Having bugs in your home is never a pleasant experience. Many people take bug sprays to kill them, but there might be a more pleasant solution to the problems. People are generally aware that insects keep away from smoke, so using incense sticks was always thought of as a possible solution to this problem. Incense sticks smell nice and if they’re able to keep bugs away, you can hit two birds with a single stone. For that reason, people wonder, does incense keep bugs away?
There are incense sticks that keep bugs away. Not all incense sticks will keep bugs away, but there are scents like citronella, lavender, and peppermint, that will work. This way, you can have a lovely smelling home alongside protection from insects. There are even incense sticks made just for bugs.
Incense can definitely repel bugs, but there are literally thousands of incense scents and not all of them affect insects equally. If you take a look at all the incense sticks available, you’ll see that some of them are actually made just to repel bugs.
In today’s article, we’ll be taking a closer look at incense sticks and how they affect insects. We’ll provide you with answers to questions like does incense repel bugs, how does incense repel bugs, and what incense repel bugs.
Let’s get started!
Does Incense Repel Bugs?
Yes, there are many incense sticks that repel bugs. You can often find large sticks that are made for outdoor use, with their specific purpose being insect protection. The smoke itself is also a great countermeasure for bugs, as they tend to avoid it.
Nevertheless, it depends on which incense is used, because not all of them achieve the same effect. Therefore, let’s take a close look at how incense works and which is the right one.
How Does Incense Repel Bugs?
Using smoke to repel bugs is actually a traditional method that was used in many old societies. It’s presumed that one of the reasons why smoking tobacco became so popular is because of the belief that it will actually keep bugs away.
Bugs are afraid of smoke because smoke usually indicates heat. Although cigarette smoke is safe for bugs, they still avoid it because they don’t know that.
Incense, on the other hand, is a completely different story. There are many natural scents that keep bugs away, and combining that with modern technology to add chemicals which are natural bug repellents – there are incense sticks that are made specifically to repel bugs.
These sticks repel them both by smoke, as bugs avoid it, and by scent, as well. The scent in these sticks is usually specifically created to repel bugs.
Ancient societies would often light the leaves of palm trees on fire to keep bugs away, and we’ve surely come a long way since then. Despite the relative effectiveness of this method, lighting an incense stick to keep bugs away is a much more comfortable solution, as the scent it gives away is much nicer to smell than the smoke of a tree.
Incense sticks are often made to be more long-lasting, so you can use them outdoors for hours. This is also a great way to avoid any toxic chemicals that may harm you or the bugs you’re trying to repel.
These sticks usually don’t contain anything toxic, but rather concentrate on chemicals that are natural repellents for insects. This way, you’re not killing the bugs, you’re simply making the environment around you so uncomfortable for them, that they have no other option but to fly away.
What Incense Repels Bugs?
Citronella is most probably the most popular bug-repellent incense. Citronella oil is distilled from lemongrass, and it does a great job when it has to repel insects. It’s also often used in other commercial products for repelling insects, like bug sprays or candles.
If you decide to buy a citronella stick, you’ll find it quite effective, and it also releases a lot of smoke which is an added bonus when it comes to repelling insects.
Peppermint is great for repelling mosquitoes. It may not be as effective against other bugs as citronella, but the scent it produces is much more favorable to people than citronella, and it’s definitely a great solution for mosquitoes.
Despite people loving the smell of lavender, bugs don’t, and they’ll most often avoid it. With lavender, you don’t necessarily have to buy an incense stick – you can plant lavender in your garden to keep bugs away. The smell is very intense, and even if you can’t smell it – they can.
There are also incense sticks with the specific purpose of repelling insects. These sticks can often be found at Home Depot and similar stores, and they’re usually scentless.
This way, if you’re not a fan of incense scents, you can light these sticks up and keep insects away from yourself, while enjoying the fresh air. What’s great about these sticks is that they’re usually safe for pets, and won’t cause any allergies. Most of these sticks implement citronella but don’t release the scent, so you won’t be bothered with it if you’re not a fan.
You should always keep in mind that insects are relentless animals and you’re going to have a tough time trying to keep them away from your home.
However, lighting scented sticks with chemicals that repel them should help with this. There are always stubborn little insects who don’t mind the smell, and not all insects react equally to the same smells.
But lighting an incense stick is a good place to start.
