Are you tired of using chemical-laden bug sprays to keep pesky bugs at bay? Look no further than essential oils! Here are 10 essential oils that naturally repel bugs:
Citronella: This is perhaps the most well-known bug repellent oil. It’s effective against mosquitoes, flies, and other biting insects. Citronella works as a natural insect repellent by masking scents that attract insects. The aroma of citronella works to mask any other smells that would typically attract bugs and insects, making it difficult for them to locate their target to feed. This property of citronella repels target pests rather than killing them.
Peppermint: Not only does peppermint smell great, but it also repels ants, spiders, and mosquitoes. Peppermint is a natural insect repellent that can help repel bugs and insects. Insects hate peppermint since it emits a strong scent that they find unpleasant. According to an article on Family Handyman, the stick bug even uses a milky substance it can emit from behind its head that fills the air with the scent of peppermint. An article on Medical News Today suggests that peppermint oil acts as a strong Aedes aegypti mosquito repellent for 30 minutes, after which it continues to repel them, but not as significantly. Additionally, a post on The Novice Homestead explains that while peppermint is generally a bug repellent, there are some types of insects that are actually attracted to the smell of mint and/or mint plants. However, the insects that mint attracts are actually beneficial, so peppermint oil ultimately gets rid of "bad" bugs and attracts the good ones.
Therefore, peppermint works as a natural insect repellent by emitting a scent that insects find unpleasant, and it can repel mosquitoes for a short duration of time. It also attracts beneficial insects while repelling the harmful ones. However, it is important to note that peppermint oil can be toxic if ingested by pets, so it should not be sprayed around their food or in areas where they may lick surfaces.
Lemongrass: This oil is a natural flea and tick repellent, making it great for use on pets. Lemongrass contains several compounds, including citronellal, geraniol, and alpha-pinene, which are effective at repelling a variety of insects, such as mosquitoes, gnats, cockroaches, spiders, fruit flies, house flies, stable flies, ants, ticks, and chiggers. These compounds work by masking the scent of the host and creating a scent that bugs and insects find undesirable, thereby repelling them. Moreover, lemongrass attracts beneficial insects that help keep your garden healthy and reduce the need for pesticides. It also attracts bees, which will pollinate your other plants. You can use lemongrass as a natural bug repellent by crushing the leaves, boiling them in water, and then spraying the solution on your skin or in the area where you want to repel bugs and insects naturally.
Eucalyptus: This oil repels mosquitoes and ticks, making it perfect for outdoor activities. Eucalyptus can repel bugs and insects naturally in a few ways. One way is by using eucalyptus oil in a diffuser or as a homemade spray to keep insects out of the house. The scent of eucalyptus oil can help to repel insects and keep them away from your home. Another way is by using oil of lemon eucalyptus insect repellents. The main component of oil of lemon eucalyptus that gives it its repellency to bugs is a chemical called p-Menthane-3,8-diol, or PMD, which has been found to be effective in repelling mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs. Additionally, eucalyptus oil can eradicate scale insects, such as aphids, whiteflies, mites, and earwigs, on contact.
Lemon eucalyptus oil is a natural insect repellent that is particularly effective against mosquitoes. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends lemon eucalyptus oil as a natural alternative to DEET. To use lemon eucalyptus oil as a bug repellent, mix it with a carrier oil and apply it to your skin, or add it to a spray bottle with water and use it as a natural bug spray. Keep in mind that lemon eucalyptus oil should not be used on children under the age of three.
Lavender: This calming oil is effective at repelling mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and moths. Lavender oil is not only known for its calming and relaxing properties, but it can also repel bugs naturally. Its scent is pleasant to humans but not to insects, making it a great choice for a bug repellent. To use lavender oil as a bug repellent, mix it with a carrier oil and apply it to your skin, or add it to a spray bottle with water and use it as a natural bug spray. Lavender oil can also be used to soothe bug bites and stings.
Tea tree: This oil is great for repelling ants and other crawling insects. ea tree oil is another essential oil that can naturally repel bugs. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great choice for treating bug bites and stings. To use tea tree oil as a bug repellent, mix it with a carrier oil and apply it to your skin, or add it to a spray bottle with water and use it as a natural bug spray. Keep in mind that tea tree oil should not be ingested or used on pets.
Rosemary: This oil repels mosquitoes and other flying insects. Rosemary is considered one of the best herbs for repelling bugs and insects naturally due to its strong, woody scent. Mosquitoes, cabbage moths, some flies, and fleas dislike this scent and will steer clear of rosemary and anything growing near it. The strong woody and pungent scent of the leaves can keep these bugs at bay. In addition, the oil extracted from rosemary leaves is quite potent, which makes it an effective natural bug repellent.
Based on the evidence, it can be concluded that rosemary helps repel bugs and insects naturally due to its strong, woody scent and potent oil extracted from its leaves.
Cedarwood: This oil is a natural flea and tick repellent, making it great for use on pets. Cedarwood helps repel bugs and insects naturally through a combination of mechanisms. According to Woodworkly, the strong aroma of cedarwood repels bugs and insects because most bugs don’t like the strong characteristic odor of cedarwood. Additionally, cedarwood releases natural chemicals and oils that repel bugs and insects from its surface, minimizing pests invasions and protecting furniture and woodworks from bugs and insect attacks. Furthermore, cedarwood produces natural oil that serves as an insecticide, which helps dispel bugs and insects away from its surface and waterproofs the cedarwood by forming a protective layer that blocks water and moisture away from the material. Lastly, cedarwood oil attacks bugs from the inside out by helping disintegrate fat into smaller, more fluid parts, interfering with bugs' capacity to breathe and suffocating them, as mentioned by Cedarcide.
Clove: This oil repels mosquitoes and other flying insects. Clove can help repel bugs and insects naturally due to the presence of eugenol, which is an active ingredient in clove oil. Eugenol is a natural insecticide and has been found to be effective in killing mosquito larvae. Additionally, cloves can repel mites and aphids in gardens, both of which love to eat ornamental plants. To use cloves as a natural insect repellent, a jar of cloves can be soaked in a bottle of warm water, allowed to cool, and then sprayed on any areas where pests are present.
Geranium: This oil repels mosquitoes and ticks, making it perfect for outdoor activities. Geranium is known to repel a wide variety of insects naturally. According to a source by Garden Guides, growing geraniums in a garden can repel mosquitoes and make it possible to enjoy the yard in the mornings and evenings. Geranium extract is also said to repel mosquitoes and is a popular ingredient in many natural over-the-counter insect repellent sprays. Furthermore, geranium essential oil can be mixed with a carrier oil and applied to exposed skin areas to repel insects naturally.
In conclusion, natural bug repellents can be a safe and effective way to keep pesky bugs and insects at bay. Essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, and lemon eucalyptus can be used in a variety of ways to naturally repel insects. When used correctly, these natural remedies can be a great alternative to chemical pesticides and sprays. By incorporating these essential oils into your home and garden, you can enjoy the benefits of a bug-free environment without the harmful toxins. At House of Aja, we offer a variety of essential oils and aromatherapy products to help you repel bugs naturally. Try our Bug-B-Gone essential oil blend or any of our other insect-repelling aromatherapy products to keep bugs at bay the natural way.