Are you looking for a safe and potent mosquito repellent? Explore organic options that keep mosquito bites at bay!
Mosquitos can truly be pesky, so it’s essential to always be prepared, especially if you’re going outdoors or if you unluckily just happen to be a mosquito magnet.
Aside from causing skin irritation, some mosquitoes carry diseases, such as Zika virus, malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, Lyme disease and Chikungunya virus. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe by always having a mosquito repellent handy.
DEET-based chemical repellents are highly effective and are best used for when you’re visiting areas with a high risk of mosquito-borne illnesses. However, there have been reports of people having negative reactions after the excessive use of products containing this chemical.
Organic mosquito repellents are, thus, a great alternative, but it’s vital to know which organic insect repellent works for you and which ones may trigger an allergic reaction.
Here are some of the organic mosquito repellants you’ll want to explore:
Lavender
Aside from the calming and soothing properties of crushed lavender, its fragrance and oil can repel mosquitos, too. To produce your lavender mosquito repellent, crush the flowers and apply the oil to ankles, arms, and other areas sensitive to bites. If you have lavender oil, you can drop some of it on clean cloth and apply it on your skin.
Lemon eucalyptus oil
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved this as a potent ingredient for insect repellents. A mixture with 32% lemon eucalyptus oil has shown to provide protection for up to 3 hours. You can create your own mixture by adding 1 part lemon eucalyptus oil to 10 parts witch hazel or sunflower oil. However, avoid using this mixture on kids younger than 3 years old.
Cinnamon oil
Research has shown that cinnamon oil has eugenol, cinnamyl acetate, anethole, and cinnamaldehyde components that effectively kill adult mosquitoes and mosquito eggs. To make your own concoction, dilute 10 drops of cinnamon essential oil in a bottle with about 40 ml of water and use as a spot spray.
Greek catmint oil
Some studies have shown that super catnip oil is as potent or even more effective than DEET in repelling mosquitoes. You can vigorously rub catnip between your palms and apply to your skin for 30-minute mosquito-protection. You can also create a spray by mixing one cup of isopropyl alcohol and a cup of water to one-half teaspoon of catnip essential oil.
Thyme oil
If you’re out camping, you can try tossing thyme leaves into your campfire for 85 percent mosquito-protection for up to 90 minutes. You can also rub the leaves on your skin or clothing or extract its oil by crushing these leaves and then mixing 4 drops of this oil extract for every teaspoon of jojoba or any base oil.
Soybean oil
Soybean oil is a registered insect repellent in Canada and is gentle enough and safe for infants and children. There are products, such as Bite Block Kids, that use this oil to provide 1 to 4 hours of protection from mosquitoes. You can mix this with either essential oil or water and use as room spray. You can also apply the mixture directly on your skin.
Neem oil
Diluting 50 to 100 milliliters of virgin, cold-pressed neem oil in water, oil, or lotion makes a great mosquito repellent that provides up to 3 hours of protection. Neem oil and coconut oil also make a great insect repellent combination. Neem oil has properties that make it difficult for insects to grow and lay eggs.
Tea tree oil
Aside from its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties, research has shown that tea tree oil is effective in repelling insects. To create your own tea tree oil mosquito repellent, mix 1 or 2 ounces of tea tree essential oil with water and pour into a 12- or 16-ounce spray bottle. Spray on your skin areas prone to mosquito bites, as well as on your clothes before heading out.
Citronella
Citronella can be as effective as DEET in keeping mosquitoes at bay by masking scents that draw these insects and making it hard for mosquitoes to find their target to feed. You can light citronella-infused candles in your home, place citronella essential oil in your diffuser, or dilute it in lotion or another oil before applying directly to your skin.
Geraniol
Extracting geraniol oils from its leaves and applying to your skin can give you up to 4 hours of protection from mosquitoes when it binds with the General Odorant Binding Proteins (GOPBs) found in the insects' antennae or other olfactory sensory organs.
So, there you have it! These are great and accessible organic mosquito repellents that are safe for everyday use. Give it a try and find out which one is your favorite.
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