Citronella ATTRACTING bugs - deterrent needed :)

nnb

Would love some suggestions of things to try that you know work... I've always found citronella a good deterrent of bugs but have struggled in my current home. I live by a river, but also in a flat which is above the bin store (although 5 floors above it). Bit of a nightmare combo! (Tip: always check where the bins are before you move in.............)
I was out a lot last summer so didn't realise how bad it could be... I had citronella on the go the last few lockdown weeks and NOTHING - if anything, it's ATTRACTING various flies. I even got bitten by a mozzie yesterday and I haven't been bitten in 20 years! I didn't even realise we had them around here haha. (Hoping it hadn't just bitten a covid infected person!)
Anyway, can anyone help?! It's bad enough we can't go out much, I need to be able to sit on my balcony to get air and stay a bit more sane! 

-taff

Skin so soft by avon.

so_very_confused

Incense sticks, wasps hate them.

nnb

-taff said:

Skin so soft by avon.

I don't want to put something on me??

-so_very_confused said:

Incense sticks, wasps hate them.

I don't get wasps. Incense has not worked on the bugs I do get.

sheramber

https://www.gardendesign.com/plants/mosquito-repellent.html

-taff

It might be worth installing a fly screen if it's as bad as you say it is because althought there are lots of plants that are supposed to repel insects, in practice you're living in a flat with higher wind than you would have if you were on the flloor, the bins are there which will attract all sorts, so if you did have a fly screen, you could concentrate on plants that you like the smell of.

twopenny

Lavender on your windowsill is supposed to work. I had a large plant outside the kitchen and never got flies although the neighbours had overflowing bins galore. The plant went and the flies came. Lavender oil might do the trick. If nothing else you'll be laid back and won't care so much.

Citronella oil may be better than candles and such which I never found worked, it's a much stronger smell. I used it with Teatree as an insect repellent when I was in the Amazon and it worked.

The Boots chemist said that burning menthol (they do it in blocks) would work on mossies. They'd sold out so I haven't tried it.

Incense was used in the toilets in Egypt for the same thing. Much of the modern incense is just scented powder. You need to track down the real deal.

nnb

twopenny said:

Lavender on your windowsill is supposed to work. I had a large plant outside the kitchen and never got flies although the neighbours had overflowing bins galore. The plant went and the flies came. Lavender oil might do the trick. If nothing else you'll be laid back and won't care so much.

Citronella oil may be better than candles and such which I never found worked, it's a much stronger smell. I used it with Teatree as an insect repellent when I was in the Amazon and it worked.

The Boots chemist said that burning menthol (they do it in blocks) would work on mossies. They'd sold out so I haven't tried it.

Incense was used in the toilets in Egypt for the same thing. Much of the modern incense is just scented powder. You need to track down the real deal.

Thank you for this. I'm not a huge fan of lavender but will definitely be up for trying it.
The citronella I've always used is incense (agreed candles don't do much). I do have oil but it hasn't done much. I even tried putting some in a spray and spritzing my balcony but nothing. Maybe a bad brand, should that have worked? How do you use your lavender or citronella oil? Thanks! x

twopenny

If you really don't like the smell I doubt it's worth trying, But I mixed the two in a base almond oil and used it on pulse points, wrists and ankles.

I do just shake out drops on the floor or the door mat to deter cats. That makes it stronger smelling but you should have something you like too.

If it's plants on your window sills then you need the Old English Lavender, Lavandula x intermedia which has the strongest scent. It grows into a big plant eventually but a small one or two by an open window will deter flying things. Cut sprigs will stop moths in your clothes too. This plant will probably have to come from a garden centre. There are smaller and prettier varieties but the fragrance isn't so strong.

I wonder if dabbing the oil around a window would work? The best I've found was Kobashi, hard to find now and a tad more expensive. Neals Yard should be good though again, more expensive and I haven't tried them. For a good price and decent oil Amphora Aromatics are ok. Just avoid the average ones on sale. There's a lot of difference with quality. The Teatree I've got is Aqua Oleum from a small wholefood store. Strong as........so their oils should be good.

It might be worth asking at the chemist counter how to deal with these critters. It will depend who you get but they did give me good advice, as do independent health food stores.

neilmcl

-taff said:

Skin so soft by avon.

That contains Citronella.

-taff

Yes it does. but what the OP didn't mention was that their citronella was incense, which will blow away.