Essential Oils as Natural Insect Repellents by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Essential Oils as Natural Insect Repellents

Many herbs naturally repel insects. By adding essential oils from these herbs to an oil or by steeping these herbs in an oil you can create a base that will repel insects. The local insect population may avoid some herbs more than others. Also, some people will have allergic reactions to one or more herbs. The herbs chosen will also effect the scent of the repellent. The right mix can form an alternate to perfumes. The best thing to do is experiment.

The following herbs are all known to have insect repelling properties

Basil
Bay Leaves
Catnip
Ceder
Citronella
Clover
Eucalyptus
Garlic
Lavender
Lemon Grass
Mint
Pennyroyal
Rosemary
Thyme

Often used in aromatherapy, an essential oil is a concentrated oil containing aromatic compounds from a plant.

The most common, and most effective, natural insect repellents are various essential oils. Clove oil and citronella (rose geranium) are the most effective against mosquitoes, but be careful with clove oil and use it sparingly. It can be a skin irritant. Other fairly effective essential oils include lemon grass, eucalyptus, castor oil, peppermint, tea tree oil, lavender, and cedar. You can buy cedar oil in spray-on bottles at your local pet store.

It's important to remember when using essential oils, don't use them internally! They need to be used externally on your skin and garments. Be sure to test any oils on a small patch of skin before applying widely to your body to avoid allergic reactions or skin irritations.

Make Your Own Insect Repellents

To make your own bug spray simply mix together 2 teaspoons of any of these essential oils (or use a combination) with 3/4 of a cup of vodka or grain alcohol in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake vigorously until mixed. Place the insect repellent in a spray bottle. Store in the refrigerator if using within a few days (be sure to shake the mixture before applying), otherwise just make a fresh batch when you need it.

Do not substitute rubbing alcohol for the grain alcohol because it will dry out your skin. It's also possible to use an almond or jojoba oil base; however it will be difficult to spray on and the solution will be somewhat oily when applied to the skin.

You can make your own insect repellent sprays by combining rubbing alcohol (or witch hazel, vodka, or olive oil) with one of the listed essential oils (about 10-to-1, alcohol-to-oil ratio). Shake well before each use.

To make a lotion, use two ounces distilled water, two ounces olive oil, and about 120 drops essential oil. Put the water into a deep mixing bowl, and using a wire whip, begin beating quickly while slowly drizzling in the olive oil. After oil is mixed into the distilled water, stir in the essential oil of your choice (citronella is probably the most effective for insect repellent use).

You can also add a few drops of your choice of insect-repelling essential oils to your shampoo or liquid soap to help counteract the perfumes in these products.

In addition, some essential oils might work better with your particular body chemistry than others, so you might need to experiment to see which combination works best.

Keep in mind that the following criteria reduces the effectiveness of all insect repellents: clothing rubbing on your skin, natural evaporation, your skin's natural ability to absorb anything applied to it, sweat or rain washing off the repellent, and a windy environment.

Some folks claim that garlic is an effective insect repellent, but I think it works best for repelling friends (and maybe a vampire or two).

LAVENDER OIL should be in every home for its ability to help us in a myriad of ways. When it comes to insects and other creepy-crawlies, they all hate LAVENDER OIL and avoid it whenever it’s around.

Peppermint Oil is also a good deterrent. Most of the insects, especially ants, will stay away from it as well.

Other PURE ESSENTIAL OILS creepy-crawlies, moths, and mosquitoes avoid are Citronella, Lemongrass, Cinnamon, Thyme, and Basil. Moths in particular don’t like citrus oils.

Here are a couple of different blends that are good mixes to keep insects out.

Blend #1: 10 drops Citronella and 3 drops Peppermint.

Blend #2: 5 drops Lavender and 5 drops Citronella.

Either of these blends can be soaked into a strip of paper, hung in a window and it will keep insects and other creepy-crawlies out. You can also put a few drops in a cotton ball and put them in the places you know the insects are entering your home.

Making an Insect Repelling Oil with Essential Oils

Begin with a base oil. Olive oil works well. However, soybean oil is also known to have insect repelling properties so makes an excellent base for this purpose.

Mosquito Repellent for People

I like to use a based of fractionated coconut oil. It is light enough that you can put this formula in a spray bottle, yet it stays on better than something water based. And hey, if my skin can get a little moisture out of the deal then that is a great bonus in my eyes.

60 drops catnip essential oil (this is a 5% dilution)
20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
2 oz. fractionated coconut oil

You can add whatever you like to help this smell better from the list above, but be sure to keep the total percentage of essential oils under 15% for safety.

Tick Repellent for Dogs

Never use essential oils on cats, but this blend has been effective on my dog for years. Ticks seem to dislike the minty / herby / woody scents the most. Always use a water-based solution for fur.

15 drops tea tree essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops cedarwood essential oil
4 oz. distilled water

Always shake well before applying, and avoid your dog's face. Spray liberally elsewhere and repeat as needed. My dog has never gotten a tick while wearing this blend and it smells fabulous.


Here's a look at several essential oils shown to act as natural insect repellents:

1) Eucalyptus

Several studies suggest that essential oil of eucalyptus may help fend off insects, especially mosquitoes. In fact, one species of eucalyptus—known as lemon eucalyptus or Eucalyptus citriodora—may provide protection comparable to low concentrations of DEET (a pesticide widely used as a mosquito repellent).

2) Citronella

Essential oil of citronella contains compounds with high repellent activity, according to a research review published in 2010. What's more, a 2008 study shows that burning citronella-based candles can help ward off mosquitoes and sand flies.

3) Clove

In a 2005 study that compared the repellent activity of 38 different essential oils, researchers discovered that clove oil offered the longest duration of protection against all mosquito species involved in the lab experiments. The same study found that citronella and patchouli oils also provided two hours of complete repellency.

How to Use Natural Insect Repellents

Since essential oils are extremely potent, it's critical to take caution when using any kind of essential oil as a natural insect repellent. For instance, it's important to blend your essential oil of choice with a carrier oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, or avocado) rather than applying the essential oil directly to your skin.

Learn more about using essential oils safely.

More Ways to Repel Insects

In addition to using natural insect repellents, you can take these steps to keep bugs away when spending time outdoors:

eliminate standing water around your home wear protective clothing and accessories (such as long pants and a full-brimmed hat) take caution when eating outside, since food attracts insects It's possible that attracting birds and mammals that feed on mosquitoes (such as purple martins and bats) may also be helpful. However, science has yet to confirm this approach's effectiveness as a natural insect repellent.