The 2ft candle only costs £10 and prevents bugs from spoiling your summer nights
Home Bargains shoppers are racing to pick up the latest ‘stylish’ way to keep bugs at bay while enjoying summer in the garden. The store is introducing a range of new garden decor in time for warmer weather.
The Earthed Long Wooden Citronella Candle is available in-store and online for £9.99. At 62 cm long, which is just over 2ft, the giant “rustic” candle fills most of a shop shelf. It was featured as a new product on the Home Bargains Instagram feed over the weekend alongside other products in this outdoor range.
Fans of the discount store were quickly impressed by the size of the candle and its promise of bug-free evenings in the garden this summer. One said: “The long candle! Perfect for the garden table!”
Another joked: “These are amazing! Whoever said size doesn’t matter has never seen that candle!” A third wrote: “Love the big long one!” Someone else commented: “Wonderful haul. [I’m] obsessed with the wooden Citronella Candle!” And, a fifth put: “Absolute must-haves! The long candle is getting bought by me for sure!”
Shoppers could also opt for smaller versions with the same citronella scent, such as the Etched Brown Citronella Candle (£4.99). Or, the speckled Citronella Ceramic Candle Jar (£7.99), available in four different colours.
Why do bugs hate the smell of citronella?
Citronella is a scented grass known for its insect-repelling properties. It produces a strong, lemony scent, which effectively repels mosquitoes, flies, and other insects, according to EcoShield Pest Solutions.
Most candles that use citronella oil, which is extracted from the grass itself, put bugs off bothering you by overpowering most other smells that attract them, like fruity drinks, tasty foods or our natural scent. Pest control company EcoShield added: “Citronella interferes with the sensory receptors of insects, particularly mosquitoes.
“The compounds found in citronella oil, such as citronellal and geraniol, disrupt the insects’ ability to detect carbon dioxide, heat, and other chemical signals that lead them to their hosts. This confusion hinders their ability to find and bite humans or animals.”
For bugs bold enough to ignore the scent, getting too close may result in “irritation to insects upon contact”. The organisation added: “It may disrupt their feeding or landing behaviour, discouraging them from staying in the vicinity. The repellency effect of citronella can discourage pests from landing on the skin, reducing the likelihood of bites.”
While citronella may work for bugs like mosquitoes, flies, and gnats, it might not work against all flying creatures like bees and wasps. EcoShield claims: “These insects are primarily attracted to floral scents and nectar sources, rather than being repelled by citronella.”