Cedarwood vs. Citronella: Which Natural Repellent Oil Fits You?

Citronella and cedarwood are both plant oils people use to keep mosquitoes away, and they work in a similar way: by scent. Citronella has the longer track record and the more studied profile. Cedarwood is a warm, woody oil that is also used against moths, ticks and other biting insects. Neither is a set-it-and-forget-it shield. Both fade within a couple of hours, so the real question is how you use them, how often you reapply, and what else you do around your yard or campsite. 🌿

Below, we compare the two oils side by side, show what the research says about protection time, and walk through safe use for adults and kids.

TL;DR

• Citronella has the clearer evidence for mosquitoes: about two hours of protection in lab and review data, and the US EPA recognizes it as a repellent ingredient.
• Cedarwood is used against mosquitoes, moths and ticks, with reported protection windows of roughly 60 to 180 minutes, and results vary by mosquito species and formula.
• Both oils evaporate fast, so plan on reapplying and pair them with simple habits like fans, long sleeves and emptying standing water.
• Both can irritate skin, especially at high concentrations, so patch test first and follow EPA application rules for children.
• If you want a ready-made, DEET-free option, our Mosquito Bee Gone™ collection is made for outdoor families.

Table of Contents

• Cedarwood vs. citronella at a glance
• What each oil repels
• How they compare against mosquitoes
• What about ticks?
• Who should be careful with these oils
• How to apply repellent safely, especially on kids
• Making either oil work harder
• Which oil should you pick?
• Our perspective
• Ready-made protection for your family
• FAQ
• Sources

Cedarwood vs. citronella at a glance

Here is the quick comparison before we get into the details.

The short version: pick citronella when your main goal is mosquito protection on an evening outdoors, and consider cedarwood when you want a woody scent or are also thinking about ticks and moths. Many people use them together in a blend, which is why you often see both on one label.

What each oil repels

Citronella

The US EPA’s fact sheet explains that oil of citronella is used on humans to repel insects, and that its strong odor may make it harder for some pests to find a host. The same fact sheet notes citronella oil is known to repel mosquitoes, biting flies, fleas and ticks.

That range is why citronella shows up in candles, torches, lotions and sprays. It is the familiar name people think of for a summer patio.

Cedarwood

A New York State Integrated Pest Management profile describes cedarwood oil as an insect repellent used against mosquitoes, moths and other biting insects. So cedarwood has a wider reputation around the house, from closets to gardens, not only for mosquitoes.

If you search for cedarwood and bugs, you will also see it mentioned for ticks. That has some support, and we cover it below.

How they compare against mosquitoes

The most useful single number is protection time. A review of plant-based insect repellents found that citronella-based repellents protect host-seeking mosquitoes for about two hours, while cedar oil is among the essential oils reported to repel disease vectors for 60 to 180 minutes. The same review points to volatility as the reason for short protection: the aromatic compounds evaporate quickly off skin.

In lab screening, undiluted citronella oil gave up to two hours of complete repellency against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Real life is messier than a lab. Heat, sweat, wind and how much product you apply all shorten the window.

Cedarwood results are more mixed. In laboratory tests on human skin, cedarwood oil did not repel certain mosquito species, while other essential oils such as thyme and clove performed better. That does not make cedarwood useless. It means that species, concentration and formula matter, and that one oil alone is a less predictable bet than a thoughtfully blended product.

What this means for your choice

• If you mainly want mosquito protection for a backyard dinner or an evening walk, citronella has the steadier evidence behind it.
• If you like a woody scent, or you also deal with moths or ticks, cedarwood is a reasonable companion.
• If you want to stretch protection time, look at formulas rather than plain oil. The review above notes that adding vanillin to citronella oil slowed evaporation and significantly prolonged protection. Carrier ingredients such as balms and ointments can also help a scent stay on skin longer than a thin spray.

We have gone deeper on cedar specifically in our post on cedar oil mosquito repellent and how long it tends to last, if you want the numbers for that oil alone.

What about ticks?

If you hike, camp or let kids roll around in tall grass, ticks matter as much as mosquitoes. A CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases study tested minimum-risk products on human skin and found that cedarwood oil and citronella oil each gave complete protection against female blacklegged ticks for more than 10 minutes but less than an hour.

That is a short window. Treat oil-based products as one layer, and do the basics too: stay on trail centers, wear long pants tucked into socks when you are in tick country, and check skin and hair after you come inside. Medical News Today also notes that cedarwood oil has repelled various tick species in studies, with effectiveness varying by concentration and tick size.

Who should be careful with these oils

Natural does not mean harmless for every skin. A few points worth knowing before you apply anything:

• Skin irritation. Essential oils can cause contact dermatitis or irritation, especially at high concentrations or in sunlight. The same review says citronella can cause skin sensitivity in some people, particularly with high concentrations or frequent exposure.
• Breathing and allergies. Reactions to essential oils can include respiratory irritation, skin sensitivity and allergic reactions, especially for people with lung conditions. If you have asthma or another lung condition, ask your doctor before diffusing or spraying oils near you.
• Quality varies. The FDA does not require essential oils to be proven safe or pure before they are sold, according to Medical News Today. That is a good reason to buy from a brand that tells you what is in the product rather than mixing random oils at home.
• Patch test. Put a small amount on the inside of your forearm and wait a day. If you see redness, itching or swelling, skip that product and talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
• Travel to disease areas. The plant-based repellent review states that citronella-based repellents should not be recommended for travelers to disease-endemic areas. If you are heading somewhere with malaria, dengue or similar risks, see a travel clinic or your doctor before you go and ask which repellents suit your destination.

How to apply repellent safely, especially on kids

The EPA’s guidance on using insect repellents safely and effectively is simple and applies to any repellent you put on skin:

1. Apply only to exposed skin or the outside of clothing, never under clothing.
2. Keep it away from eyes and mouth, and off cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
3. For children, put the product on your own hands first, then rub it on the child. Skip their hands, eyes and mouth.
4. Never let children handle the repellent themselves.

A few practical extras from our side: wash the product off with soap and water when you come indoors, and keep it where little hands cannot reach. For more on little ones, see our guides on applying natural repellent on children’s skin safely and mosquito protection for toddlers, age by age.

Making either oil work harder

Since both oils fade within a couple of hours, small habits do a lot of the work:

• ✅ Reapply on a schedule. Set a timer for about two hours, sooner if you are sweating or swimming.
• ✅ Apply to the right spots. Ankles, wrists, neck and the backs of knees are where mosquitoes tend to land.
• ✅ Use a balm or roll-on when you want controlled, targeted application without a mist drifting into the wind.
• ✅ Cut down breeding spots. Dump standing water from planters, buckets and toys.
• ✅ Add airflow. A patio fan makes it harder for mosquitoes to approach.
• ✅ Dress for it. Light, loose long sleeves help at dusk.

Active days need extra thought. Our post on a natural bug barrier for high-sweat activity covers surfers, runners and hikers, and the backyard bug bite prevention guide for families covers the cookout crowd. If you wear makeup or sunscreen, we explain the order in applying repellent over makeup. Want the full outdoor routine? Our skin care and mosquito prevention checklist pulls it together.

Which oil should you pick?

Use these quick rules.

Choose citronella if:

• Your priority is mosquitoes on patios, porches and evening walks.
• You like a fresh, grassy, lemony scent.
• You want the option with a longer documented history as a repellent ingredient.

Choose cedarwood if:

• You prefer a warm, woody scent.
• You are also thinking about ticks or moths.
• You are using it in a blend rather than alone.

Choose a blend or finished product if:

• You want longer-lasting, more consistent performance than a single oil offers.
• You do not want to guess at dilution.
• You are buying for kids, or for sensitive skin, and want clear directions on the label.

You may also see other botanicals compared with these two. Our overview of botanical insect repellents and what to buy walks through the field, and our post on neem oil’s real limits for mosquito protection looks at one more plant option.

Our perspective

We hear this question from families all the time: “Which natural oil should I trust?” Our honest answer is that the best repellent is the one you will actually wear, reapply and enjoy using. A bottle of oil that sits in the cabinet protects nobody.

That is why we build our Mosquito Bee Gone™ line as DEET-free, all-natural balms, roll-ons and ointments. They are made for real life: a toddler’s ankles at the park, a hiker’s neck at dusk, a surfer’s arms after the sun goes down. Our products are Non-GMO Project verified, bee-friendly and designed to be child-safe, and they are tested by families like yours. We keep improving them based on the feedback we get, and we use recyclable packaging.

We also believe in simple routines. A roll-on lets you put protection exactly where you need it. A balm or ointment stays put on skin. Pair either with fans, long sleeves and dumping standing water, and your backyard becomes a place people want to be again.

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Ready-made protection for your family

If you would rather not blend oils yourself, our Mosquito Bee Gone™ line gives you DEET-free, all-natural options in the format that suits your day: a roll-on for quick, targeted application, a balm for a richer layer, and an ointment for the whole family kit.

Once bites do happen, our Bug Bite Relief lotions and ointments help soothe the itch, and our hand and body lotions and body butters keep summer-stressed skin comfortable. Browse the full Mosquito Bee Gone™ collection to find your fit. 🌿

When you are done for the day, our post on how to remove bug spray from skin, clothes and surfaces makes cleanup easy.

FAQ

What bugs does cedarwood oil repel?

Cedarwood oil is used against mosquitoes, moths and other biting insects. It has also been studied against ticks, where it protected skin from blacklegged ticks for more than 10 minutes but less than an hour in a human-skin assay. Results vary with concentration and the type of insect.

What repels mosquitoes better than citronella?

Oil blends and finished formulas often perform more consistently than a single oil, and adding an ingredient like vanillin has been shown to slow citronella’s evaporation and extend protection. Ingredients and formats differ, so look for a product with clear directions and reapply on schedule. If you are traveling to an area with mosquito-borne disease, ask a doctor or travel clinic which repellent is right for your destination.

What is the strongest essential oil to repel mosquitoes?

No single oil is the clear winner. In one lab study on human skin, thyme and clove oils performed better than cedarwood against certain mosquito species, and citronella gave up to two hours of protection in other screening. Strength also depends on concentration, formula and how often you reapply, and stronger oils can irritate skin more.

Who should not use cedarwood essential oil?

Anyone with a known allergy to cedar or sensitive, broken or irritated skin should avoid it, and people with lung conditions such as asthma should ask a doctor before using essential oils in the air. Essential oils can cause dermatitis and allergic reactions. Patch test first, and never put repellent on young children’s hands, eyes or mouths.

Sources

• US EPA fact sheet for citronella (oil of citronella)
• Cedarwood oil profile, NYS Integrated Pest Management
• Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy
• Comparative repellency of 38 essential oils against mosquito species
• Repellency of essential oils to mosquitoes
• CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases: efficacy of unregulated minimum risk products against ticks
• Natural insect repellents: 10 options for skin and home, Medical News Today
• Using insect repellents safely and effectively, US EPA

Recommended

• Cedar Oil Mosquito Repellent: Often Lasts Less Than 20 Minutes
• Botanical Insect Repellent: What Works and What to Buy
• 80% Fewer Tick Bites: Permethrin vs Natural Repellent for Families
• Natural Bug Barrier for High Sweat Activity: What Works