Does peppermint oil repel bugs9/1/2023 Many years ago, it was shown to be as effective dose-for-dose as DEET and has been registered as a natural plant-based insect repellent in the U.S. Probably the most widely recognized bug repellent oil, citronella, which is derived from lemongrass, contains well-known insect deterrents citronellal, citronellol, geraniol, and limonene. ![]() Use any combination of the following essential oils as a powerful and effective insect repellent for mosquitos, flies, gnats and a whole bunch of other bugs you may encounter…Ĭitronella Repels: Mosquitos, gnats, lice, moths, ticks and fleas A perfect carrier to use is coconut oil as its fatty acids also effectively repel many blood-sucking pests, including mosquitos, biting flies, ticks and bed bugs. Just experiment with a few different oils you like to find out which recipe works best for you.Īs essential oils are volatile and so evaporate quite quickly, it’s often better to either diffuse them or mix with a carrier oil to apply directly to the skin, rather than using a DIY bug repellent spray, which requires regular reapplication. And because there are many different compounds in essential oils that can repel mosquitos and other bugs, it often pays to use a mix of two or three oils to do the job most effectively. ![]() Be aware that every oil is comprised of different actives so they can’t all be used to repel the same pests. So if you’re looking for a natural alternative to conventional bug repellents, essential oils are the perfect choice. It also turns out geraniol, the active compound in geranium oil, is in fact more effective at repelling mosquitoes than linalool - and even citronella - as found in another study. In fact, linalool is often used as an active ingredient in conventional insect repellents. Studies have actually shown that linalool has the same effect on a mosquito’s sense of smell as DEET. Other essential oil active compounds, like linalool in lavender, give off a scent that mosquitoes hate. If those smells are masked by another scent, she misses her mark and moves on.īut did you know that certain scents and compounds in essential oils can do the same thing? Citronella masks both carbon dioxide and lactic acid in humans, the two scents that are attractive to mosquitoes. For instance, a mosquito is first attracted to the carbon dioxide we breath out, and then zeroes into her target (yes - the biters are all female) by sensing the lactic acid on your skin. So just how does the scent of essential oils work to fend off mosquitos, flies, ants, moths, gnats and many other bugs?Ĭhemical pesticides basically help repel insects by confusing their sense of smell. ESSENTIAL OILS TO REPEL MOSQUITOS AND BUGS I f you’re considering essential oils for bug bites, here are some examples of oils you can use. It turns out that certain essential oils are not only effective (and natural) mosquito and bug repellents - in some instances even better than DEET - but others can also help soothe painful or itchy bug bites… Many of us turn to DEET and other chemical insect repellents for relief. ![]() Mosquitos and other pests are unfortunately one of the unwelcome realities of summer. And what about the ants invading your pantry and those irritating house flies that insist on dive-bombing you in the kitchen? Or the moths that have set up home in your closet? And those gnats hovering around the fruit bowl? Either it’s that incessant buzzy whine that drives you nuts - or one of the silent types that you only feel when they’ve already feasted off your leg. A highly effective one-stop natural solution to finally sort out all your bug problems …
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