Mosquitoes are the bane of everyone’s existence once summer rolls around. There’s nothing that can ruin a good camping trip, excursion to the cottage or even having a glass of lemonade on your porch like a swarm of pesky mosquitoes. Most store bought mosquito repellents contain harmful chemicals, so if you’re on the search for natural mosquito repellents, you’re going to love this roundup we compiled. These are the mosquito repellents you need this summer to keep bugs at bay and enjoy the sunny days as much as possible!
11 Natural Mosquito Repellents
1. Plant Lavender
If you want to repel mosquitoes from your yard, lavender is one of the best flowers to plant. It repels mosquitoes due to its well-known fragrance, which comes from its essential oils that are found on the leaves of the plant. Lavender oil has even been said to hinder a mosquitoes ability to smell. You can also make your own lavender essential oil with your own lavender plants. Boil 1.5 cups of olive oil, add 2 cups of lavender plants and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool and strain twice- once with a strainer and once with a coffee press. Refrigerate in an airtight container until the mixture becomes cloudy. You can use it both indoors and out!
2. Use Thyme Essential Oil
Thyme essential oil has been found to be one of the most effective ways to repel mosquitoes. Note that thyme oil isn’t considered safe on your skin unless it’s diluted. For a DIY concoction, combine 4 drops of thyme oil with every teaspoon of a base oil such as coconut oil and for a spray, mix 5 drops of thyme oil with 2 ounces of water. If you camp or have a fire pit in your yard, you can also throw thyme leaves into your campfire, which offers 85% protection for 60 to 90 minutes.
3. Protect Your Patio with Marigolds
Marigolds emit a smell that deters mosquitoes. They’re an easy-to-grow annual flower that you can place in pots on your patio or at the front entryway of your home to keep the pesky bugs away. Not only do they deter mosquitoes, they also keep away aphids, thrips, whiteflies, Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs and tomato hornworms.
4. Make a Spray with Cinnamon Oil
Cinnamon oil has been found to kill off mosquito eggs, and it also acts as a repellent against adult mosquitoes. To make a solution, mix ¼ teaspoon (or 24 drops) of oil with every 4 ounces of water. You can spray the solution onto your skin or clothes, around your home and on your plants. When cinnamon oil is concentrated it can irritate your skin, so be careful when applying it.
5. Plant Some Basil
Not only is basil a great herb to add into your favourite dishes, it also helps keep mosquitoes at bay due to its pungent smell. All types of basil are effective at repelling flies and mosquitoes so you can pick the one you love best. Basil needs good drainage and lots of sun and you can choose to plant it in containers on your patio or alone with other flowers.
6. Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
Lemon eucalyptus oil (not to be confused with lemon essential oil, which has no mosquito repellent abilities) has been found to be one of the best natural mosquito repellents out there. Create a mixture with 1 part lemon eucalyptus oil and 10 parts sunflower oil or witch hazel. Practice caution when using the mixture on anyone under 3 years old.
7. Potted Mint
Mint is another herb that doubles as a mosquito repellent. It also keeps away flies and ants. The more pungent the fragrance of the mint, the more effective it will be. Grow it in pots on your patio, and you can even dry the leaves and use them inside your house for indoor bug repellent.
8. Peppermint Oil Mosquito Repellent
Peppermint naturally contains a lot of menthol, as well as terpene and alcohol, which are helpful for repelling mosquitoes. Peppermint also produces a cooling effect on your skin, which is perfect for hot, summer days outside. Combine 10 to 15 drops of peppermint essential oil with 2 cups of water. Shake well before use and spray around entry spots such as windows and doors. You can also mix it with a carrier oil like coconut oil to use on your skin.
9. Soybean Oil and Olive Oil Mix
Soybean oil is often used as an active ingredient in insect-repelling products. When combined, soybean oil and olive oil slow the evaporation of essential oils on your skin. A mosquito repellent with 2 percent soybean oil offers 1 to 2 hours of protection. 21 percent olive oil solutions have a 71 percent repellency rate for up to 8 hours.
10. Lemongrass Oil
Lemongrass essential oil has been found to have a high mosquito repellency rate. When applied to the skin, it offers 74 to 95 percent protection against mosquito bites for 2 and a half hours. Combining lemongrass oil with olive oil offers almost full protection against mosquitoes for up to 3 hours.
11. Grow Rosemary
If you love using rosemary in the kitchen, it’s about to be your favourite herb for a whole other reason. Rosemary leaf contains oils that have been shown to be effective at repelling mosquitoes. It’s easy to grow and can thrive in a garden, a window box or in your landscaping. And when it’s time to season your food, all you have to do is pluck a few leaves.
If you’ve been looking for effective natural ways to repel mosquitoes, we hope you find this list useful! Try them and let us know what you think!
