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80 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, July 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 13, 2004 Since you asked Citronella drives off the bugs Preparing to spend long summer evenings on the patio, I bought some citronella candles to keep away mosquitoes. Now my brother-in-law tells me that citronella doesn’t actually repel mosquitoes, it attracts them — with the theory being that the bugs will be drawn to the candles instead of the people sitting nearby. So, how do citronella candles work and are they effective? — Bianca B., Ashland Citronella, a tall, lemon-scented grass native to southeast Asia, has been used as an insect repellent for centuries. The Since You Asked herbalists side with ancient Asian tradition rather than your brother-in-law’s crackpot theory. Citronella oil distilled from the grass can be put in candles, sprays or soaps. Like most essential oils, it shouldn’t be applied directly to skin and must be diluted for safe topical use, said Dan McDonley, manager of Ashland’s Alchemy Botanicals. A skin spray blending various oils is probably the most effective way to repel biting insects with citronella, he said. Experts agree that you’ll need to surround yourself with a significant amount of citronella to drive away bugs, so it might take a lot of candles to make a difference. Still, they make a pleasant addition to a patio, so enjoy. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times