENT FOR PATIO OR ANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITY: Ideal mosquito protection while outdoors: whether at home on the patio, deck or backyard; at the park, beach, or pool deck; while camping, fishing or enjoying any other outdoor events.
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 0.6 Inches |
| Width | 3 Inches |
| Length | 13 Inches |
- A Natural Repellent That Actually Works: Each incense repellent sticks provides protection from mosquitos for up to 2.5 hours
- Harness the Power of Nature with Five Key Plant-Based Repellent Oils: Citronella, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Cedarwood, and Peppermint oils
- Harness the Power of Nature with Our Unique Blend of Repellent Oils: We use a combination of plant-based repellent oils that other manufacturers tend to overlook, to provide you with the best mosquito protection
- No Petroleum, No Synthetic Fragrances, No Harsh Chemicals
- Enjoy Life Outdoors: Make your outdoors yours again – not theirs. Sit back on your patio, campground, or at your next BBQ bite-free with a natural repellent that actually works. *** This product is not available for sale in Indiana ***
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 0.87 Inches |
| Width | 7.75 Inches |
| Length | 12.25 Inches |
| Weight | 0.79 Pounds |