Citronella is made from Cymbopogon, a genus of grasses that are commonly found in warm temperatures like in tropical regions. The tall perennial grasses commonly referred to as lemon grass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, fever grass, Hierba Luisa and, of course, the citronella grass.
Citronella has been used for years to keep annoying bugs away while camping or just sitting outside in the backyard on a nice summer evening. It has a perfume to it that repels bugs without harming them. It’s safe for the environment and it’s safe for use around animals. The EPA has already checked it out thoroughly.
The greatest thing about citronella is that it can be used in several ways. And all of them at once is the best way to keep the annoying bugs from bothering you and ruining your summer evening.
Soap
The citronella chemicals can be used to make perfumery soap. If you bathe with citronella soap, you can be sure that bugs won’t be landing on you all night. In fact, that’s a surefire way to prevent bugs from eating at you and digging in deep. Enjoy your evening while everyone slaps and scratches. Don’t be surprised if people start gravitating toward you throughout the evening.
Candles
Citronella candles are the most common form of bug repellent. Citronella Sunjel cans burn for three hours and you can place them on the picnic table where you’re sitting or on a table beside your chair. There is also a Citronella Booster that you can put in any burning fuel and turn it into a bug repellent. For example if you have Tiki Torches, you can place Citronella Booster in the Tiki Torch Fuel and “Shazam” you have a bug repellent.
A little known fact is that Citronella can be used to repel body and head lice. Citronella oils that are placed in formulas for the skin can be used on the scalp and over the entire body to keep lice away from you or your children. That’s a finding from the EPA so you can rest assured that it will work. Do not use to kill lice or free the hair from lice after they have already been found. It’s a preventive measure you can use to keep your children or yourself from getting lice.
This is yet another little known finding. But, Citronellas has been found to calm barking dogs. Isn’t that unique? If you have a barking dog or if the neighbor’s dog is ruining your evening, go ahead and light some Citronella. See if it doesn’t work. Check the wind factor and put the Citronella upwind. That way, it will drift in the right direction and should calm the barking dog into a quiet beast.
Citronella is perfect for keeping the bugs away. But, I bet you didn’t know that it will also repel lice and calm barking dogs. Those are interesting byproducts of the greatest bug repellent to come along since the fly swatter. Enjoy your summer…make sure you never run out of Citronella!
