Citronella

The Citronella plant is a Cymbopogon, related to lemon grass. Like the lemon grass plant it has lemon-scented leaves. It is a perennial and can grow up to five feet tall.

Citronella has long had a reputation in folk medicine as a bug repellent for deterring various insects including midges. Today you can buy all sorts of products made with oil of citronella including lotions and candles . If you're a pet lover you can even buy a dog collar that gives out a citronella spray, although these are usually sold as anti-bark collars rather than as midge deterrents!

Midge Deterrent

You can buy citronella stuff to help defend against midges in a number of forms. The most popular are probably various soaps, wipes and lotions designed for skin application. Research shows that citronella does seem to work - but not for long. The effect wears off after about 20 minutes (1), so it's probably best used for short term protection.

For protecting an area instead of an individual, citronella candles are sometimes burned. I'm not aware of any scientific study into the effectiveness of these however many people seem to think they work.

Is It Safe?

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (2)

"...if used according to label instructions, citronella is not expected to pose health risks to people, including children and other sensitive populations."

That said, some people have reported skin irritation. According to Health Canada (3):

"Based on animal studies, citronella-based products appear to be potential skin sensitizers. Therefore, allergic reactions may occur in some individuals."

It is often recommended that citronella based products not be applied directly to the skin of sensitive people or children. As always, follow the manufacturer's instructions and if in doubt err on the side of safety.

Citronella Oil

Pure citronella oil - as opposed to products containing citronella - has been reported to increase heart rate and the recommendation is generally not to apply pure citronella oil directly to the skin.

Important Note:
This is not a medical site and does not offer medical advice. Always consult a doctor regarding medical matters.

External Links:

(1) Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents against Mosquito Bites - New England Journal of Medicine
(2) US EPA Citronella (Oil of Citronella) (021901) Fact Sheet
(3) Safety Tips on Using Personal Insect Repellents

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