Do citronella bracelets work as an alternative to insect repellent spray?

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Has anyone used the citronella bracelets that repel bugs, instead of the usual bug repellent spray? I don’t like dousing myself or the kids in chemical sprays, but we all seem to have tasty blood 😅 the bracelets seem a bit too good to be true, but I’m hoping people have had some success with them?

In my experience, no. Last holiday I spent every evening with one on each ankle and one on each wrist and I still got bitten to shreds. They were very strong smelling ones too. They probably help a bit, but I wouldn’t use them instead of spray again.

I didn’t find they made much difference. I use the lush sleepy lotion - bugs don’t like the lavender and the smell is lovely and long lasting as well as very moisturising. It’s also the only thing that works for DD’s eczema so bonus! I put drops of lavender essential oil on their t-shirt and socks too.

I use Deet bracelets, they work very well & are not messy.

I’ve used them I think they help but not totally deter. I often put one in my hair as I think it puts bugs off nibbling at hairline where insect repellent can be difficult to apply.

No, they don’t work at all in my experience.

I use them, well the deet ones, as well as spray. But then I swear bugs commute for miles to bite me while leaving dp alone.

Stop and think how big you look to a small insect, a couple of smelly strings on your wrists aren't going to do much.

No. DEET works.

No. If they did nobody would be selling repellent spray.

If you don't like DEET (which despite the conspiracy theories is harmless, but is is unpleasant and oily, and dissolves plastic), there are sprays based on picaridin which mimics a natural repellent produced by plants. It's meant to be almost as good as DEET. Autan has been picaridin-based for many years now.

Also get a plug-in for night time. Some hotels provide them, and if not you can get them at a tourist supermarket for €6 or Lidl for €3.

Citronella bracelets are a waste of money. Use a DEET or picaridin based spray instead.

I don’t know about the bracelets but many years ago I was travelling in Asia and I remember using citronella spray. I found it very effective.

No. Citronella appears to do fuck all.

Buy some deet.

Sorry, but no.
There are things you can do, forgive me if some are obvious, especially for children who are slightly less fashion conscious

1. Wear lightweight, but full clothes at night. Longer sleeves, trousers (cuffed helps), socks/trainers, not open sandals
2. Do not leave windows open, especially not with lights on. If you can get a higher room it helps (mosquitos only tend to fly 25-30 foot)
3. Get good strength deet based deterrent, but get the roll on rather than the spray and cover the bits of skin that are still exposed, on the body. Yes it is a bit greasy, but it is so more effective than spray which just chokes everyone and is nowhere near as effective. It does do damage to clothes and other stuff though, so bear this in mind. I used to put it on the back of the neck for my kids, but not anywhere near face (they tend to know when a mozzy is landing on face). Although I realise you don't want chemicals on your kids skin, the alternative can be awful, and they will scratch and scratch until you have a bleeding sore.
4. Think about where you sit in the evening. Unfortunately, the nicest, most atmospheric places, near the lake, by a load of plants, with some lights is exactly where the mozzies like the best too.
5. People say they can bite in the day too, but my experience is they don't / are not about (I would not rely on this) so your prep is mainly night time.

They weirdly like some people more than others (2 of six of us bitten alive, 4 get on OK), but no-one is immune.

I got a bit fed up of wearing the same-ish style outfit for 5 weeks in South East Asia at night, and "deeting up" but in return, not bitten once. xx

Try the Mrs whites unstung hero spray. It’s natural but has VERY good reviews.
obviously, if you are going to an area that is malarial, use deet!

https://victoriahealth.com/mrs-whites-unstung-hero-mosquito-repellent/?glCountry=GB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23885778384&gbraid=0AAAAAoVcxhQZRgSdTmOp_iZPd_HYhLNtF&gclid=CjwKCAjwmozTBhAeEiwAkEGZzgv-5u4oFXlTIoboUGdo5eFRsxMDcoyzM3GASr0pn2Myrpl_4k1fPRoChp0QAvD_BwE

Yes. My whole family used them (the citronella ones) on a trip to Spain and they worked well. One on wrist one on ankle.

Skin so soft spray from Avon works wonders as a bug repellent.

I have friends in the army that all swear by it and order huge amounts for them and their colleagues to use abroad.

We use Skin so Soft too, along with an insect repellant body soap in the shower.

My whole family use Pestect ones and they work well but we only travel in Europe so can’t say whether they’d work as well anywhere with more persistent pests!! Having said that, they were a recommendation from a friend who used them in America.

I’m in Maine where mosquitoes are rampant.

Deet or Picardin or long clothes are your best options.

Citronella candles are nice to burn if you’re outdoors but not convinced they help much.

The Skin So Soft thing has been debunked many times. It’s a nice smell but it’s not going to do anything against mosquitoes.

I came on to say this.

I think its the thin layer of oil that repels the bugs rather than the smell.

The oil works to trap midges but not mosquitoes.

They do have a picardin-based range of products that would probably work, but the regular Skin So Soft does not.

Thanks all, lots of useful info to consider. We are only going to Spain so not got to worry about malaria, but are staying a bit out in the sticks, right next to woodland so there’s still plenty buzzing about to bite us!