Can You Use Citronella Candles Indoors?
Candles are great to use inside the house. They beautify the bedroom and living room. Makes an affectionate mood to enjoy the evening or a candlelight dinner. The light of a candle makes a soothing environment as well as the aroma of its scent. But using a citronella candle indoors to enjoy is not a good idea.
Citronella Candles are candles composed of an extra ingredient. And that ingredient is an essential oil called citronella. This makes the candle burn more than regular candles. It also produces more smoke than usual. Citronella candles are much popular as a natural mosquito repellant. It is also effective for other flying insects. This candle mainly uses outside the house where it works better. If you are having a barbecue and do not want your good time to be ruined by mosquitoes and other bugs, you might consider lighting up a citronella candle. But why it is not suitable indoors? Is it harmful? Let’s find out.
Key Takeaways
- Burning a citronella candle indoors is not healthy for many valid reasons. Burning it for outside sitting will serve the actual purpose.
- This candle is no ordinary candle, this contains citronella extracted from Cymbopogon which is dangerous to inhale.
- Dogs and cats are more affected by the toxin. This toxic element can also keep insects and bugs like mosquitoes.
- Using a candle lantern for indoor use will be totally harmless.
What exactly is citronella candles?
Citronella is an essential oil extracted from Cymbopogon. Citronella candles contain a generous amount of the ingredient citronella. It is a naturally found oil that is a repellent to insects.
Benefits of Citronella candles
Citronella candles are great for setting a mood. It is made by distilling different types of Cymbopogon leaves and stems. One of the benefits of citronella is that it can use as a bug-repellent. The oil is an essential oil that has proven an effective mosquito repellent and may be beneficial at repelling other flying bugs and insects.
Therefore, has a lemongrass odor when you burn it in candles. This is lovely for the ambiance of outdoor space. But crucially it also masks a kind of scents that would normally attract bugs such as mosquitoes or midges. This helps you to enjoy your outdoor dining without being pestered so much by those unwelcome intruders.
These kinds of candles are so popular that you can find them easily. The price is cheap compared to luxury candles.
Can you use citronella candles indoors?
No, using a citronella candle indoors is a bad idea. Although the scent is very pleasant when the candles burn, you may find these oils work their way into interior fabrics. It is recommended that you do not use citronella candles indoors for a few reasons
Citronella candles are not very clean and healthy for burning indoor places at all. Even compared to regular candles. They produce quite a lot of heavy largely amorphous carbon and smoke produced by the incomplete burning of citronella particles. And if you use them indoors they’ll make a hell of a mess on your walls and ceiling which will look bad.
There are some reasons not to burn citronella candles indoors. It may be dangerous. Let’s see in the discussion.
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Why is it dangerous?
Citronella candles are dangerous in many ways. It is generally suggested not to use citronella candles indoors for a few reasons. Even so, the scent is very pleasant for you as the candles burns, you may find that these oils work their way into interior furniture and fabric.
The candles do give off a lot of smoke which means that they can irritate your throat and lungs. They can also cause eye irritation and even itchy skin if you are sensitive to the ingredients.
More so, remember that citronella belongs to the scented geranium category. Thus, it contains Linalool and Geraniol, considered highly poisonous to dogs. They can cause your pets to experience gastrointestinal distress, such as vomiting.
A large amount of citronella can also adversely affect cats. This can be unhealthy and cause sickness including loss of muscle coordination, hypothermia, muscle weakness, and even depression.
In news, the ASPCA (American Society for Prevention for Cruelty to Animals) has reported that citronella candles are harmful to dogs and cats. The smell attracts dogs when ingested. Dogs can develop breathing problems too. Cats are reportedly more affected by citronella toxicity than dogs.
So, if you adore your pets then stop using citronella candles around the house. Pets can inhale the scent and become sick. This may force you to make avoidable visits to the vet.
Also, citronella candles tend to have slightly more smoke burn than any ordinary candles. This is great as another repellent for insects that do not like the smoke. But perhaps not so great for using indoors. So, keep cleaner conditions inside it is best only to use them outdoors.
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How to use citronella candles indoors if it’s necessary
In this above discussion, you can understand why it is not suitable, and dangerous to burn a citronella candle inside the house. But, what if you need it inside?
We all know that during the winter season, going outside is hard to enjoy life. Most of us like to stay at home. But bug problems still may remain inside the house. It will be a great pain for anyone.
Also, in the rainy season, this may be the only big problem you have. Can not go and sit outside during the rain. Hard to allow intruder flies and bugs. Even you will face more bug and mosquito problems on rainy days.
In this situation, you might want to use your citronella candles. But, first, you need to know the safest way to use a citronella candle inside the house. There is only one simple solution for that.
Use a candle lantern
To avoid this citronella candle soot problem and toxic elements, there are some candle lanterns to use. These lanterns are built in a way to absorb heavy smoke and toxic elements. You will get only the aroma and citronella would able to mosquitos and insects away.
This lantern is easy to use. Just place the candle middle of it. Then put the cover and light it. Some lanterns are made of metal, others are plastic made. Try to buy a metal one that lasts longer.
This candle lantern is a great way to enjoy lovely soothing citronella candles inside the house without a single problem. Now your kids and pets are safe from the toxic. You can put it anywhere. There is no worry to catch fire from it. Make a perfect indoor candle experience.
But, do not let the lantern fall from a height or keep it lying down. After all, it has a flame that can burn itself.
See Also: Can You Have Candles in Dorm Rooms?
FAQs
Can Citronella Candles Repel Spiders?
Yes, it can. Citronella candles can be a wise choice if you wish to repel spiders naturally. Once they start burning, rest assured spiders will take to their heel and go away.
Spiders hate the scent of citronella and will moment away when the candles start burning. You can also add some drops of citronella essential oils to a regular candle and some to your air filter. You’ll find spiders avoiding these areas. The smoke produced by burning citronella candles can actually kill a spider.
Are citronella candles toxic to humans?
Citronella is a naturally found oil that can repel insects. It is filtered from two types of grass, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. It is currently proven safe for humans and the environment by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Is citronella candle safe to inhale?
Citronella oil is safe in a possible way for most people when applied to the skin as an insect repellent. It might cause itchy skin or irritation in some people. When inhaled, it’s much more likely unsafe to inhale citronella oil. The lung may damage for a long time use.
Final Thoughts
It is not a very good idea to use citronella candles inside your house. This candle is no ordinary candle. It spread toxic chemical elements that can keep mosquitoes and other bugs to stay away. That is why citronella candles are famous and many use them for outdoor seating.
But these candles are harmful. The toxic is dangerous for kids and pets around the house. So burning a citronella candle may cause many life taking harm to them. Also, this candle produces soot and more heavy smoke than regular candles. This also damages your furniture and fabrics. That is why citronella candles are best to use outside.
All though, if you want to use it in indoor areas, you can use a candle lantern for safety. This lantern can absorb all the toxicity and soot out of the candle and keep the usefulness of the citronella candle the same. Take safety measures before taking a step.
