Gulf Coast summers are sticky-hot, so the real magic happens once the sun starts to drop and the breeze finally cools off. Sunset quickly became our favorite hour—right up until the mosquitos clocked in. One orange glow across the horizon and a cloud of mosquitos would pop out of the grass, herding us back inside before we could even settle into a chair.

We tried the usual fixes: bug spray that left us greasy (and still bitten), citronella candles that didn’t do much, and yard chemicals we didn’t love around the kids. Then we lit our first bundle of piñon wood. The smell alone—warm pine with a hint of vanilla—was enough to win us over. The bigger surprise? No bugs. Piñon’s natural resin sends mosquitos packing, no chemicals required.

These days, if the kids so much as mention a mosquito or gnat, we fire up the chiminea with piñon logs and watch the problem—literally—go up in smoke. We’ve taken back our evenings, and now we want to help other Gulf Coast families do the same. From barbecues and pool parties to laid-back Sunday hangouts, a stack of New Mexico’s finest piñon wood turns any backyard moment into easy, year-round fun.

From our family’s backyard to yours , see you at sunset!