Do Candles Attract Roaches? Explained!

From the name of this blog, do candles attract roaches? You must have an idea by now that its topic is about using candles to drive away roaches from your home. 

So, if you ever wondered whether this is worth a try or not, then keep on reading. I am going to answer that question straight up and lay it on the line. 

I’m going to tell you how candles attract roaches and how not to get them. I will give you all the information you need so that you can make a decision for yourself.

Do Candles Attract Roaches?

Candles, especially those that contain scented wax, emit carbon dioxide and other trace chemicals that can lure roaches in for a snack. This is especially true if you’re using scented candles inside your home. Roaches can crawl over candle wax and then make their way back to your living area, where they will begin to infest your home. 

If you have a candle that gives off a strong scent and this scent can be smelled from the other room, this is a great way for roaches to get into your house.

Candles also give off heat and light. Roaches love both of these things as well, which makes them an easy target for lighting in your home. 

Do Candles Repel Roaches?

I have done detailed research on the effects of candles; therefore can provide you with authentic information; so; let’s see whether candles repel roaches or not.

While candles may be used to create a romantic atmosphere, they are not effective in repelling roaches. This is because they don’t emit an odor that would cause the roaches to avoid them. 

In fact, candles are often made with scents that attract humans and other mammals, but not insects. 

Roaches are attracted by the light, warmth, and carbon dioxide emitted by candles. 

They will therefore swarm toward the light and heat, which can encourage more roaches to come out of hiding and join the crowd.

While the smell of the candle might mask the scent of food that attracts the roaches, it is unlikely that the smell will be strong enough to repel them.

In addition, candles are typically made of wax, which is something that many roaches like to eat. 

The wick of a candle can also act as a bridge between areas in your home where you don’t want them to be.

This is why it’s important not to use candles as a form of pest control and instead find an alternative way to keep these pests out of your home.

What are Aromatic Candles?

Scented candles are a type of candle that is specifically designed to emit scents. They can be made from a wide variety of materials, including paraffin, beeswax, soy wax, and more. 

The scent can be added before or after the candle has been made. 

A wide variety of scented candles are available online, including those designed to smell like specific foods like bacon or coffee beans. 

They are utilized for a number of purposes, including:

The home: Candles may be used to provide a relaxing atmosphere in the home, or they may be used as an accent piece.

The workplace: Candles can help create a more relaxed environment in the workplace, which can lead to increased productivity.

Religious ceremonies: Candles are often used at religious ceremonies as part of the ritualistic process.

These types of candles are often used as decorations in restaurants or homes. 

Scents can also be added to candles that have been made with different materials, so they smell like flowers or spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.

Some scented candles look like other items, such as pinecones or even apples!

How do Aromatic Candles Produce Scents?

As you have learned about scented candles; so, now you must be desperate to know about how these candles produce scents; therefore, I have started a detailed mechanism below; so let’s see.

Scented candles are designed to provide a pleasant smell in your home. They come in many different fragrances, such as lavender or vanilla.

Some people prefer to burn them when they want to create a relaxing atmosphere. Other people burn them as a way to mask unpleasant odors.

In order for a candle to produce its smell, it must first melt. When you light the candle, the wax begins to melt from the heat of the flame. 

It then burns and releases molecules into the air around it, which carry with them smells that humans can detect with their noses.

When you first light a candle, you will notice that there is no noticeable odor when it burns on its own. 

That’s because there isn’t enough wax melted yet for it to release enough molecules into the air for us humans’ noses to detect anything other than smoke coming off of it.

But once you begin burning off some more wax, things start smelling really good!

What Candle Smell do Roaches Hate?

As you have read that candles don’t repel roaches; instead, they attract them, but I have good news for you. If you want to repel roaches, you can use scented candles for this purpose.

The notable point is that not all scented candles will repel roaches, so let’s see which those candles repel roaches. 

One of the best ways to get rid of roaches is by using scented candles containing essential oils of roach-repellent plants.

These candles have a strong odor that is offensive to the senses of roaches, causing them to leave the area where they are located.

The most common essential oils used in these candles are cedarwood, lavender, citrus, and peppermint oil, which can be found at most stores that sell scented candles.

If you want to make your own scented candle, there are several recipes available online for making your own homemade candles using ingredients such as vegetable oil or beeswax.

Moreover, You may have heard that roaches hate the smell of basil, but you can’t just make a candle out of it. But you CAN use the essential oils in basil to make a candle that repels roaches!

Candle scents that repel roaches:

  • Citronella 
  • Lemongrass  
  • Peppermint 
  • Rosemary 
  • Sage  
  • Thyme 
  • Clove

Effective Repelling Scents for Bugs

Some scents are specific repellents for particular bugs. I have stated different odors and the bugs which are affected by these scents in the table below.

NoScentsBugs
1PeppermintAnts
2LemongrassHouse Flies
3Tea treeRoaches
4LavenderAnts, Flees, Tcks

Which Aromatic Candles are Good Roach Repellents?

You have gone through a detailed overview of scented candles, so now I have listed the scents which are effective in keeping roaches away. So, let’s see.

  1. Lemon Scented Candles

Lemon is a good bug repellent, and it’s also a great option for candles. The scent of lemon repels cockroaches, ants, and other pests.

So if you’re looking for an all-natural way to keep your home free from unwanted guests, lemon essential oil might be the way to go!

Lemon essential oil is derived from citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, and oranges. 

It has a strong citrus smell that can help mask any other scents in your home and make it less inviting to pests.

If you choose to use lemon essential oil as part of your candle recipe, it will give your candle a distinctive scent that may or may not appeal to everyone in the household.

If you do decide on this option, try mixing it with other scents, such as lavender, so that the scent isn’t too overpowering.

  1. Patchouli Scented Candles

Patchouli is a popular fragrance for many aromatic candles. This is because it has a strong, earthy smell that people find relaxing and soothing. 

It’s also known for its ability to repel insects and pests like cockroaches.

Aromatic candles are often sold as bug repellents because they contain essential oils that are known to keep away bugs. 

Patchouli is one of these oils, so if you’re looking for an aromatic candle that will help keep roaches away from your home, then patchouli-based candles should be right up your alley!

  1. Lavender Scented Candles

Lavender is one of the most popular scents for candles, and it’s also great for repelling roaches. Lavender is an insect repellent, so a lavender-scented candle should be able to deter roaches.

If you’re looking for a way to keep your home free of pests, try burning a few lavender-scented candles throughout your home. 

You can also use lavender oil or lavender spray as an alternative if you don’t like the smell of burning candles. 

Lavender is known to repel spiders, ants, cockroaches, and mice, so it’s also good for keeping other pests at bay!

  1. Pine Scented Candles

Pine is a great aromatic candle to use as a roach repellent. 

Pine has long been used to keep pests away, and its scent is strong enough that it will linger in your home long after you’ve blown out the flame. 

Pine is also known for having the ability to keep bugs away from crops and other plants, so if you have a garden or grow things in your yard, this is a great option.

It’s probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of good ways to get rid of roaches, but it’s worth considering if you’re looking for something natural and inexpensive.

Effect of Candle Light on Roaches

Roaches are attracted to the glow of candlelight, and it can draw them out of hiding places. 

This can be problematic for people who keep candles in their homes and may not even know that they have a problem with roach infestation until they notice a large number of roaches.

To prevent this from happening, I advise you to keep your candles away from areas where there is food or garbage. 

The light will attract the roaches, and they will come out of hiding to get closer to it. 

While using candles does not necessarily cause an increase in the number of roaches in your home, it will cause them to become more active and therefore spread their eggs more often.

How to Use Aromatic Candles to Repel Roaches?

Now let’s come to the point. Now I am going to provide you with the correct method to use aromatic candles against roaches. 

First of all, choose a candle with a repellent scent, then follow the guidelines mentioned below.

To get the most out of your aromatherapy candles, place them in areas where roaches congregate. 

If you have a problem with roaches in your kitchen, place a candle on your countertop or near the sink. 

If you have a problem with roaches in your bathroom, place a candle near the toilet or tub. You can also place them along walls where roaches may be hiding.

Candles should be placed in an area that has good ventilation and where there is no threat from rain or other weather phenomena. 

If you live in a humid climate, then using an open-air type of candle holder can help to prevent moisture build-up around your candle.

You also need to consider how much coverage you want when placing your candle. 

If you want to cover a large area, then you might want to consider using multiple candles instead of one single large one.

Final Thoughts:

In this blog, I have explained: Do candles attract roaches? Yes, candles attract roaches because they are a source of food. It is the case with the scented candles. 

There is no doubt that a scented candle can be used to repel roaches as well. That is why you must ensure that you place the scented candles in an appropriate place. 

You don’t want to put scented candles in places where they will easily melt, especially if they are scented candles in glass containers. 

The most appropriate place to put those scented candles is above countertops in open spaces so that they can work effectively.

FAQs:

Can Candle Smell Kill Roaches?

The short answer is no; a candle’s smell won’t kill roaches. It’s true that candles emit a scent and can mask other smells, but the smell itself isn’t strong enough to kill roaches. 

Are Scented Candles Bad for Your House?

The scented candles can cause headaches and nausea. This happens because of the chemicals that are released into the air when you burn scented candles. 

Also See:

Leave a Comment