[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You can make your own essential oil mosquito repellent that is safer and often more affordable than the stuff you’d find at the store. Read on to learn more!
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are a trendy product that is known for having many uses and benefits. So what exactly are essential oils and where do they come from? In simplest terms, essential oils are best described as concentrated compounds extracted from plants that retain the natural essence of their source. Compounds extracted from plants are known as essential oils. The compounds can be extracted from plants through distillation or mechanical pressing. Distillation means through water or steam methods. You may have noticed that most essential oils have different scents and characteristics. The plant’s scent and flavor can be captured by the oils and is know as its “essence.”
Related Article: Best Essential Oil of 2019
How Can You Make Your Own Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent Spray?
Do you feel like you’re a magnet for mosquitos? Looking for a natural way to repel mosquitos? If so you should make your own essential oil mosquito repellent. It’s fairly simply and can be highly effective.
Many over the counter mosquito repellents contain harmful chemicals that you may want to avoid. You should apply your essential oil repellent every two to four hours as needed. Making your own mosquito repellent using essential oils can be a great solution.
Some essential oils that are best for making mosquito repellent include…
- Citronella
- Lemon eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Lemon
- Eucalyptus
- Catnip
- Basil
- Clove
- Thyme
- Lemongrass
- Geranium
- Lavender
You can use just about any combination of the oils listed above to make your essential oil mosquito repellent. You can select the essential oils you wish to use based on personal preferences or simply what you have lying around. Ready to get started making your own essential oil mosquito or insect repellent?
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own essential oil mosquito repellent:
- 4 oz clean spray bottle
- 2 oz distilled or boiled water
- 1 oz of witch hazel or vodka
- 50-75 drops of any combination of the essential oils listed above
- ½ oz jojoba oil (optional)
5 Easy Steps To Make Your Own Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent Spray
Step one: Gather your clean spray bottle and fill it with 2 ounces of boiled or distilled water.
Step two: Add witch hazel or vodka to your spray bottle mixture.
Step three: Add 50-75 drops of your choice of essential oils. You can use any combination of the ones listed above. To decrease the strength of your mixtures simply add less drops. For safety reasons, you should try your best to keep the total percentage of essential oils under 15%.
Step four (optional): Add ½ oz. of jojoba oil. Jojoba oil has extremely moisturizing properties that can make your essential oil mosquito repellent even more beneficial. However, this step is not necessary and skipping it will not affect the effectiveness of your repellent.
Step five: Tightly screw on the top of your spray bottle and shake up your mixture! Prior to shaking the mixture you should make sure the spray bottle is not filled to the top. You should note that the essential oils don’t dissolve in the water but rather they will separate.
If you want to make your essential oil mosquito repellent even stronger you can try adding neem oil, soybean oil, garlic and vanilla extract. Studies have shown these ingredients to increase effectiveness of the repellent.
How Can You Make Your Own Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent Ointment?
Essential oils can be used to make sprays or ointments to help repel mosquitos. In most cases the spray is easier to make than the ointment but you should give both a try.
Here’s what you will need to make essential oil mosquito repellent ointment…
- ¼ cup beeswax pellets melted
- Double boiler
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- Lavender
- Thyme
- Basil
- Citronella
4 Easy Steps For Making Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent Ointment
Step One: Melt the beeswax pellets in a double broiler.
Step Two: After the beeswax pellets are melted, add the coconut oil to the double broiler.
Step Three: Remove from the heat and allow mixture to cool. Wait for a film to form on the top layer.
Step Four: Add 5 drops of each essential oil – lavender, basil, thyme, and citronella oil. The mixture should become lights and fluffy.
Once your ointment is complete you can apply a thin coat on exposed to skin to help protect yourself from mosquito bites.
What Essential Oils Can Help Repel Fleas and Ticks?
Fleas and ticks are just as much of an annoyance as mosquitos. You can use the same formula above to make your own essential oil repellent for fleas or ticks. Simply substitute the kinds of essential oils you use in the mixture.
Some essential oils that can help repel fleas are…
- Cedarwood
- Citronella
- Eucalyptus
- Tea tree oil
- Lemongrass
- Lavender
- Orange
- Pine
Some essential oils that can help repel ticks are…
- Rose geranium
- Rosewood
- Juniper
- Thyme
- Grapefruit
- Oregano
Related Article: Best Essential Oil Brands
Can You Diffuse Essential Oils to Repel Mosquitos?
Yes, you most definitely can use essential oils with mosquito repelling properties in your diffuser as another line of defense. You should try using one or a combination of some of the oils we have listed throughout this blog that can be effective for repelling mosquitos. You can even use your diffuser outside to help repel insects and mosquitos.
Are Citronella Candles Effective for Repelling Mosquitos?
Citronella candles are another popular tool for repelling mosquitos. However, using your diffuser is most likely a much better and more effective option. We recommend you ditch the citronella candle and here’s a few reasons why…
#1. What are you really burning?
When it comes to citronella candles the real question is: are you burning synthetic fragrance or real natural citronella? Most citronella candles are made of real citronella but there are handfuls that also contain synthetic fragrances. The motivation for companies to add synthetic fragrance is to enhance and strengthen the pleasant smell.
If you are burning a citronella candle with synthetic fragrance it can actually be harmful and irritating. The solution may seem simple – read the ingredients of the candle, right? Sadly it’s not that simple. In most cases, ingredients have a trademark and don’t need to be reported unless they can be considered hazardous in home products. This rule can apply to just about any mainstream candle.
#2. If you’re burning chemicals you may be harmed
As we started to mention in the section above, most citronella candle ingredients are not required to be on the package. Some citronella candles have been reported to contain 1% citronella and 99% unknown or not reported. If you’re lacking access to a complete list of ingredients it can complicate the process of making an educated decision when purchasing a citronella candle.
#3. Diffusers can be safer than open flame candles
If your household consists of children, animals or even adults, open flames can cause potential dangers. Open flames can propose danger to people, animals or the environment. In addition, if you are outside or camping while using a citronella candle to repel mosquitos, it can be especially dangerous. Using candles outdoors or in wooded areas can be an extreme fire hazard.
#4. Beware of palm oil
Palm oil might sound rather innocent but you should educate yourself on all the hype around palm oil. Palm oil is often used in soaps, foods, and other home products including candles. While palm oil is usually harvested in tropical areas and highly valued by native people and cultures, many companies are using it unethically. Companies have been found harvesting palm oil in unethical ways causing negative impacts such as:
- Deforestation
- Damaging local animal habitats
- Placing palm trees in danger
- Impacting local people
If you notice a product contains palm oil you should make sure it contains “sustainably sourced palm oil.” Finding products that contain no palm oil can be a safer way to go.
#5. Alternatives can be better and more effective than Citronella Candles
Overall our main point in this section is to prove that using essential oil sprays, ointments, or diffusers can be better and more effective than using citronella candles.
What Essential Oils Should You Blend In Your Diffuser To Repel Mosquitos?
There are so many different effective blends of essential oil you can use in your diffuser to repel mosquitos. To get you started here’s an effective essential oil blend you can use in your diffuser…
- 4 drops patchouli essential oil
- 3 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 3 drops clove essential oil
This recipe works best in a large diffuser when set to mist intermittently. You should set your diffuser for thirty minutes on and fifteen minutes off. All of the essential oils in this blend have strong insect repelling qualities. Patchouli oil has a historical and modern day reputation of being an effective insect repellent. In addition to its bug repelling qualities, patchouli oil offers additional benefits such as tension relief, uplifting mood, helps dry skin, and soothes coughs and allergies.
Lemongrass essential oil offers a pleasant smell as well as insect repelling capabilities. It’s especially effective for repelling just about any kind of bloodsucking insect. Lastly, when you think of cloves you may think of the cloves commonly found in the spice cabinet. However, cloves can also be found is the form of essential oils. They are known for their ability to repel insects and can even be found in several commercially offered pesticides products for the home and garden.
Related Article: DoTerra vs Young Living – Picking Our Favorite in 2019
How Can You Find Natural Relief For A Mosquito or Insect Bite?
No matter how much of an effort we make to protect ourselves from mosquito or insects every now and again we are bound to suffer from a bite. Often times, mosquito or insect bites can leave us itching and irritated and can be painful. So how can you use natural remedies to relieve the itch and pain of a mosquito or insect bite? Luckily, you have a few options to try.
If you have some lavender or tea tree essential oil handy you can try applying one or the other directly to the insect bite. Alternatively, you can try applying apple cider vinegar to the insect bite. Some other ways you can naturally relieve the itch or pain of an insect bite include…
- Use a lemon slice and rub it on the affected area
- Use an ice cube and gently hold it on the affected area while applying gentle pressure
- Brew a bag of chamomile tea and chill it – then dip it on the affected area to help soothe inflammation
- Use water and baking soda to create a paste and apply it to the affected area
- Place a raw slice of onion directly on the affected area to help relieve pain instantly
Can Mosquitos Cary And Transmit Diseases?
In addition to the annoyance of swatting mosquitos away and treating irritating bites mosquitos can also spread diseases. Some of the diseases can be debilitating, harmful and even deadly, in some cases. Mosquitoes can transmit vector borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. Although these diseases used to predominantly occur in the tropics we are now seeing many cases appear in various parts of the United States.
Another disease that can be considered a more serious problem is the West Nile virus. Did you know that the West Nile virus has attained a native status in the United States? It’s true. The West Nile virus has been reported with increasing regularity.
One of the newest threats of mosquito-transmitted diseases is the Zika virus. The Zika virus is spreading especially in South and Central American countries such as Mexico. Taking extra precautions to avoid mosquito or insect bites can help you be safer and healthier.
Are Commercial Mosquito Repellents Dangerous to Use?
Most effective repellents work to block the scent sensors of mosquitoes in order to repel them away from you. DEET is a common product contained in many commercial products that works to block the scent sensors. While some may have allergic reactions to DEET, it is technically deemed safe for children and adults to use.
However, DEET is a chemical compound that is toxic to us whether or not immediate reactions surface or not. Its damages are more likely to show up long-term. DEET is easily absorbed into the body allowing it to build up in tissues. This can result in long-term damages.
Making your own mosquito repellent using essential oils can be just as effective as using commercial products containing DEET. Repelling properties can be found in many essential oils especially those that contain volatile substances. Some examples of volatile substances include geraniol, linalool, thujone, citronellal, pinene, citronellol and eucalyptol.
You may need to apply your essential oil repellent more frequently than commercial products but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Essential oils can provide many health benefits and can be much safer than other chemical deterrents. Combining the essential oils with volatile agents such as witch hazel extract or soybean oil can expand their window of effectiveness. Our recipe above suggests using witch hazel extract when making your own essential oil mosquito repellent.
8 Of the Best Essential Oils with Mosquito Repellent Capabilities
We have mentioned a number of essential oils that can be used in your essential oil mosquito repellent. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the best essential oils you can use with mosquito repellent properties.
#1. Lavender Oil
You may have noticed that lavender essential oil has a variety of uses and benefits – more so than many other essential oils. Lavender essential oil is a staple essential oil that can be extra handy to keep on hand. The smell of lavender essential oil is disliked by mosquitos making them want to avoid it at all costs.
Plus, in the event you get a mosquito bite you can apply lavender to help soothe the affected area. Prior to applying lavender to your skin you should ensure it’s properly diluted to avoid irritation. You can also try planting some lavender plants in your yard to help repel mosquitos.
#2. Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
While lavender is an effective essential oil for repelling mosquitos lemon eucalyptus oil can be considered one of the most common essential oils for repelling mosquitos. In fact, using lemon eucalyptus oil as a mosquito repellent can be dated all the way back to the 1940’s. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has even given this essential oil their stamp of approval as an effective mosquito repellent. Lemon eucalyptus oil should only be used on children ages three and up.
#3. Cinnamon Oil
When you think of cinnamon a lot of things might quickly come to mind before cinnamon oil does. Similar to lavender, cinnamon is something else that mosquitos strongly dislike. Cinnamon oil can help repel mosquitos as well as work to kill mosquito eggs in your outdoor area.
You should avoid spraying cinnamon oil directly on your skin as it may cause irritation. Spraying cinnamon oil on clothing or upholstery can be a safer way to use it. Make sure your clothing is completely dry before wearing it. To help repel mosquitos you can also spray cinnamon oil on plants or furniture.
#4. Thyme Oil
Thyme essential oil is found in and extracted from the culinary herb known as Thymus vulgaris. In addition to containing Thymol it also contains Thujone, Pinene, and Linalool. These are all insect repellant agents. Thyme oil can be beneficial to use in your essential oil mosquito repellent spray because it’s most effective at repelling mosquitoes that can carry malaria.
#5. Soybean Oil
Soybean oil is perhaps not the most hyped up essential oil but it can be an effective essential oil for repelling mosquitoes. It’s so effective that it can even be found in some commercial repellent products as a primary ingredient. One advantage of using soybean oil is that it can offer longer-lasting protection compared to some other oils. Combining lemongrass oil and soybean oil in your mosquito repellent can provide additional protection and strength. This mixture can work to protect you from a variety of mosquito species.
#6. Greek Catnip Oil
Greek catnip oil is a member of the mint family that comes from leaves that are bruised. It maintains a good reputation for repelling mosquitoes and a number of other pests as well. Research has proven that Greek catnip oil can be about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes compared to DEET.
#7. Citronella Oil
Citronella oil can be extracted from multiple different types of lemongrass Cymbopogon spp. Some of its more common uses are as an insect repellent and in candles and ointments. You can grow citronella or use it in oil form to help repel mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as yellow fever, Dengue, and Zika virus. Citronella oil can be particularly effective against mosquitoes carrying these diseases.
#8. Basil Oil
Basil essential oil is a culinary herb that can be grown or used in oil form to repel bloodsucking insects such as mosquitoes. You can use basil oil in ointments and sprays to help repel mosquitoes.
What Benefits Can Essential Oils Provide?
Essential oils provide a variety of health and wellness benefits. In addition, they can be used in many different ways. Benefits of using essential oils include…
#1. Essential oils can help balance hormones
Essential oils such as clary sage, thyme and geranium can help balance hormones and improve some health conditions. These essential oils can work to improve health conditions such as PCOS and infertility, PMS, and menopause symptoms.
In addition, studies have linked essential oils such as geranium and rose to influencing women’s salivary concentration of estrogen. In some cases decreasing levels of estrogen secretion can cause menopausal symptoms. Women who are experiencing this can benefit from using certain essential oils.
Certain essential oils are known for their ability to help balance hormones such as…
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- Cortisol
- Thyroid
- Testosterone levels
Using essential oils can provide additional health benefits such as lower cortisol levels. Lower cortisol levels can help improve your mood. They can also help reduce depression symptoms and boost testosterone levels.
#2. Essential oils can boost your immune system and help fight infections
Multiple essential oils possess properties that can work to fight infections and boost your immune system. These properties include…
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiviral
- Antibacterial
- Antiseptic
- Anti-fungal
One essential oil that is especially beneficial to boosting your immune system is oregano oil. Studies have proven oregano oil’s antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Carvacrol and thymol are found in oregano oil. Both of these properties can help prevent several types of bacteria from growing using antimicrobial effects.
Some of the best essential oils for boosting your immunity…
- Oregano
- Myrrh
- Ginger
- Lemon
- Eucalyptus
- Frankincense
- Peppermint
- Cinnamon
Some essential oils contain substances that can help protect you from foreign pathogens that can threaten your health. The substances can include terpenes, phenolics, esters, and ketones. Using essential oils can be an independent and more natural and safer way to fight bacterial infections. In modern health care, resistance to antibiotics is becoming an increasing threat making essential oils a more viable option.
#3. Essential oils can support digestion
Next time you have an upset stomach, diarrhea, or indigestion you may want to try essential oils instead of taking Tums. Research has proven essential oils have the ability to improve digestion.
So how do they help digestion? Essential oils can stimulate digestive enzymes. These enzymes make it easier to break down and absorb the fats, protein and nutrients your body needs.
Select essential oils can relieve you from…
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Stomach spasms
- Certain conditions of the gastrointestinal system (example: IBS)
Essential oils that can be helpful for supporting digestion include…
- Fennel
- Lemongrass
- Marojam
- Black pepper
- Juniper berry
- Peppermint
- Ginger
Ginger and peppermint are fairly well researched essential oils that have proven their benefits. Ginger can help relieve you from indigestion, constipation and ulcers. If you are suffering from IBS symptoms you should give peppermint oil a try. It’s known to help reduce the symptoms associated with IBS in many cases.
#4. Essential oils can give you more energy
Do you wish you had more energy? Most likely the answer is yes for most all of us. Using essential oils can give you more energy and even enhance athletic performance. This probably sounds too good to be true so let’s dive into how essential oils do this. Certain essential oils can cause stimulating effects that can increase oxygen that travels to your brain. Increased oxygen to the brain can leave you feeling more focused, refreshed and energized.
Some essential oils that can help boost energy are…
- Peppermint oil
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Lemongrass
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
#5. Essential oils can improve brain function
Improving cognitive performance can be considered one of the most impressive benefits essential oils can offer. Essential oils neuroprotective effects can improve cognitive performance. People suffering from diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s can benefit from using essential oils. Some essential oils contain powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants can naturally improve brain function and reduce inflammation. Essential oils can also help relieve agitating symptoms associated with conditions such as dementia thanks to their calming and sedative effects.
In addition, essential oils have proven their ability to improve memory, learning and focusing power. Stimulating and sedative essential oils can help improve brain function. Depending on the circumstances you may select different essential oils. For example, if you are trying to power through a tough exercise you may want to use lavender oil. If you are trying to expand your attention span over a longer period of time you may want to try peppermint oil.
#6. Essential oils can be calming while decreasing emotional stress & anxiety
One of the most enticing benefits of using essential oils is their ability to reduce emotional stress and anxiety in a healthy and safe manner. If you’re looking to reduce emotional stress and anxiety by using essential oils, you should try:
- Lavender
- Roman chamomile
- Bergamot
- Ylang ylang
- Orange
- Rose
- Frankincense
- Vetiver
These essential oils are better known for their sedative properties that can leave you feeling refreshed, peaceful and uplifted. Many studies provide evidence that support the fact that some essential oils have anti-anxiety and stress-reliving capabilities.
#7. Essential oils can relieve you from aches and pains
There are a variety of treatments that can help reduce aches and pains. However, studies have proven that aromatherapy can have a strong positive effect on reducing aches and pains. If you are trying to reduce postoperative pain, gynecological pain or obstetrical pain, essential oils can be an effective option.
Some essential oils are more effective than others for reducing aches and pains. Essential oils you should try are:
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Eucalyptus
- Chamomile
- Rosemary
- Majoram
- Thyme
- Frankincense
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Myrrh
Most of these essential oils can be applied topically or used aromatically when treating aches and pains.
#8. Restore skin and hair health using essential oils
Essential oils can help restore and maintain healthy skin and hair while avoiding products with chemicals and hydrogenated oils. Commonly essential oils are applied directly to the skin and mixed in hair and beauty products for use. Some health and beauty benefits of using essential oils can include:
- Soothe irritated skin
- Reduce signs of aging such as age spots
- Treat acne
- Skin protection from things such as sun damage
- Thickening hair
Inflammatory skin conditions can often be improved by using certain essential oils. Conditions can include eczema, lupus and dermatitis. In addition, using essential oils can result in a healthier appearance of your skin and help wounds heal faster. Some of the best essential oils for skin and hair health include…
- Lavender
- Roman chamomile
- Frankincense
- Tea tree
- Geranium
- Myrrh
- Helichrysum
- Rosemary
- Clary sage
There are many other essential oils that have proven to be beneficial for skin and hair health. As many as 90 essential oils and 1,500 combinations have proven to benefit skin and hair health.
Plus, some essential oils posses the ability to fight pathogens. These pathogens can be responsible for many dermatological infections.
#9. Rid your body of toxins by using essential oils
Essential oils support the promotion of detoxifying your home and body while working to reduce toxicity. Toxins seem to be gaining more and more awareness as they become more prominent in our lives. Toxins can be very dangerous for our health and many of us are inhaling and ingesting them on a regular basis.
So how do essential oils work to reduce toxins? There are many ways essential oils can help reduce toxins. Some essential oils can serve as mild diuretics to help reduce toxins. This means they can increase urine production and improve detoxification. Certain essential oils can also aid digestion and help the body get rid of toxins that buildup in the body.
If you want to find essential oils that can promote internal detoxification you should try:
- Lemon
- Grapefruit
- Parsley
- Funnel
- Lemongrass
- Peppermint
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Tea tree
- Orange
Detoxifying oils such as the ones listed above can help clear toxins out of your body and clean the air surrounding you and in your home. Many home cleaning products are loaded with chemicals that can be harmful to you. Essential oils can replace many cleaning products and are a natural replacement. They can work to clean your home while destroying potentially harmful pollutants and pathogens.
#10. Say goodbye to headaches and migraines using essential oils
Essential oils work similar to painkillers but are a natural remedy for treating headaches and migraines. Rather than masking the pain or annoyance of the actual headache or migraine, essential oils address the root of the problem. Essential oils work to relive you from headaches and migraines by effectively treating the trigger. They can also reduce stress and improve circulation helping to reduce headaches or migraines. Studies have proven the effectiveness of many essential oils that can help relieve you from headaches and migraines. Some of these essential oils include:
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
Each essential oil has its own characteristics that can be beneficial for helping relieve headaches and migraines. Peppermint essential oil can leave you feeling refreshed with its cooling effect. It also helps stimulate blood flow. Eucalyptus can work to open the nasal airways while reliving sinus pressure. Rosemary supports circulation and can work to reduce inflammation. It also can provide a calming effect.
#11. Discover a full night’s sleep using essential oils
Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep all night long? If so you should try essential oils and discover restful sleep. Many essential oils have sedative properties that can support more restful sleep. Lavender is one of the most common essential oils that can be used as an effective sleep aid. Lavender essential oil can leave you feeling relaxed, calm, and ready for bed.
Essential oils that can help aid restful sleep…
- Lavender
- Roman chamomile
- Ylang ylang
- Bergamot
- Vetiver
Many studies have been done using essential oils to prove their effectiveness as a sleep aid. Lavender is one of the most tested oils for sleep aid. Studies have highlighted the effectiveness of lavender as a sleep aid as well as its affordable price tag and easy application. It can be an effective natural and non-invasive solution for chemical sleep aids.
Where Can You Buy Essential Oils?
Essential oils can be purchased at most local stores such as Target or Wal Mart or online or through multi level marketing companies. They are a trendy product with many different brands and sellers so if you’re a new user you may be torn on which brands to purchase.
Like anything else, essential oils can vary in quality and price so you should check reviews and ask around before purchasing. You can also try asking your trusted friends if they use essential oils and see if they have a preferred brand. If you’re making some last minute decisions in the store while reading this here are a few things to note when selecting essential oils to purchase…
- Essential oils should be sold in tinted glass. Sunlight can affect oils therefore they should be bottled in tinted glass.
- Essential oils should be sold and stored in glass bottles with metal accessories such as rollers. Although there are some exceptions where plastic can be fine, essential oils are powerful and should be stored in quality containers.
- Check the container for the oil name, Latin name, and plant part used – it should feature all three of these things.
- How was the oil intended to be used? Check the packaging for the answer to this, it should be available and is a handy fact that can help you select the right oil.
- Read the label for safety warnings, dosage, and how the oil was distilled. In addition, it should note how long the intended shelf life is.
- Is the oil organic, wildcrafted, USDA certified organic, certified organic, etc.? The horticultural status of the company should be featured on the label.
- If you’re buying oils online you should make sure the company provides customer service and education on how to use the oils.
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