what essential oils are good insect repellent

These essential oils are traditionally recommended for their bug repellent properties:

• Citronella
• Lemongrass
• Rosemary
• Geranium
• Spearmint
• Thyme
• Clove

Full Answer

Do essential oils really work as pest control?

There is a reason why pest management professionals do not use essential oils to eliminate bed bugs because when you have bed bugs, you want them gone as soon as possible before the infestation gets too large, and essential oils are neither 100% effective in repelling or killing them, despite what some natural health resources say.

How to naturally repel pests with essential oils?

• Peppermint
• Lemongrass
• Lavender 40/42
• Cinnamon Leaf
• Clove Bud
• Cedarwood Atlas
• Tea Tree
• Eucalyptus
• Oregano
• Orange

More items...

Which essential oils keep bugs away?

You will need:

• A dark glass bottle with a spray attachment—for indoors use a fine mist sprayer, for outdoors, one with a larger spray nozzle works well or you’ll be pumping forever!
• Funnel
• 4 tsp. of vodka or grain alcohol
• 4 oz. of water
• 30 drops lavender essential oil
• 15 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
• 15 drops lemongrass essential oil.

How to make an herbal insect repellent?

Vinegar of the Four Thieves Insect Repellent Instructions

• Put the vinegar and dried herbs into large glass jar.
• Seal tightly and store on counter or place you will see it daily. ...
• After 2-3 weeks, strain the herbs out and store in spray bottles or tincture bottles, preferably in fridge.
• To use on skin, dilute to half with water in a spray bottle and use as needed.
• Use whenever you need serious bug control!

Do essential oils really repel bugs?

Further, citronella, lemon, and eucalyptus oils are common insect repellents and are registered by the EPA and have been approved for topical use in humans. PMD (p-menthane-3,8-diol), proven safe to human health, is the only plant-based repellent advocated by the CDC for public use.

Which oil is used as insect repellent?

Citronella Essential Oil Popularly used as an insect repellent, citronella oil is derived from the citronella plant, and can be found in candles, or can be incorporated into a bug repellent lotion.

What is the strongest natural insect repellent?

Lemongrass oil applied to the skin offered 74 to 95 percent protection against mosquito bites for two and a half hours. A combination of lemongrass oil and olive oil offered 98.8 percent protection against mosquitoes for three hours.

What scent does insect hate?

Clove, peppermint, thyme, rosemary, and citronella oil are just a few essential oils that can help keep bugs away.

What bugs does peppermint oil repel?

Not only does peppermint oil repel ants, it also repels spiders. In fact, peppermint keeps most pests away, including aphids, beetles, caterpillars, fleas, flies, lice, mice and moths.

What essential oil do mosquitoes hate?

Citronella Citronella is a common natural and effective essential oil that works against mosquitoes. Made from a mix of herbs, it's an ingredient in many mosquito repellents. When outdoors, citronella candles can provide up to 50 percent extra protection.

How do you make bug spray with essential oils?

Instructions: In a 2 ounce bottle, add the 1 1/2 tablespoons of distilled water, 1 teaspoon of carrier oil, 1 teaspoon of vodka or witch hazel, and 15-25 drops of lavender essential oil. Shake well and spray on skin.

What smell mosquitoes hate?

Certain Natural Scents Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents: cinnamon, peppermint, cedar, citronella, lemongrass, patchouli, catnip, lavender, and more. Find a favorite, and use it when you want to spend time outside.

What repels bugs naturally?

Lemongrass, citrus, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, citronella, catnip, and lavender oils all possess properties that repel bugs. The oils can be used individually or combined to make a simple anti-bug potion. Mix about 1 cup of water with 25-30 total drops of oil into a small spray bottle.

How do I bug proof my house?

General Measures for Keeping out PestsScreen all openings. ... Install door sweeps or thresholds at the base of all exterior entry doors. ... Door seals. ... Fill cracks. ... All outside doors should be self-closing. ... Seal all utility openings. ... Repair leaky piping. ... Install wire mesh.More items...

What smell do bugs love?

Carbon Dioxide Mosquitoes and moths are most active at dawn and at dusk. They are attracted to the odor of the carbon dioxide that we exhale. Bees and gnats can also be attracted to the smell of our breath. Sweat is another body excretion that attracts insects.

Does tea tree oil attract bugs?

Tea tree oil helps in repelling bed bugs successfully as the smell encourages the pest to leave the area. Once they smell it, they will instantly run away. The essential oil not only makes an annoying odor for them, but it can also affect their exoskeleton.

How do you make insect repellent essential oil?

To make a dilute spray, fill a spray bottle with water. Mix 2 to 3 drops of essential oil in 2 to 3 drops of liquid carrier oil per ounce of water. Shake before use. Spray onto bug bites to experience relief.

Is almond oil an insect repellent?

If you want a liquid insect repellent (such as to use in a spray bottle) you can use one of these carrier oils: Grapeseed oil. Jojoba oil. Almond oil.

Does coconut oil repel mosquitoes?

Coconut oil fatty acids also provided more that 90 percent repellency against mosquitoes—including Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that can transmit the Zika virus. These coconut oil-derived compounds offer longer-lasting protection than any other known natural repellent against insect blood-feeding, according to Zhu.

Is jojoba oil an insect repellent?

Jojoba oil is liquid at room temperature, odorless, and resistant to turning rancid. One of the ways it acts as a pesticide is by forming a physical barrier between an insect pest and the leaf surface. Target pests: White flies on all crops; powdery mildew on grapes and ornamentals.

What essential oils are good for repelling insects?

When we choose to go out and about in their natural environment, there's no way to completely avoid insects so the best thing we can do is repel them from us personally. Rosemary, citronella, and cedarwood essential oils come together to help keep insects away from us so we can enjoy the outdoors while leaving behind an enjoyably fresh and green aroma.

What essential oils are good for mosquitoes?

Here are the top 8 Essential Oils for repelling insects and treating bug bites: Rosemary essential oil can help to repel insects, especially mosquitos, making it great for keeping them at bay during waterside activities. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to help relieve bug bite pain and swelling and prevent infection.

What are some ways to keep bugs away?

Many products designed to keep insects away are full of synthetic and unknown ingredients that we may not feel great about using around our families all summer long. Essential oils are an effective and natural tool we can use to help us deal with those pesky insects during the warmer months. Some essential oils have the ability to repel insects to help keep our homes and outdoor areas bug free. Other oils have anti-inflammatory and healing properties that allow them to help soothe sore and itchy bug bites for those insects we just couldn't escape. The best part is, some of our most commonly used and loved essential oils have these great benefits as well as many others that are useful during the summertime.

What are the benefits of essential oils?

Other oils have anti-inflammatory and healing properties that allow them to help soothe sore and itchy bug bites for those insects we just couldn't escape. The best part is, some of our most commonly used and loved essential oils have these great benefits as well as many others that are useful during the summertime.

What to use for bug bites in summer?

A handy roll on remedy with lavender, tea tree, and chamomile essential oils will help to soothe pain and itchiness while easing redness and swelling.

What is cedarwood essential oil used for?

Cedarwood essential oil as well as the wood from which it is derived have long been used to keep insects at bay. It can help protect stored items such as clothing and linens from damaging moths as well as repelling pesky bugs from our gardens.

How to make a mosquito repellent spray?

Instructions. Add essential oils and witch hazel to your 4oz glass bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle up with distilled water. Attach the spray top and shake until all the ingredients are well combined. Spray on clothing before going outside to repel insects.

What is the best way to repel insects?

Geranium Essential Oil. Geraniol, the main component of Geranium oil, has proven to be effective in repelling a wide range of insects. It has been the topic of many studies, showing over and over again that it provides powerful protection.

How long does Neem oil keep bugs away?

Also, a study out of India found that adding just 2% of Neem Oil to Fractionated Coconut Oil kept volunteers protected from bites up to 12 hours. If you choose to create a spray-style bug repellent, you could make it water-based, but you might consider adding vanilla or carrier oil to help extend the protection time.

What essential oil is good for PMD?

Adding an essential oil that is high in Geraniol with an essential oil that contains PMD and an essential oil rich in citronellol could offer much greater protection against pesky bugs.

How long does it take for coconut oil to kill fleas?

One study showed that adding the oil to a cream base extended the repellency to 2-3 hours instead of 20-60 minutes. Lauric acid is saturated fat found in Fractionated Coconut Oil that has proven to fend off fleas, ticks, and more.

What oils are in a sandbox?

It contains many of the awesome oils we’ve listed today, like lemon eucalyptus, catnip, vanilla, cedarwood, and more – combined with fractionated coconut oil.

What is Cedarwood essential oil used for?

Cedarwood Oil is specifically helpful for repelling fleas, ants, and ticks. In one study, Cedarwood Essential Oil was placed between ants and their food source, and the ants were driven in the other direction.

What is the best oil for cats to eat?

Catnip Essential Oil. You may know Catnip to be a tempting herb that your cat goes crazy around, but the Essential Oil is actually very good for deterring insects. Catnip contains a chemical compound called nepetalactone. That specific compound is VERY powerful at deterring bugs! ADD TO CART.

What is the best essential oil for mosquitoes?

Eucalyptus is a popular essential oil used in insect repellents. It has a powerful lemony scent and contains the compound citronellalwhich is the key mosquito-repelling component.   Its aroma is a powerful decongestant, so be careful when putting it on your face.   You will soon have clear sinuses, too.

Can you use insect repellent without DEET?

There are ways, however, that we can all live a little more harmoniously with the biting bugs without the use of chemical-based insect repellents that include problematic ingredients such as DEET. There are plenty of natural insect repellentsavailable to buy at pharmacies and wellness stores, but it is also pretty simple to whip up a batch for yourself.

Can you inhale essential oils?

An added bonus is that while your homemade insect repellentis busy staving off those flying foes, you can inhale the heavenly, heady aromas of the essential oils while your skin absorbs all the health benefits from a slathering of oil.

Does peppermint oil help with insect bites?

The benefits here are again twofold.   Peppermint oilis useful in repelling insects as well as soothing any bites that you already have.   Applying some peppermint oil to your bite will help cool the itching.   Dotting peppermint plants around your home can also work to keep bugs at bay in the first place.

Is bergamot good for cleaning?

Bergamot is one of my most loved oils to use for green cleaning, and it’s additionally the ideal option to your characteristic creepy insect repellent spray as it includes a temperament boosting, fruity lift. Note that bergamot is extremely phototoxic, so you ought not utilize it outside as a topical insect repellent, yet rather a sweet-smelling bug repellent shower.

Does lavender ring a bell?

When you consider lavender, unwinding and relaxing rest are generally the principal things that ring a bell. However, alongside its beautiful flower smell and relieving qualities, lavender is likewise viable at engaging the bugs.

Is basil essential oil good for mosquitoes?

Not only a fiery expansion to your tomato sauce, basil fundamental oil is perfect for summer pest control, particularly in the event that you live in a wet atmosphere with heaps of lakes, ponds and swamps. One study demonstrated O. basilicum showing both mosquito repellent and larvicidal activity. Basil is an inspiring oil, so add some to an atomizer and shower outside for a characteristic mosquito repellent and a merited inclination help!

What essential oils repel mosquitoes?

CITRONELLA – Citronella is one of the best known essential oils for being able to repel mosquitoes.   According to the National Pesticide Information Center, citronella works so well because it masks the scents that are attractive to bugs, namely carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

What is the best essential oil for mosquitoes?

LEMON EUCALYPTUS – According to the CDC, lemon eucalyptus is the most effective essential oil for a natural mosquito repellent.   Although its name can be confusing, lemon eucalyptus isn’t two essential oils (lemon and eucalyptus) blended together, rather lemon eucalyptus essential is one essential oil.   It’s from the eucalyptus citriodora tree native to Australia.   Why does it work so well to keep those biting pests away? Lemon eucalyptus essential oil contains a small amount of PMD (p-menthane 3,8-diol).   PMD is an effective and long-acting mosquito repellent.   Part of the reason it’s long lasting is that lemon eucalyptus evaporates more slowly than most other essential oils and will last for several hours.

How to make a bug repellent bracelet?

Make a DIY Bug-Repelling bracelet: Simply braid cotton fabric or leather and wrap around your wrist.   Put a few drops of spearmint, citronella, lemongrass, or lavender essential oils on the bracelet to help keep mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs at bay.

How to make bug spray for kids?

Use lemon eucalyptus to make an effective natural bug spray– in a spray bottle mix 2 ounces witch hazel and 2 ounces distilled water with 40-50 drops essential oil (or 20-25 drops for kids 3-9). Oils and water don’t mix, so be sure to shake the bug spray before you use it.   Avoid spraying on face.   For young kids under 2, spray onto their clothes (and not on their skin).   Apply as often as you need it.   Get 10+ recipes to customize your bug spray with essential oils and full instructions here

What to use to keep bugs away from patio?

Use citronella to make “Bug Away” floating candles– they’re super easy to make, really cute, and they keep mosquitoes, flies, and other pests away from your patio for hours.   Get the recipe and instructions here

How to keep bugs out of pantry?

keep pantry bugs away— Wipe down shelves with a mix of white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil. Citronella, eucalyptus, melaleuca (tea tree) and peppermint all work great!

What essential oil is good for ants?

SPEARMINT– Like peppermint, spearmint essential oil is also good for keeping away ants, boxelder bugs, flies, gnats, head lice, mosquitoes, moths, and spiders.   But although those two essential oils are similar, spearmint’s lower concentrations of menthol, make it a safer and more suitable oil to use around young children.

What essential oils are good for mosquitoes?

This citrusy double-team of Eucalyptus and Citronella essential oils, with an additional ‘bite’ of Peppermint, will have mosquitoes buzzing for the hills.

How to make insect repellent?

It’s convenient to prepare different spray bottles for different purposes: a few drops of essential oil diluted with distilled water and alcohol for spritzing, with distilled water and liquid soap for cleaning, and with distilled water and alcohol or white vinegar for cleaning surfaces and spraying fabrics. You can also make up batches of repellant creams with coconut oil and store the mixture in a sealed jar in a cool, dark cupboard space. Remember that these repellents should not be relied on in areas where insects are known to carry dangerous diseases such as yellow fever, malaria or lyme disease.

How to get rid of roaches in sink?

Assuming you already have drain traps in all your sinks, you can also prepare a kitchen spray with a teaspoon of liquid soap dissolved in water, with the addition of some of the citrusy and herby aromas that roaches avoid. Spray in roach-friendly hiding places like your garbage pail. 5 drops Lemon essential oil.

How to make a bug repellent for kitchen?

Kitchen Bug Repellent Essential Oils Recipe. Bugs like your groceries, but they don’t really like essential oils or white vinegar. Combine the two in a kitchen spray to keep them out of your goodies (a 3:1 water to vinegar solution works well). 4 drops Cedarwood essential oil.

Do spiders repel bugs?

Spiders do more good than harm in our homes, and are natural bug repellents by themselves. But for those paralyzed with fear at the very thought of our eight-legged friends, the news that spiders dislike citrus and mint will be welcome indeed. Again, a simple water spray in their favorite web spots will send them spinning.

Do essential oils repel insects?

Fortunately, there’s no need to resort to weapons of mass destruction (or chemical-heavy commercial sprays) when bugs of different kinds invade our space. Many essential oils repel insects by either masking scents they are attracted to, or blocking receptor neurons in their olfactory organs, encouraging them to look elsewhere for their nourishment.

Can you spray a sink with soap to keep roaches away?

Ah, roaches! Assuming you already have drain traps in all your sinks, you can also prepare a kitchen spray with a teaspoon of liquid soap dissolved in water, with the addition of some of the citrusy and herby aromas that roaches avoid. Spray in roach-friendly hiding places like your garbage pail.

1. Peppermint Essential Oil

Even though peppermint is associated with winter and the holiday season, it remains useful even in the summertime, thanks to its mosquito-repelling capabilities.

2. Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Lemon eucalyptus oil has a fresh and citrusy scent that humans love, but mosquitoes hate. As a result, it’s an effective mosquito repellant and a perfect answer to what is the best essential oil to repel mosquitos.

3. Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree oil is world-famous for its healing capabilities. It boasts insecticide properties that can effectively repel mosquitoes, in addition to other nasty pests like lice and bed bugs, bush flies, and biting midges.

4.Cedarwood Essential Oil

Cedar has natural insect-repelling properties within the wood itself and the derived oil. For instance, cedar closets are installed to keep moths away from clothes. In addition, cedar mulch is used to keep bugs away from garden plants.

5. Geranium Essential Oil

On the other end of the spectrum, we have geranium essential oil that gives off a strong floral scent that mosquitoes tend to hate. In fact, geraniums are often planted in gardens to keep bugs away and help preserve the other plants.

6. Lavender Essential Oil

Similar to geranium essential oil, lavender is another strong floral-scented essential oil used to repel mosquitoes. Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils, thanks to its wide range of uses and its level of safety.

7. Citronella Essential Oil

Citronella is one of the most popular essential oils used for bug-repelling purposes. Mosquitoes have a natural aversion to this smell, and it can effectively mask scents that typically draw them in.

What essential oils are good for mosquitoes?

Some of these natural mosquito prevention solutions hold real promise, while others are simply unable to measure up to DEET’s standard of effectiveness. Tea tree oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, and cedar oil are three of the tree-based essential oils commonly prescribed for their supposed mosquito blocking capabilities.

How effective is lemon eucalyptus oil?

One field study from Bolivia, for example, found that a 30% PMD topical application of lemon eucalyptus oil was ~97% effective at blocking mosquitos for 4 hours. A similar field study from Tasmania found that a 50% PMD topical application of lemon eucalyptus oil could provide a 100% efficiency rating for up to 7 hours (3).

What is tea tree oil used for?

This has led some to assume that tea tree oil can be used to efficiently deter mosquitos from the user’s presence.

Is lemon eucalyptus oil good for mosquitoes?

Also, compared to many other natural mosquito deterrent methods, lemon eucalyptus oil is easy to obtain and easy to apply without undesirable side effects. Many prominent mosquito spray manufacturers have begun producing lemon eucalyptus oil-based sprays, which are available at most outdoor retailers.

Is DEET a mosquito repellent?

In the industrial world , DEET-based mosquito deterrent methods have become widely available, making it cheap and easy for the average citizen to protect themselves from the bothersome bites of mosquitoes. However, in regions where mosquito-borne disease is endemic, DEET- based sprays can be difficult to obtain, making it necessary to turn to geographically-available natural alternatives.

Can essential oils be used for mosquito control?

At the end of the day, some skeptical observers are quick to question whether or not essential oils are worth using for mosquito control, especially when compared to the proven effects of DEET-based sprays. Simply put, essential oil-based mosquito abatement methods hold a great deal of potential when it comes to protecting those who cannot access or use DEET-based sprays from some of the most debilitating diseases.

Is cedar oil insecticide?

Cedar oil’s insecticidal properties, while anecdotally derived from folk medical sources in India, have not been proven through a conclusi ve body of research. Even several large-scale meta-analytical reviews of literature relating to natural mosquito deterrent methods are silent when it comes to testing cedar oil, leading to the belief that its value in this domain is negligible at best.