Candle Scents That Repel Mosquitoes

Oh,boy,the mosquitoes are out tonight! You know what that means! THEY’RE coming. They will bring that stick as close as they can to me and nudge me. They will bump against me again and again until “it” happens. I know the routine. I’m the oldest strand still standin’—almost. I’ve been through it. My name is ROSEMARY.

Yes,I was named after the plant. Somebody thought I resembled it somehow,I suppose. When you come into this world,people give you whatever kind of name they please. I was told I was good at scaring away bugs. Hah!. I had better be,to live in this place. Oh,here they come. Why do they do this every time it’s a warm night out?

OUCH!! That stick always has fire on it. Now,the fire has spread to me. And they’re heading for my friends! It’s bad enough that they have to spark my interest by setting my wick on fire,but do they have to do it to everyone around me,too? Hey! LAVENDER! You better get ready!

Lavender,why do you look so shocked? I know you like to sleep half the year,but really! You went through this last year. You could have kept vigil with me. CITRONELLA tried to stay up,but he has just been through too many mosquito campaigns. He can hardly keep awake after _he’s lit,let alone _before. And there goes Citronella,up in a flame. Does he look a little smoky to you this year,Lavender?

Wait wait They’re having trouble finding the next one. IT’S LEMONGRASS! She’s hiding again! I can’t say I blame her,really. They don’t want mosquitoes around,so they put a fire on us,and watch us melt. What sense does that make—I ask you? Rats! They found Lemongrass.

Hey,wasn’t PEPPERMINT all fired up by this time last year? I’m pretty sure she was,because she makes my flame feel like sputtering at times. She is so—I don’t know how to say this,but Peppermint is kind of loud. Citronella,don’t look at me like that. For something with no eyes,you sure do a good job of looking disapproving! Lemongrass,where are you? Are you hiding AGAIN? Come on,stand up for me. Peppermint is just a bit overbearing,isn’t she? Well,When Lemongrass floats to the surface,she’ll clear the air with me.

Mm-mm I know who got fired up this time! CLOVE AND CINNAMON,you two devils. When you are at work,I can’t decide whether to hunt for an orange or pick an apple! But you smell like leaves turning colors,people saying what they’re thankful for,and noisy deer with a sinus problem,all in one scent. It’s wonderful.

LEMON BALM! I was afraid they would skip you,thinking you were Peppermint. You two do look a lot alike,you know. That is,until you make yourself known. Of course,I would never confuse you with peppermint! Why,you’re so nice,and Peppermint is nice too she just takes over too much.

Oh,good,here comes Cedarwood. I need to relax. I know we’re out here to fight mosquitoes,but at this rate,I’m going to get myself in a lot of trouble.

You know,it smells pretty good out here. No wonder they pull us out and light us up at their pool parties every year. Well,without us,where would they be? Inside,trying to find the itch cream,that’s where. Do you know,I heard them call us—what was that word again? Oh yes!—candles! I like that word,so I will allow it.

Hey,Lavender! Citronella! What do you think of us calling ourselves “candles”? Pretty glamorous—oh,sorry,Citronella and Cedarwood—and handsome,don’t you think?

Hmm .looks like they’re coming around with the snuffer. Well,we’ve done our duty. The scents we give off kept the mosquitoes away again. Take care of yourselves you candles! Ah,Lemongrass,no tears,now. We’ll still be here. We’ll just be harder to find by our smells,that’s all. Before anyone can say,”OOh,what bit me”,we will be out here again,making the world smell beautiful for everyone except mosquitoes. Then we can be together again.Think about wax melts clamshell packaging