Citronella is mostly marketing.

5–10% is the typical concentration in most commercial bug repellents, but honestly, that number doesn’t matter much.

Citronella works in theory—it masks the scents that attract mosquitoes. The problem is it evaporates fast. Even at 10%, you’re looking at maybe 30–60 minutes of protection before you need to reapply. Compare that to 20% DEET or picaridin, which lasts hours.

Some “natural” brands push higher concentrations (15–20%), but that just means you smell like a candle longer. The EPA considers citronella safe, so companies can slap it on labels without proving it works well. And it doesn’t.

If you’re just sitting on a patio for a quick dinner, fine. For any real time outside—hiking, camping, gardening—use something that actually works.