Best Candles to Keep Bugs Away
While planning your patio garden and outdoor gatherings, make spots for candles in your yard. They will not only help to repel mosquitos and other annoying insects, but also add a bright spot to a dim corner and create a pleasant ambiance. If you want to know what are the best candles to keep bugs away, here I review my favorites.
What Candle Scents Keep Bugs Away?
Of the candle scents that repel mosquitos, citronella is the most popular. Citronella candles seem to be really effective both indoors and outdoors. Each one can protect about three square feet around the flame, so you’ll want several to place in your patio.

In addition to reviewing what to burn to repel mosquitos, carefully check your patio and yard to make sure there’s no standing water where these pesky bugs will breed. Additionally, you may want to create a “bug gathering zone” far from where people like to hang out. Here, you can use floral scents too. Finally, if you wish to look for scented candles that will also repel flies, get products that contain eucalyptus and lavender oils too.
5 Best Candles to Keep Bugs Away
Geelywax Citronella Candles
This scented candle features three wicks for a long burn to protect you and your loved ones from pesky bugs. There are four candles in this pack and each container is about the size of a cereal bowl, so once you have it lit you can enjoy one of the best candles to keep bugs away in a beautiful blue and white tin.
For best results with any candle designed for outdoor use, keep them covered when not lit and try to move them indoors after each use. These candles burn without smoke so you don’t need to worry about harmful fumes.
Murphy’s Naturals DEET Free Mosquito Repellent Candle
If summer bug sprays are hard on your nose, or if you are sensitive to toxins of any kind, the addition of a Murphy’s Naturals candle to your outdoor gathering may just do the trick. These tinned candles include only one wick, but they’re small enough that you can easily set them in multiple spots around your outdoor dining area.
In addition to the mosquito-repelling citronella, this candle contains rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, and cedarwood that are all known to be very effective keeping unwanted insects at bay.
For those who really don’t like citronella, Murphy’s can make outdoor life enjoyable again. Keep a pair of tongs on the patio so you can cover this candle to snuff out the flame, and consider placing these 3-inch tins on glass or stone coasters to reduce the risk of a burn on the surface of a wooden or plastic table.
Cutter Citro Guard Candle
These camping candles come in a pack of six to give you plenty of glow and bug protection. You can expect 30 hours of protection from each candle. For the best protection, burn several candles to create perimeter protection and keep bugs at bay.
Cover this bucket candle with the lid until the flame is smothered, then wait to move it with the handle until the bucket is fully cool.
These cute buckets are available in polished tin, slate and tan, so you can get them to match your property. Additionally, each bucket has a handle, so when it’s time to place them before your dinner party or barbecue, your task will go more quickly.
NIKY Soy Wax Citronella Candle Set
These lovely tins each come with lids so you can enjoy them as display pieces before you light up your mosquito candle. The soy wax results in a very clean burn, so the risk of a smoky candle is low. Being infused lemongrass plant oil, these decorative candles will effectively keep your yard, patio and home free of bugs and insects.
Be aware that the citronella odor can be intense and some may find it unpleasant, though mosquito bites are much more miserable! Because these candles have a wide opening, consider keeping the lids and a simple pair of tongs or pliers nearby so you can cover the candle to smother the flame.
Repel Insect Repellent Candle
For a subtle and enduring glow, position this candle around an outdoor seating arrangement or within a tent. Resembling traditional camping lanterns, the Lantern candle is tailored for outdoor aficionados, boasting a burn time of up to 50 hours. Place them amidst the grass or along the periphery of your stone patio for added ambiance. Featuring side slots, this candle container facilitates air circulation and emits a fragrance that repels insects.
Once this container gets hot, it will be hard to move, so set it on an inflammable surface for best results. Once a candle is burning fully and there’s a layer of liquid on the top, it will need to be smothered to put out the light. Never try to blow out or douse a fully lit candle with water; the liquid wax can be both messy and dangerous.
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