How to Make Citronella Incense for Outdoor Use

Citronella incense can add a fresh, lemony scent to an outdoor seating area and may modestly reduce mosquito activity nearby, but it is not a reliable substitute for a proven personal mosquito repellent. For a homemade version, the safest approach is to start with a tested incense-stick or cone base and use citronella as the aromatic note rather than soaking ordinary blank sticks in an improvised oil-and-water mixture.

Quick answer: for beginners, I recommend making a small batch of citronella-scented cones using a base recipe you already know burns well, then testing one outdoors before scaling up.

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Make Your Own Citronella Incense – Eco-Friendly & Mosquito-Repelling

Does Citronella Incense Repel Mosquitoes?

Possibly, but the effect is modest and variable. In one field study, 5% citronella incense reduced Aedes mosquito bites by about 24% compared with untreated locations. That makes citronella incense better viewed as an atmospheric extra for a patio or garden table, not as your main protection against mosquito bites.

If mosquitoes are a genuine health concern where you live or travel, use a proven personal repellent as your primary protection. You can read the field study on PubMed.

What Is Citronella?

Citronella essential oil comes from aromatic Cymbopogon grasses, particularly Cymbopogon nardus and Cymbopogon winterianus. Citronella and lemongrass are related, but they are not the same plant. Citronella has a bright lemony, grassy scent that works well in fresh outdoor blends.

The Best Way to Make Citronella Incense at Home

Rather than inventing a separate formula, use a base method that already burns reliably. For cones, start with How to Make Incense Cones at Home. For sticks, use How to Make Incense Sticks at Home.

For Citronella Incense Cones

• A tested cone base made with makko powder and a suitable aromatic wood or botanical powder

• Citronella essential oil from a reputable supplier, only if your chosen base formula is designed for essential-oil additions

• Water as required by your base recipe

• A small bowl and spoon

• A cone mould if you prefer uniform shapes

1. Prepare your usual cone base first and work with a small test batch.

2. Add citronella only in the amount supported by your chosen base recipe or ingredient supplier. Mix it through the dry ingredients evenly before making the final water adjustment.

3. Add water gradually until the mixture holds together without becoming sticky or wet.

4. Shape the cones and leave them in a dry, well-ventilated place until they are completely dry throughout. Drying time varies with cone size, humidity and airflow, so use condition rather than a fixed number of days.

5. Test one cone outdoors on a stable, heat-resistant surface. If the smoke smells harsh, oily or excessively sooty, stop and revise the blend before burning more.

Need makko for your base? Makko powder is the specialist binder I use throughout the incense-making guides.

What About Citronella Incense Sticks?

I do not recommend soaking ordinary blank incense sticks in a homemade mixture of essential oil, water and DPG unless those sticks are specifically manufactured for dipping and you are following the supplier’s formulation instructions. For handmade natural sticks, it is more consistent to incorporate your aromatic ingredients into the incense mixture before shaping, using the dedicated stick-making method.

How to Use Citronella Incense Outdoors

• Use it outdoors or in a very open, well-ventilated area rather than relying on smoke in an enclosed room.

• Place the burner on a stable, heat-resistant surface where it cannot be knocked over.

• Keep it away from dry leaves, tablecloths, cushions and other flammable materials.

• Position it so smoke drifts away from faces rather than directly towards people.

• Never leave burning incense unattended, and extinguish it fully when you are finished.

Burning incense still produces smoke and fine particles, even when the ingredients are plant-based. “Natural” does not mean smoke-free or risk-free, which is another reason I prefer citronella incense as an occasional outdoor scent rather than something to burn for hours indoors.

Citronella Scent Pairings

For scent rather than stronger mosquito claims, citronella pairs naturally with dry herbal, floral and woody notes. Lavender softens the sharp lemony edge, rosemary adds a green herbal note, and cedarwood gives the blend more depth. Test combinations in small batches because an ingredient can smell very different once heated.

For more ingredient ideas, see 10 Best Herbs & Botanicals for Homemade Incense or compare formats in the Types of Incense guide.

Make Your Own Herbal Incense Blends

Want more botanical blend ideas? Explore the 15 Herbal Incense Recipe Cards for printable combinations to keep beside your incense-making kit.

Citronella Incense FAQs

1. Does citronella incense really repel mosquitoes?

It may reduce mosquito activity nearby, but the effect is modest and inconsistent. One field study of 5% citronella incense found about a 24% reduction in Aedes bites compared with untreated locations. Treat it as an extra outdoor measure, not your main mosquito protection.

2. Is citronella the same as lemongrass?

No. Both belong to the Cymbopogon group of aromatic grasses, but citronella and lemongrass are different plants with different oil profiles.

3. Can I soak blank incense sticks in citronella essential oil?

Only if the blank sticks are specifically sold for dipping and you have a suitable supplier formulation. For handmade natural incense, I prefer adding the aromatic material to a tested stick mixture before shaping.

4. Can I burn citronella incense indoors?

For this purpose, outdoors is the better choice. Incense smoke adds fine particles to indoor air, so avoid prolonged burning in enclosed spaces and always prioritise ventilation.

5. What scents pair well with citronella incense?

Lavender, rosemary and cedarwood are good scent partners. They can soften, freshen or deepen citronella’s lemony-grassy character without turning the page into a mosquito-control formula.