Citronella-Safe or Unsafe?

Let's first go over what Citronella is.  The Citronella plant is a grass and is native to tropical areas like Asia.  Most think citronella and lemongrass are the same because the look basically identical, but they are two different plants, just in the same family. Usually when buying a citronella plant, you are actually getting a scented geranium and not a Cymbopogon which is the proper name for the Citronella plant. So, if you've ever bought one and wondered why the bugs are still around, well, that's why, so be careful of buying the plant if it doesn't have grass blades but instead, lacy foliage.

The oils in Citronella grass plants are what repel the mosquitoes. The plant does not release the oils when it is just growing in a spot, they need to be extracted. 

With companies like mine on the rise, Citronella is becoming a very popular summer scent to use.  Many are used to the overly large Citronella candles that you put around your backyard or camping/picnic area to keep the bugs away.  Now you can find smaller jars and even wax melts that are either only made with the Citronella oil or that are combined with other oils.  

Taken directly from the EPA: Oil of citronella is a biopesticide (biochemical) with a non-toxic mode of action. Oil of citronella is the volatile oil obtained from the steam distillation of freshly cut or partially dried grasses. Methods and Rates of Application: Oil of citronella may be applied by hand-held sprayer, cloth wipe-on, candles, cartridge, rub-on, scent-post application, sprinkle by hand, and flea collar.

 In studies using laboratory animals, Oil of Citronella shows little or no toxicity. The only concern is skin irritation. Because some products are applied to human skin, EPA requires proper precautionary labeling to help assure safe use. Therefore, if used according to label instructions, citronella is not expected to pose health risks to people, including children and other sensitive populations. Oil of Citronella has been used extensively since 1948 without any reports of adverse effects of concern. 

Assessing Risks to the Environment Based on laboratory animal studies, Oil of Citronella poses minimal or no risks to wildlife. Because of the low toxicity and limited uses of Oil of Citronella, it is not harmful to the environment. No adverse effects are expected for use around the home.

Oil is citronella is listed with the EPA as one of the active ingredients eligible for exemption from the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) under the Minimum Risk Exemption regulations in 40 CFR 152.25(f).

What this means in basic terms is that citronella can be used as an active ingredient in pesticides without actually being registered as a pesticide.

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What makes candles potentially dangerous is when fragrances are used that have prop 65 ingredients, carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive, organ or acute toxins, and also when smoke and soot is present which happens when the wicks are not correct for that particular jar/vessel and when people do not follow proper candle care. If those types of fragrances are used then no scented candle can ever be a "clean" burning candle.  That's why it's imperative you do your research when buying products that are releasing oils in to the air for you to breathe.  It's sad that we still have to worry about this which is why I make it my mission to NEVER use fragrances that contain any of the toxins listed above.  The two candle care instructions that NEED to be followed to insure a "clean burn" is making sure to only burn the candle for a maximum of 4 hours and to ALWAYS trim your wick before each and every use. Besides the proper candle home care, if candle companies are not using the right sized wick for their candles, then smoke and soot will be present and in a MUCH bigger way then when candle care isn't being followed at home. Smoke and soot is what causes indoor air pollution which can affect your health.  So be sure to remember to always trim your wick. 

 

(Below is listed the sources where I took information for this blog post)

https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_PC-021901_1-Feb-97.pdf

https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-021901_01-Nov-99.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/regulation-skin-applied-repellents