Insects and bugs are irritating and potentially disease-carrying, so we usually try to keep them from invading our space. Most chemical-based insect repellents are filled with harmful toxins that not only cause damage to the environment, but are harmful for humans as well. Essential oils as a natural insect repellent provide a clean and healthy way to keep those pesky insects at bay!
Here at Range Products, we offer over 500 essential oils in Perth (along with more great raw and natural ingredients) to help you repel insects. So, if you’re looking for an eco-friendly, natural, and effective solution to send those bugs a message, have a look at the list below!
Citronella oil is a natural ingredient that originates from Sri Lanka. It’s extracted from the hardy grass found in the South Asiatic region of the world. This grass usually grows around 1 metre in length and is a popular ingredient in wax candles, soaps, lotions, and of course insect repellents.
The main chemical components in citronella include: citronellic acid, citronellol, citronellal, borneol, camphene, dipentene, limonene, geraniol, nerol, citral.
Citronella oil is a potent natural mosquito repellent, with research indicating its ability to offer complete protection from mosquito bites for durations extending up to 11.5 hours, underscoring its efficacy. Its extended effectiveness, combined with its natural derivation, makes citronella oil an environmentally sustainable and preferred option in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases ("Effectiveness of plant-based repellents against different Anopheles species: a systematic review," 2020).
According to the National Pesticide Information Centre, citronella does not harm or kill insects, but rather distracts them with appealing scents. This makes it difficult for the insects to stay focused on their targets.
Citronella oil is also effective against insects like fleas, moths, and bed bugs. If you’re allergic to cats, citronella oil is also good at keeping our feline friends at bay.
Citronella oil is generally a safe-to-use natural insect repellent. As with all essential oils for the skin, citronella oil should only be applied directly when diluted. There are various ways to apply citronella oil:
Lavender oil is extracted from the most beautiful woody shrubs with purple-hued leaves. Lavender grows worldwide, but originates from the Mediterranean regions. Lavender is well known for its pleasant and sweet aroma.
The main chemical components of lavender oil include: a-pinene, linalyl acetate, caryophyllene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, cis-ocimene, trans-ocimene, 3-octanone, camphor, linalool, terpinen-4-ol and lavandulyl acetate.
Lavender oil has been used throughout human history as an insect repellent. It has proven to be one of the most versatile and effective plants to naturally keep insects and bugs at bay.
Lavender oil is especially effective against spiders, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and head lice. When children get head lice at school, one of the first things the school nurse will suggest is some lavender oil.
According to studies published in the Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, lavender oil has a high repellency rate (70–100) against lice and similar bugs.
Lavender oil is safe for direct skin application, but it must be diluted in a bottle of water before being applied.
Lemon eucalyptus oil, as the name suggests, is extracted from the lemon eucalyptus tree, which is originally from Australia but is now also grown in India. This evergreen tree can grow to around 35 metres in length and is highly aromatic and perfumed.
The main chemical components of lemon eucalyptus oil are a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, a-terpinene, linalool, b-bisabolene, limonene, trans-a-bergamotene, nerol, and neral.
While most of the other essential oils on this list are used for various purposes, lemon eucalyptus oil is mainly used as an insect repellent, due to its high efficacy in keeping insects away. Essential oil experts even suggest that eucalyptus oil is as effective as DEET when it comes to repelling bugs.
WebMD states that lemon eucalyptus oil is especially effective against mosquitoes.
According to Healthline, lemon eucalyptus oil can cause allergic skin reactions, and must be used sparingly. Instead of direct skin application, it may be better to place this essential oil in a diffuser to prevent harmful and irritating skin conditions from arising.
Tea tree oil originates from the swampy southern Australian coast and is extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree. It was originally used by 18th-century sailors to help kill bacteria, fungi, and mites.
The main chemical components of tea tree oil include: a-pinene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, a-phellandrene, a-terpinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene, p-cymene, terpinolene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol and a-terpineol.
Tea tree oil has mainly been used as an antibacterial medicine throughout history to help treat conditions like athlete's foot and measles. There are a few indications that it could also be an effective insect repellent.
Tea tree oil is mainly used to repel spiders, ants, bed bugs, and cockroaches. This study on insecticidal and repellent effects of tea tree and andiroba oils on flies associated with livestock showcases the high efficacy of tea tree oil specifically against flies.
Like other essential oils, tea tree oil is generally quite safe to use topically when diluted. This means that you can apply it to your skin when diluted with water or a carrier oil, such as coconut oil. You can also place tea tree oil in a diffuser to help repel the insects noted above.
Geranium oil is native to the Southern African regions of the world. It is extracted via a process of distillation of the leaves of the Pelargonium graveolens plants.
The main chemical components of geranium oil include: various alcohols, esters, aldehydes, and ketones.
Geranium oil is one of the most widely used essential oils to treat inflammatory skin conditions like acne and oedema. It has also been used as a treatment for anxiety and depression. However, geranium oil also contains citronellol and geraniol compounds, which both help to repel insects effectively.
Geranium oil is mostly effective against ticks, mosquitoes, moths, and head lice.
Geranium oil can be topically applied, but must first be diluted with a carrier oil like sesame or olive oil. This is a great way to treat your skin and prevent irritation but also repel the insects listed above.
We’ve summarised and created a list of essential oils, most effective for repelling arachnids and insects below:
Essential Oils for Arachnids | Essential Oils for Insects |
---|---|
Peppermint | Peppermint |
Spearmint | Lemon |
Lemon | Orange |
Orange | Cedarwood |
Lime | Clove |
Lavender | Oregano |
Tea Tree | Rosemary |
Sweet Marjoram | Eucalyptus |
Geranium | Tea Tree |
Palmarosa | Lemongrass |
Virginian Cedarwood | Citronella |
Amyris | Lemon Eucalyptus |
Vetiver | Geranium |
Alaskan Cypress | Lavender |
Thyme | Neem |
These essential oils are best for repelling rodents:
The following essential oils can be used on a variety of pests:
There are a few ways to use these essential oils to repel insects:
There are multiple recipes that you can use to create a homemade insect-repellent mixture. One of the most popular combinations you can make is to add ⅓ of a cup of witch hazel, ⅓ of a cup of water, and around 40 to 50 drops of your essential oil of choice.
Add this mixture to a spray bottle and fill your air with an effective and completely natural homemade insect repellent!
DEET is one of the most common and popular ingredients in many store-bought, commercially produced insect repellents. It is the repelling chemicals of DEET that many essential oils mimic that help keep those pesky bugs away.
DEET stands for diethyl-meta-toluamide, which is the chemical component that effectively repels insects. Notably, products with high concentrations of DEET have been banned in several regions, including the European Union and Canada. Most health guidelines also advise against using products with DEET on children under the age of 12.
Yes, vinegar can be a very effective repellent against mosquitoes. Vinegar is often added to the homemade insect-repellent mixture mentioned above when essential oils are unavailable.
So, you now understand which essential oils are best at naturally repelling certain insects. Range Products offers a wide variety of essential oils, so you’re sure to find just what you’re looking for!
Our store is fully stocked with sustainably sourced essential oils and other natural ingredients. You can even order in bulk if you need to! Contact us now!
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