With summer comes all the fun things - sun, clear skies, outdoor picnics, camping, and more! But there’s also something else not so pleasant that comes with summer - pesky mosquitoes and bugs.

There's nothing worse than a mosquito ruining your evening outside or keeping you awake at night, right?! Not to mention having to cover yourself in store-bought repellents that contain all kinds of not-so-good-for-you ingredients and which don’t smell very pleasant.

When my family and I spend time outdoors, I would much rather use a natural or DIY essential oil mosquito repellent that smells nice and is safe to use. We try to avoid having to lather ourselves in chemical repellents containing DEET as much as possible.

Scroll down for 9 of the best essential oils to repel mosquitoes and how to use them in a homemade recipe!

I also show you how easy it is to make your own essential oil mosquito repellent candle!

does essential oil mosquito repellent work?

Over the years, consumers have become very concerned and aware of the kind of products they use and have chosen to live a more organic lifestyle.

With that, natural and homemade mosquito repellents and the use of essential oils became very popular.

Yes, it is true that essential oils do not give as much protection as DEET products, and they are not regulated by the EPA. You also need to reapply them more often. The reapplying time will vary between 20 - 120 minutes, depending on the strength and kind of essential oil you use.

For essential oils to be effective against mosquito bites, it is crucial that they are in their purest form with no added chemicals and unnecessary ingredients. They also need to be higher than 10% concentration, ideally at a minimum of 50% concentration.

However, it is still a safer option for our skin (see notes at the end), the environment, and biodiversity. And it smells nice!

I do want to express that for areas that have disease-causing mosquitoes, a DEET product will be the safest option to protect you better and for longer periods.

I love combining different essential oils to make homemade mosquito repellent and bug spray. This gives me peace of mind knowing that what I'm using for my family and animals is organic and safe.

See one of my favorite recipes below, plus the best essential oils to repel mosquitoes!

homemade mosquito repellent candle

I love burning this homemade mosquito repellent candle in our home or outside on the patio. It is so easy to make and adds a homey touch with a refreshing smell!

homemade citrus mosquito repellent candle

This is a super simple DIY that you can make to naturally repel mosquitoes when you’re outside or in your home!

It’s also beautiful to look at and fun for the kids to make too, so it’s a win-win! I try my best to do things in as natural a way as possible, so this makes a perfect solution to the mosquitoes.

YOU’LL NEED

1 quart size jar ( or preferred size)

1 grapefruit

1 lime

1 lemon

1 small floating candle

A few sprigs of rosemary

10 drops of citronella essential oil

DIRECTIONS

Slice citrus and layer in a jar

Add rosemary in between layers of citrus

Fill with water

Add essential oil

Add candle

Burn where desired! Good for a couple of days.

Here are some of the best essential oil mosquito repellents

cinnamon oil

Cinnamon oil is extracted from cinnamon bark and is commonly used in the production of natural insect repellents. Best of all? It’s great smelling!

Of all the essential oils, it is one of the most effective and longest-lasting. Cinnamon oil includes potent chemicals such as eugenol, cinnamyl acetate, anethole, and cinnamaldehyde that work to combat the primary species of mosquitoes as well as mosquito eggs.

Citronella oil

Citronella oil is obtained from the lemongrass plant. It is one of the most commonly used and effective repellents against mosquitoes. Citronella contains compounds like citronellol, geraniol, citral, and limonene that keep mosquitoes away. When mixed with alcohol, the efficiency of citronella oil increases and makes it a potent repellent.

Mix 10 drops citronella oil, 10 drops alcohol, and 90ml water and pour into a spray bottle.

Clove oil

Clove oil is another option for individuals who want to benefit from clove's bug-blocking qualities at home. Scientific evidence has shown that clove oil is one of the strongest oils for its efficiency in repelling pesky mosquitoes. A 2011 survey study showed that a topical application of clove oil could provide 100% efficiency for 120 to 225 minutes.

Make a DIY mosquito repellant by diluting a few drops in a spray bottle with either witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, or white vinegar. Or mix with a base oil to apply directly to your skin.

Garlic oil

Garlic contains a compound called Allison, which has an intense repellent action and also has antibacterial properties. Garlic oil or crushed garlic cloves can be applied directly to the skin.

Or you can make a spray by boiling crushed garlic cloves for a few minutes and adding the solution to a spray bottle. It will kill mosquitoes instantly, and don't worry, the smell will not linger!

Lavender oil

Lavender contains compounds like limonene, linalool, eucalyptus, and camphor oil, which mosquitoes hate. The lavender smell that we adore, mosquitoes, and bugs cannot stand. Lavender also has antifungal and antiseptic qualities that prevent bites and calm and soothe irritated, bitten skin.

Crush a few lavender flowers or use lavender oil and apply the oil directly to your skin. Remember to always dilute your essential oil with carrier oil (more on this at the end of this blog).

Peppermint oil

Peppermint contains limonene and menthol, which keep mosquitoes at bay. The smell of peppermint is too harsh for mosquitoes. Combine peppermint oil with coconut oil to enhance efficiency. Coconut oil has unsaturated fats and emulsifiers that slow down the evaporation of the repellent molecules of peppermint, making the fragrance linger longer.

Mix 12 drops of peppermint oil with 30 ml of coconut oil and apply directly to the skin.

Rosemary oil

Rosemary has a woody scent with compounds of eucalyptus, camphor, and limonene, which keep mosquitoes away. You can burn sage and rosemary together in your bonfire, or a candle, to keep the mozzies at bay. Or apply a rosemary and lemongrass oil combo directly to your skin for protection.

Mix 10 drops of rosemary oil, 10 drops of lemongrass oil, and 60 ml of carrier oil.

**My favorite essential oil mosquito repellent recipe**

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has long been used as an antiseptic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory essential oil. It has a fresh camphoraceous odor, which bugs, mosquitoes, and ticks despise. Tea tree also helps to soothe insect bites and skin irritations.

I would often add a little bit of tea tree oil on ticks on my animals. This helps to remove the tick without having to pull it off.

Tea tree oil can be very strong and irritating when applying undiluted or too much of it. Add about 10-20 drops to a cup of base oil to apply to the skin. Or make a spray by mixing half a cup of water with half a cup of rubbing alcohol and 10 to 20 drops of tea tree oil.

Thyme oil

Thyme oil is great for providing protection against mozzies. Crush the leaves and rub them on your skin or burn the leaves or a thyme candle to release the aromas. A mixture of 50 percent thyme oil and 50 percent clove oil can repel mosquitoes for up to 2.5 hours. You can also make a DIY spray mixing 5 drops of oil with 2 oz of water.

Citrus and cloves

Although not an essential oils, this trick also helps to repel mosquitoes.

Push cloves into cut citrus and place them on plates around your home. Mosquitoes hate the strong, pungent smell of cloves and citrus.

This is a tried-and-tested method to keep mosquitoes at bay and has been used for centuries. You can also make a mixture of clove and citrus oil and apply it to your skin or add it to a diffuser.

notes on making homemade essential oil mosquito repellent

Essential oils should never be applied directly to the skin, or you should do a patch test first. It can be very irritating to the skin, dry it out, and in some cases, burn the skin. That's why it is always advisable to dilute essential oils, and don't use them on broken skin.
Essential oils can be diluted with a carrier oil such as vegetable, coconut, or jojoba oil. Usually 3-5 drops per 1 ounce carrier oil. Essential oils can also be diluted with water, witch hazel toner, vodka, or apple cider vinegar.
Use dark blue or amber bottles when storing your DIY essential oil mixtures for a long time. This will protect against UV light radiation which can impact the efficacy. Remember also, as it is a natural homemade product, you might need to toss it after a few weeks.
Most of the essential oils mentioned above can be applied to the skin (diluted) or mixed with a water-based carrier to make a DIY spray. You can also use it in diffusers.
Mix any of these to create a combo and smell which you love and works best for your family. Don’t be afraid to play around and try a few combos.
As these are natural repellents, remember that you need to reapply homemade mosquito repellents more often than chemical repellents containing DEET.
For areas that have disease-causing mosquitoes, a DEET-containing product will be your safest option to protect you better and for longer periods.
The plants of mint, basil, rosemary, lavender, thyme, and lemongrass can also be planted around your home or outside seating area for an added aura of protection!

If you want to learn more on how to control pests (mosquitos included) naturally by using companion planting, read this blog: 23 Herbs and flowers for organic pest control in the garden.

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