Best Essential Oils For Mosquitoes

Mosquito woes are always frustrating. If you live in an area with plenty of mosquitoes, you’re probably looking for ways to keep these pests away from you. Wouldn’t it be great if you could use essential oils to help deter mosquitoes from your otherwise comfortable space?

What Essential Oils repel mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are generally repelled by the scent of citrus, which is emitted by many different blends of essential oils. Lemongrass, lemon, grapefruit… the list goes on. The benefit of these essential oils is that they give off summery, refreshing vibes, which means that you can smell good while deterring mosquitoes at the same time! Of course, summer isn’t the only time mosquitoes are prevalent. When there’s flooding, mosquitoes get a higher chance to breed and spread. Next time you’re heading to the great outdoors or even just worried about mosquitoes at home, use a citrus-scented essential oil. Here are some of our favourite essential oils to use for repelling mosquitoes!

Lemongrass

Oil extracted from lemongrass is popularly used in aromatherapy to alleviate stress and help people feel better. Lemongrass is also an excellent choice for an essential oil with summer vibes that may repel mosquitoes!

Orange

Orange is a scent that everyone knows. It has an uplifting, bright aroma that gives off a sense of cleanliness. On top of potentially calming down and lightening your mood, orange is also a citrus that may keep mosquitoes away. There is a reason orange is a scent popularly used in household cleaning products!

Lime

Lime is another invigorating scent that can help freshen up the area and potentially deter mosquitoes. It is a superb choice for those who want something a little less sweet than orange.

Geranium

Geraniums are a popular mosquito-repelling plant, though it is less famous than lemon eucalyptus and citronella. The strong fragrant scent of geranium helps keep mosquitoes away.

Eucalyptus

Lemon eucalyptus oil has been a well-known repellent for mosquitoes for decades, dating back to the 1940s. It is an effective ingredient in mosquito repellent options. You can choose a lemon eucalyptus scented essential oil to bring that effectiveness with you wherever you go!

Citronella

Citronella oil is a popular choice for repelling mosquitoes because of its light, aromatic citrus scent. However, it may not be as effective deterring mosquitoes as some of the other scents, so your mileage may vary.

Rosemary

You may be wondering how rosemary oils can repel mosquitoes. It is because of the woody scent that tends to drive away mosquitoes that find it pungent. Rosemary has the added versatility of repelling other insects, such as flies and cabbage moths.

Peppermint

Peppermint is a refreshing scent beloved by many (though it can be polarising). If you enjoy peppermint and the cooling effect it can bring, this essential oil is a fantastic way to repel mosquitoes!

Lavender

Lavender oil has been found to be effective at repelling mosquitoes from you, and it may even be able to help you calm yourself down because of its soothing scent and properties. Lavender is a wonderful mosquito-repelling choice for those who prefer more floral scents over fruity ones.

What is the best way to use essential oils for mosquitoes?

If you want to use essential oils for mosquitoes, they are best used in a diffuser. You can put the oil into a diffuser in the area you want to deter the mosquitoes. Another way you can also try to repel mosquitoes is by adding drops to various parts of your clothing. This way you will be able to carry the citrus scent with you wherever you go!

IMPORTANT: Using essential oils topically may also be alright, but this doesn't always work well and may not always be safe. Some essential oils will need to be heavily diluted in a carrier oil, and other oils can increase the risk of sunburn as they are considered phototoxic. Always exercise caution when using essential oils that are citrus cold pressed!

Do mosquito repellent scents deter flies too?

The selection of oils listed above can also act as fly repellents. However, the typical choices to deter flies are the following scents: Lavender, Peppermint, Clove, Sweet Basil, Rosemary, Catnip, Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Lemon, and Eucalyptus.

You can use these essential oils in a diffuser or create a household spray by diluting the oils in some Apple Cider Vinegar (another sort of fly repellent). You can spray these diluted oils and apple cider vinegar around bins, entryways, and access points that might have fly activity.

Get Essential Oils for Mosquitoes Today!

Worried about mosquitoes biting or swarming you? Essential oils may be able to help you out. My Herb Clinic offers essential oils that are carefully crafted and quality tested by us. Pick your gorgeously packeted essential oils today!