Abstract

SCENTED CANDLES BASED ON NATURAL ESSENTIAL OILS AND ANTI-OXIDANTS: AN EFFECTIVE ECO-FRIENDLY CONTROL OF MOSQUITOES

Suman Kr Dey*

ABSTRACT

The problem of mosquito nuisance has long been a challenge for many communities throughout the world and the loads of diseases caused by them are recently on rise. Commonly known diseases caused by mosquitoes are malaria, dengue, chicken gunya, filariasis, yellow fever and Zika virus. The innovation of herbal mosquito repellent candles offers an effective solution to overcome mosquito problems which often disturb our comfort and health. This research focuses on preparation and evaluation of new mosquito repellent candles aimed at providing effective protection from mosquitoes. This research examines the effectiveness of mosquito repellent candle that use natural ingredients in reducing mosquito populations and their impact on the environment and human health. The candle is formulated using natural wax (e.g. bee wax, soy wax) and essential oils such as Basil or Tulsi, Neem, Marigold, Eucalyptus and Lavender oil which are known for their mosquito repellent activity. The prepared candle is evaluated for its colour, fragrance, appearance, flammability, burning rate, irritancy, stability, presence of smoke and its repellent activity. Burning test shows effectiveness because of natural ingredients and essential oils present in candle. It does not cause any irritation to skin or any allergic reaction.

Keywords: Mosquito repellent candle, essential oil, anti-oxidant, repelling efficiency.