Homemade Mosquito Repellents
Natural Mosquito Repellent Remedies
1. Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
10 mL of lemon eucalyptus oil 90 mL of any carrier oil (olive or coconut oil)
Reapply this mixture periodically, especially when you are outside. Lemon eucalyptus oil contains compounds like citronellal and p-methane 3,8-diol (PMD). While citronellal is believed to show a little repellency against mosquitoes, PMD is highly effective against these tiny creatures (1), (2). PMD is present only in trace amounts in lemon eucalyptus oil, and hence, this essential oil needs to be processed and purified to convert some of its citronellal into PMD. Processed and purified lemon eucalyptus essential oil can be highly effective against mosquitoes when applied topically.
2. Peppermint Oil And Coconut Oil
12 drops of peppermint oil 30 mL of coconut oil
Do this 2-3 times before you go out. Peppermint oil is another essential oil that works well in repelling mosquitoes. Combining it with coconut oil enhances its mosquito repellent potential and basically makes it your very own natural bug repellent. While peppermint contains compounds like limonene and menthol that keeps mosquitoes at bay, coconut oil contains unsaturated fatty acids and emulsifiers that slow down the evaporation of the repellent molecules of peppermint oil (3), (4).
3. Neem Oil And Coconut Oil
10 drops of neem oil 30 mL of coconut oil
Apply this at least twice a day. Neem oil is derived from the seeds and fruits of the neem tree. It is believed to have natural mosquito repelling properties due to its composition and strong aroma. In fact, a study has proved that 2% neem oil, when used in combination with coconut oil, provided significant protection against different species of mosquitoes (5).
4. Apple Cider Vinegar With Essential Oils Spray
50 mL of apple cider vinegar 50 mL of water 10-12 drops of essential oil (clove, citronella or eucalyptus oil)
Spray this on yourself before you head out. Apple cider vinegar is an effective and mess-free base that can be used to increase the repellent potential of certain essential oils. When you use a carrier oil with an essential oil, it can end up becoming oily and messy and make you feel uncomfortable. In such situations, a non-oily base is appreciated. ACV promotes the repellent activity of essential oils by creating a slightly acidic pH on the surface of your skin, which can lure mosquitoes away from you (6), (7).
5. Tea Tree Oil And Coconut Oil
10 drops of tea tree oil 30 mL of coconut oil
You can do this 2 to 3 times before going out. Tea tree oil is widely used for its medicinal properties. Its powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties are said to prevent and heal mosquito bites quickly (8). The strong aroma of tea tree oil is another factor that keeps mosquitoes at bay. However, it is quite strong and hence should be used in combination with a good carrier oil like coconut oil.
6. Citronella Oil And Alcohol Spray
10 mL of alcohol 10 drops of citronella oil 90 mL of water
You must do this 2 to 3 times daily before you go outside. Citronella oil is obtained from the leaves of the lemongrass plant. It contains many compounds like citronellal, geraniol, citronellol, citral, and limonene that exhibit mosquito repellent properties. It is almost as effective as DEET (a widely used chemical-based mosquito repellent). When mixed with alcohol, the efficiency of citronella oil increases. This is because of the presence of thiamine in alcohol, the smell of which repels mosquitoes (9), (10), (11).
7. Cinnamon Oil Spray
10 drops of cinnamon oil 30-40 mL of water
Do this before you head out. Cinnamon oil is extracted from cinnamon bark and is one of the widely used homemade mosquito repellent. Four components of cinnamon oil, namely, cinnamyl acetate, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, and anethole have the strongest mosquito repelling properties against the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. And out of these, cinnamaldehyde exhibits the strongest activity (12).
8. Lavender Oil, Vanilla, And Lemon Juice Spray
10-12 drops of lavender oil 3-4 tablespoons of vanilla extract 3-4 tablespoons of lemon juice 1-2 cups of water
You can do this 2 to 3 times daily if you live in a mosquito-prone area. While the smell of lavender essential oil has a calming effect on us, it is quite repelling to mosquitoes. Lavender oil contains compounds like limonene, linalool, eucalyptol, and camphor, all of which are known to naturally repel mosquitoes and insects (13), (14). Vanilla has natural insect repelling properties, and lemon juice has high acid content that helps in keeping mosquitoes at bay.
9. Lemongrass And Rosemary Essential Oil
10 drops of rosemary essential oil 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil 60 mL of any carrier oil (coconut or jojoba oil)
Do this at least twice daily. Lemongrass and rosemary essential oils are amazingly effective natural mosquito repellents (15), (16). Lemongrass essential oil contains mosquito repelling components like limonene and citronella, while rosemary oil gets its mosquito repelling properties due to the presence of compounds like eucalyptol, camphor, and limonene in it.
10. Mouthwash And Epsom Salt Yard Spray
A large bottle of mouthwash (preferable mint flavored) 3 cups of Epsom salt 12 oz can of beer (optional)
You can spray this outside or around your home twice daily. Most mouthwashes have compounds like eucalyptol, menthol, and thymol that act as mosquito repellents (17), (18), (19), (20), (21). Some mouthwashes also have high alcohol (ethanol) content, which aids in repelling mosquitoes. Epsom salt can help ward off insects and other microbes in addition to the mosquitoes.
11. Baking Soda With Vinegar Mosquito Trap
1 cup of vinegar 1/4 cup of baking soda
Do this whenever there is an increase in the number of mosquitoes in your area. When baking soda comes in contact with vinegar, the reaction between the two releases carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide attracts mosquitoes and hence can be used to trap and kill them (22).
12. Rubbing Alcohol Spray
10 drops of any essential oil 30 mL of water 1 tablespoon of alcohol
Do this 2 to 3 times daily. Rubbing alcohol dissolves oils better than water. Hence, the repellency potential of essential oils is more when they are used in combination with it. Rubbing alcohol can also heal mosquito bites when applied topically. It is also used in combination with vegetable oils to repel and kill insects and bugs. Use this trick to make a homemade bug spray.
13. Garlic Spray
5-6 garlic cloves 1 tablespoon of mineral oil 1 teaspoon of lime juice 2 cups of water
Do this 2 to 3 times daily. Garlic contains a compound called allicin that exhibits a strong repelling action against mosquitoes. Additionally, garlic also has a strong aroma that repels mosquitoes (23). It is also widely used as a natural insect repellent (24). The acidic nature of lemon juice enhances the repelling properties of garlic.
14. Cloves With Lime
10-12 cloves 1 lemon
You can do this twice daily to steer clear of mosquitoes for the rest of the day. This is one of the most widely used homemade mosquito repellent. Clove is another herb that is quite effective in repelling mosquitoes and various insects. The strong aroma of clove and the presence of a compound called eugenol give it its repelling properties. Studies have also proven clove essential oil to be one of the best natural insect repellent (25). Clove oil can be quite irritating, and it also has a strong fragrance. Hence, it must be used only in combination with a carrier oil for topical application. Which are the plants that help with mosquitoes? Plants like lavender, rosemary, citronella, and basil act as natural mosquito repellents. Do electronic mosquito repellents really work? There is an ongoing debate on whether electronic mosquito repellents really work or not. While scientists have not found any supporting evidence, many individuals have testified that these electronic mosquito repellents work. However, the sound of the ultrasonic electronic mosquito repellents can be quite irritating. Do coffee grounds repel mosquitoes? Yes, coffee grounds can be used to repel mosquitoes. In studies, caffeine was found to inhibit the production of adult mosquitoes(26) Does Dawn dish soap repel mosquitoes? No, it’s a myth that dishwashing soap is a mosquito repellent. The soap merely reduces the surface tension of water and drowns the mosquito when it comes in contact with it. Does Vicks keep mosquitoes away? Yes, the menthol in Vicks may hele repel mosquitoes and other insects (27), (28).
