Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management

Citronella Oil

General Information

• Product Names:

  Cutter Insect Repellent RDCO 31RN (Spectrum, A Div Of United Industries Corp )
  Cutter Insect Repellent Icarus (Spectrum, A Div Of United Industries Corp)
  
  Off! Citronella Candle ( S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. )
  Off! Citronella Bucket (S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.)
  
  Buzz Away Insect Repellent (Quantum Inc )
  Buzz Away Insect Repellent Towelettes (Quantum Inc)
  Aloe Herbal Horse Spray (Espree Animal Products, Inc )
  Aloe Herbal Horse Spray Ready-To-Use (Espree Animal Products, Inc )
  
  Scent-Off Pellets (Baker's & 18 Corporation)

  St. Gabriel Laboratories Mosquito Repellent (St. Gabriel Laboratories)
  Natrapel Plus Insect Repellent in ECO-Spray Can (Tender Corporation ) 

• Chemical Class: Biopesticide
• Uses: Mosquito repellent, animal repellent
• Alternatives:
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Least-toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Not documented
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Not documented
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Not documented
• Birth/Developmental: Not documented
• Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
• Potential Leacher: Yes (27)
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Not documented
• Toxic to Bees: Not documented

Residential Uses as Found in the ManageSafe™ Database

• Mosquitoes
• Head Lice
• Fleas
• Pantry Moths

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED)
  • EPA Factsheet (11/1999)
  • EPA Minimum Risk [FIFRA 25(b)] Pesticides
• Supporting information:
  • Least-Toxic Control of Mosquitoes (Beyond Pesticides)
  • NCAP Pesticide Factsheet (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides)
  • PAN Pesticides Database: (Pesticide Action Network)
• Studies:
  • Citronella Oil- Mixture of terpenes in plant oil provides a relatively safe way to stave off pesky flying insects. Ritter, S. 2006. Chemical & Engineering News.
  • Evaluation of the efficacy of 3% citronella candles and 5% citronella incense for protection against field populations of Aedes mosquitoes. Lindsay, LR et al. 1996. J Am Mosq Control Assoc