Many home remedies are circulating to combat intrusive wasps, which are annoying at the breakfast table or when eating ice cream in late summer. A well-known defense method is said to consist of citronella products. In order to enjoy a real effect, however, attention must be paid to authenticity.
Citronella helps against both mosquitoes and wasps
What actually is citronella?
Citronella is a versatile term. It describes both the plant species lemongrass and the essential oils extracted from it and from related sweet grasses. It is probably known to most as the trade name of lemongrass oil and scented candles mixed with it.
Lemongrass, also known as lemongrass, originally comes from Southeast Asia and has been used in a variety of ways for many years. In East Asian cuisine, for example, refreshing teas are prepared from it. But the lemony-pink scented sweet grass has also found its way into European eating and drinking culture, especially in dried form in sweet and savory dishes, pastries and drinks. The essential lemongrass oil, which contains around 80% citral and 20% myrcene, is also an established ingredient in perfumes and cosmetics, as well as for room fresheners and bathroom cleaning products.
The versatility of citronella at a glance:
- As a (dried) herb for teas and as a seasoning
- Oil for perfumes, cosmetics and household products
Citronella against biting insects
Furthermore, humans have also learned to use citronella oil in another way: as a repellent, i.e. as a repellent against biting insects. Such pests, especially mosquitoes, but also wasps, do not like citrusy and ethereal smells at all. Ideally, citronella oil combines both scents and smells all the more repellent for the insects.
Citronella oil is sold as pure oil in small bottles, but also in a processed form, such as in scented candles.
Only use real citronella oil!
When purchasing the oil, make sure that it is labeled as pure citronella essential oil. Because there are numerous deceptive or stretched products that only contain synthetic citral or a proportion of cheaper spruce tip oil. These have a far lower wasp repellent effect.
In order to effectively keep wasps away, you should only get real citronella oil and let it evaporate in a scented light, for example, or rub it on wooden garden furniture. However, the scent barrier cannot do much when it comes to eating: the wasps do not stop at a table full of sweet icing particles or juicy, raw grilled steaks during their most work-intensive and hungriest phase.