Best Mosquito Agarbatti for Monsoon? We Tested Them All
Introduction
Mosquitos and the Monsoon in India
Rain for many, is the biggest relief to the heat and dry weather of summer. The Monsoon, however, brings with it an influx of mosquitoes. There is no place in the home that is safe. For most Indian families the Monsoon means a four-month period of constant worry and frustration over mosquito bites.
Why don’t standard mosquito repellents work in the Monsoon?
During the Monsoon, regular repellents work - somewhat. Sprays provide relief for about an hour before the need to respray occurs. Creams must be reapplied frequently and are impractical when indoors. Solutions fail to cover a season that extends for months and moves almost exclusively indoors.
Why has mosquito incense or mosquito agarbatti become popular with the return of the Monsoon?
Unlike almost all other mosquito repellents, mosquito agarbatti is inexpensive, portable, and remains effective indoors and outdoors. Compared with heavy agarbatti of decades past, many brands that produce mosquito incense use natural ingredients and reduce the amount of smoke their products create.
Why Mosquitos Increase During Monsoon
1. Stagnant Water -The Monsoon creates stagnant water in flower pots, in the trays of water coolers, in clogged and broken drains, in unfinished construction work. Mosquitos need very little water to breed.
2. Conditions for Mosquito Breeding - An ideal breeding environment for mosquitoes consists of warm, moist air. During the monsoon, it becomes easier for mosquitoes to breed and reach maturity. By July, it will have gone from an annoying problem in early June to an overwhelming one.
3. Common Monsoon Diseases - The risk to health is significant. Mosquito-related illnesses really become a problem during and after the monsoon in the majority of India.
· Dengue - is another one of the most common illnesses in India during the monsoon. Symptoms include a high fever, severe headaches, extreme body aches and fatigue that can last for weeks.
· Malaria - (also a mosquito-borne illness) occurs as a cyclic fever. Symptoms are chills, body aches and profuse sweating.
· Chikungunya - is a painful but non-lethal illness.
What Makes a Good Mosquito Agarbatti?
Not all incense sticks that produce smoke actually repel mosquitoes. However, some mosquito agarbatti repellents may offer a combination of factors to help protect you from mosquitoes - safety, comfort, and an effective product that is practical for everyday use at home.
Key Factors We Tested
1. Smoke Effectiveness: Do they truly create a protective barrier against mosquitoes through the smoke?
2. Smell/Fragrance: Is it a pleasant enough fragrance to live within for an entire evening? Is it pleasant or too strong over time?
3. Burn Time: How long is active protection from one stick and is it enough to cover a whole evening?
4. Repelling Mosquitoes: Does it keep mosquitoes away, or does it just cover the smell in the room?
5. Indoor vs Outdoor: How well does it work outdoors? Like balconies and gardens.
6. Natural Ingredients: Does it incorporate natural plant extracts like neem, citronella, or lemongrass, or is it mostly chemicals?
7. Smoke Irritation: Are you left coughing and irritated?
Cost/Value: Does the value justify the cost per stick?
Testing Mosquito Agarbattis
- How Long the Testing Lasted: Each product was tested for one full week.
- What Part of the Day Testing Occurred: Each test occurred from 6 - 10 PM (mosquitoes are most active at this time).
- Room Size/Open Area: Each test was conducted in an average sized bedroom and an open balcony.
- How Many Brands of Agarbathi Were Tested: Three brands of mosquito agarbathi that are available in India were tested, including our brand, Runbugz.
- What Testing Setup was Like: Testing was done during the humid monsoon evenings while mosquitoes were active. Setups were done in conditions of light rain, high humidity and various ventilation (as close to real everyday use).
Top Picks of Tested Mosquito Agarbatti Products
- Runbugz is an Indian brand that caters to the needs of naturally repelling mosquitoes in the modern Indian home. Their repellent agarbatti sticks use citronella and lemongrass oil and are designed to provide long-lasting protection. Their agarbatti sticks are designed to produce significantly less smoke. During our testing, the agarbatti sticks performed admirably in closed balconies and bedrooms. The agarbatti sticks were also comfortable to use on balconies during the evenings.
Pros
● Uses naturally plant-based ingredients
● Has a pleasant, non-strong, citrus/herbal aroma
● Covers an entire evening with a long burn time
● Noticeable less smoke
● Suitable for Indoor and Outdoor Agarbatti use
Cons
● Price point is higher
● Availability may be limited outside of big urban centers
Best Use: Bedrooms, balconies, gardens, and families who like to dine and spend the evening outdoors
Burning Time: 2.5-3 hours
Fragrance: Mild herbal with fresh citrus
- Goodknight Mosquito Agarbatti: Goodknight products are easily available, economically priced, and a good choice for mosquito repelling in closed indoor spaces. Goodknight agarbatti sticks have a shorter burn rate (~1.5-2 hours) and perform poorly in open, or semi-open spaces.
- Mortein Mosquito Agarbatti: Mortein is a good choice for bringing a quick and aggressive smoke solution for Outdoor spaces. However, for Indoor Agarbatti use, Mortein is highly suboptimal due to excessive smoke and strong odors.
Natural vs Chemical Mosquito Agarbatti
1. Natural Ingredients –
Neem: Traditionally used in Indian households, Neem has properties that block the effects of insects, particularly mosquitoes. Unlike synthetic repellents, neem is safe and non-toxic.
Citronella: Citronella is one of the most effective and well-studied insect repellents. Citronella can mask the scents that insects are attracted to, making them much harder to locate humans in a given area.
Lemongrass: When used inside, the insect-repelling components of lemongrass produce an excellent scent and provide a longer-lasting scent than using neem.
Tulsi: Tulsi is found in many natural insect repellents. Its pleasant fragrance leads many to believe it may be a form of insect repellent.
2. Chemical Based Options
- Chemical agarbattis are useful for outdoor use in areas that have a high concentration of insect infestations because of the strong odor and increased rate of burning. However, for indoor use, especially in family spaces, the heavier smoke and chemical constituents tend to be impractical.
Safety Tips While Using Mosquito Agarbatti
- Ventilation: At least one window should be kept slightly open. Good circulation will distribute the repelling scent to the desired area and will help create a pleasant atmosphere.
- Do Not Let Them Come Near the Kids: Put your incense holder at such a place which is above the ground level and a bit high for little kids to reach out to.
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Do Not Take Too Much of Smoke: It is better to keep your agarbatti in such places where it does not come in contact directly with the breathing places of the family members.
- Correct Way of Using: Put it near the windows, doorways, and balcony openings and not in the center of the room. It is better to block them instead of chasing after them inside.
The monsoon evenings should be pleasant rather than troublesome. With Mosquito Agarbatti, you can rest assured because it offers real protection from the very first stick till the last one whether you use it indoors or outdoors.
FAQs
Which mosquito agarbatti is the best for the monsoon?
The perfect mosquito agarbatti combines effective repellent constituents with the ability to work indoors and outdoors and the capacity to protect for extended periods of time. Runbugz mosquito repellent incense sticks’ agarbatti is especially made to provide humid-climate protection and, as such, incorporates mosquito-repelling constituents like citronella and lemongrass. Both of these are plant-based.
Is mosquito agarbatti safe for daily use?
As long as mosquito agarbatti is used as directed and the space is well ventilated, this product can be used daily. Natural constituents with lower smoke formulations and dried constituents are preferred. Always keep the agarbatti stick on a stable surface as well as out of reach of children and pets.
Which natural ingredient works best against mosquitoes?
As for mosquito-repelling constituents, citronella is widely used, especially in agarbatti. Other constituents like lemongrass, neem, and tulsi are great options as well due to their pleasant aroma of dried herbs and citrus constituents, in addition to being mosquito-repelling.
How long should mosquito agarbatti burn?
Most mosquito agarbatti sticks burn for about 1.5 to 3 hours, and, as such, rapid agarbatti burning protection should be active, especially for the evening and peak monsoon hours.
Can mosquito agarbatti prevent dengue mosquitoes?
Agarbatti repels most varieties of mosquitoes, including those carriers of the dengue virus, while creating a de facto protection zone. This is most effective, keeping the environment clean.
