Modern mosquito-borne diseases like Zika and West Nile fever call for traditional insect repellents like pyrethrum mosquito coils and creative coil holders.

The classic mosquito coil was invented in Japan over a century ago and has changed very little over time. Ditto for the coil holders, usually made of heat-proof ceramic traditionally crafted in the form of an open-ended pig. Called “katori buta“, these hog-like holders have become symbolic of summer in Japan, Australia, Africa and South America, where smoldering mosquito coils have always been the go-to skeeter repellent.

Never Boaring

The coils are made mainly from Pyrethrum derived from the powdered seed heads of Tanacetum cinerariifolium, a type of Chrysanthemum. Considered non-toxic to humans and pets, the smoke emitted by mosquito coils effectively repels any and all insects while its coiled design ensures it will smolder for roughly 7 to 9 hours. Some variations on the classic pig-design coil holder evoke cows, cats and even hedgehogs should one be feeling a tad kosher. Others take the opposite tack and, er, totally and realistically pig out.

Fruit-Fighters

With over a century of use to work with, creative types have come up with a plethora of mosquito coil holder designs with which to complement your newly bug-free home. Here is the Shigaraki-yaki Watermelon Ceramic Mosquito Coil Holder, individually made in Japan and available in red or yellow.

Feelin’ Hut Hut Hut

Mosquitoes can transmit a number of debilitating illnesses and in sub-saharan Africa, malaria is endemic. No surprise, then, that in Malawi if one wants a mosquito coil holder it’s a simple matter of browsing the local pottery market. That’s where Matt & Rachel Floreen of Africa Stories found this delightful hand-made ceramic coil holder.

Spidey Sense

Some folks want to set tradition aside, others chuck it out the window – and nail the window shut! Take this spider-themed mosquito coil holder from northern Thailand, if you dare. The matte black finished steel holder is no doubt child-proof while using it should keep your home skeeter-proof. In related news, some mosquito coils in Thailand are purple.

Goofy Is As Goofy Does

Here’s a goofy mosquito coil holder listed for sale at T3-Toys. We’re not “hav’n a go,” by the way, it really is a Goofy mosquito coil holder – officially authorized by Disney and sold sometime in the ’90s at Tokyo Disneyland. Guess it’s a better souvenir than a dumb t-shirt.

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Buzz Off 15 Smokin Hot Mosquito Coil Holders

Pencils require sharpening, run out of eraser and turn into unusable stubs as they near the end of their lifespan, but this clever gadget aims to change all of that, solving all three issues at once.

Even in today’s digital world, artists, designers, writers and musicians still fall back on this traditional tool. The Pencil+ helps on multiple fronts, but functions first as a pencil holder, enabling the user to tuck various lengths of pencil into a central void.

What keeps the pencil from slipping too far in? An adjustable eraser serves as a backstop, letting you move the pencil portion backward to fit and forward as the pencil gets shorter. Meanwhile, the back of the holder (normally where one would find an eraser) doubles as a sharpener, keeping it always on hand for reworking broken or worn tips.

“Worry no more because with pencil+,” say its creators, “you can now have a sharpener, extender, eraser holder and transporter for your favorite tool” which is available in Teak, Ebony, Wild Olive, African Padauk and Indonesian Redwood”

A few potential critiques come to mind: first, someone employing this device will have to deal with an additional step to access an eraser. Second, the holder is necessarily wider than a pencil, so it will require some getting used to in terms of grip and function. Third, the eraser length is a function of pencil length, so storing a lot of extra eraser could be an issue (though easily longer than a normal one). Still, one can be sure, at least, never to lose track of one’s sharpener, and also that a single pencil will last a lot longer.