10 Best Natural Mosquito Repellent

Most people are more prone to mosquito bites due to some factors like scent, heat, and humidity. This brings so much discomfort especially if you tend to unconsciously attract some of them.

Beyond the red and bumpy skin that you get when you are bitten by a mosquito, the foremost concern is that it carries diseases that can potentially transmit to your body once bitten. Mosquito bites should not be taken lightly as they are lethal and may carry dangerous viruses like the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria.

There are ways that you can be protected from this mosquito disease carrier. You can buy natural mosquito repellent products that are ready-made or you can make one for yourself. Either way, it can fulfill the job of repelling mosquitoes safely and naturally without the use of a DEET-based chemical repellent.

You can refer to this article to see what are the properties that make essential oil effective in repelling mosquitoes and which recipes of natural mosquitoes repellent will best work for you.

Essential oils as natural mosquito repellent

Essential oils are the main ingredients in making your own natural mosquito repellent. It can effectively repel mosquitoes, block their sense of smell making it harder for the pesky insects to get even near to your skin.

Here are some of the essential oils that are found to be potent in driving away and fighting off those blood-sucking insects. Read on and choose one or a combination of two for your homemade mosquito repellent.

1. Citronella has long been used as an effective insect repellent and when combined with other natural ingredients, its efficacy is stronger.

When the formulation is done right, citronella can be as effective as DEET and can provide protection for up to 2 hours.

2. Lemon eucalyptus oil has the same compound as citronella and p-methane 3,8 -diol (PMD) that make it effective for repelling mosquitoes. Be sure to only use purified and processed lemon eucalyptus oil to increase efficacy.

3. Lavender does not only have a calming effect but also its flower produce scent and oil that can repel mosquito. Lavender essential oil also has antifungal, antiseptic and analgesic properties that not only prevent mosquito bites but also calm and soothe the skin if bitten by the insect.

4. Neem oil has a strong aroma and natural properties that mosquitoes hate. A 20% neem oil concentration will give 70% protection from mosquitoes that will last for 2 hours. When combined with coconut oil it’ll add to being a great natural mosquito repellent.

5. Cinnamon oil has that sweet-smelling scent that is used mostly in preparing food but there is one powerful thing that it can do and that is to kill mosquitoes’ eggs. It is also effective as a mosquito repellent, especially to Asian tiger mosquitoes.

6. Peppermint has been shown that in high concentration it can be an effective mosquito repellent. In a study in 2011, the natural essential oil derived form this plant shows that it is efficacious in providing 100% protection against mosquito larvae and mosquito bites.

7. Lemongrass holds a citrusy fragrance that is popular in Asian cooking. It’s amazing to know that this wonderful plat can also muti task as a mosquito repellent. It also has limonene and citronella components that keep mosquitoes away.

Likewise, if it’s combined with olive oil can give 98% protection from southern house mosquitoes and when applied topically it can provide 94% protection from mosquito bites for 2.5 hours.

8. Tea tree oil is known for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties. Mosquito repellent that contains tea tree oil is also effective against bush flies and biting midges.

9. Catnip plant is part of the mint family. Its oil is effective in repelling mosquitoes carrying yellow fever. Extract from the catnip plant is also shown to be effective in common house mosquitoes with 2 hours of protection.

10. Thyme oil is the best in providing protection from malarial mosquitoes. Topical applications of compounds of this oil provide 89%-93% of protection against common house mosquitoes for 82 minutes. You may want to burn its leaves into a campfire as it offers 85% protection on repelling mosquitoes for 90 minutes.

DIY guide on how to make a natural mosquito repellent.

Now that you know what each essential oil can do to fight off mosquitoes that will save you from mosquito bites, then you are now ready to make your own natural mosquito repellent.

Before you proceed with making your homemade mosquito repellent, here are some tips to guide you.

• If you are making a spray mosquito repellent, make a little room to shake the bottle for the mixture to combine.
• For every use of your mosquito repellent spray, always shake it as the essential oil and water separate when set aside.
• Remember not to spray the mosquito repellent near your eyes.
• Never apply essential oil directly to your skin as pure essential oil tends to be strong.
• Always combine to dilute the essential oil with carrier oils or base oils like coconut, soybean, almond or olive oil.
• You can use vodka or rubbing alcohol as a replacement for water because alcohol evaporates quickly in the air thus preventing any mold or mildew to form.
• If you prefer to use water on your DIY mosquito repellent make sure that you use distilled water to lessen the mineral build-up whenever you spray it.

Armed with this information, you can now begin and see what recipe you find works for you.

1. Eucalyptus oil mosquito repellent spray

What you’ll need:

• 10 ml eucalyptus oil
• 90 ml of any carrier oil
• distilled water or vodka
• Spray bottle

Step 1: Pour the vodka or water into a spray bottle.
Step 2: Add the essential oil and carrier oil.
Step 3: Shake the mixture well and start spraying.

2. Neem oil and coconut oil mosquito repellent

What you’ll need:

• 10 drops neem oil
• 30 ml coconut oil
• vodka or distilled water
• spray bottle

Step 1: Pour the vodka or water into a spray bottle.
Step 2: Add the neem oil and coconut oil.
Step 3: Shake the mixture well and start spraying.

3. Tea tree oil and coconut oil

What you’ll need:

• 10 drops tea tree oil
• 30 ml coconut oil
• vodka or distilled water
• spray bottle

Step 1: Pour the vodka or water into a spray bottle.
Step 2: Add the tea tree oil and coconut oil.
Step 3: Shake the mixture well and start spraying.

4. Lemongrass and rosemary oil mosquito repellent

What you’ll need:

• 10 drops lemongrass
• 10 drops rosemary oil
• 60 ml of carrier oil (coconut or olive oil)
• vodka or distilled water
• spray bottle

Step 1: Pour the vodka or water into a spray bottle.
Step 2: Add the lemongrass oil, rosemary oil, and carrier oil of your choice.
Step 3: Shake the mixture well and start spraying.

5. Lavender vanilla lemon mosquito repellent

What you’ll need:

• 10- 12 drops of lavender oil
• 2-3 tbsps of vanilla extract
• 3-4 tbsps lemon juice
• vodka or distilled water
• spray bottle

Step 1: Pour the vodka or water into a spray bottle.
Step 2: Add the lavender oil, vanilla extract, and lemon juicce
Step 3: Shake the mixture well and start spraying.

Watch a video on how to make your natural mosquito repellent.

Other ways to repel mosquitoes

Aside from making your own natural mosquito repellent that can keep the insect away, there are other ways to prevent mosquitoes from feasting on you.

Here are some practical ways:

1. Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes. Tuck in your shirt to your pants and your pants into your socks to prevent mosquito bites from getting inside. This can be uncomfortable if it is 90 degrees outside but this is just a practical choice if you don’t want to use chemical mosquito repellent or a natural one is not available at the moment.

2. Turn on the fan. It will be hard for mosquitoes to settle on your legs if there is air moving around and driving them away.

3. Get rid of stagnant water. Mosquitoes breed in standing water so make sure that there is no water standing on your buckets, drums, unused flowering pots, unchanged water in vases, and other things that may collect water in your yard or inside your home.

4. Make sure that you keep your pool clean, circulated, and treated regularly.

5. Stay indoors before sunset as this time mosquitoes are more active and aggressive.

Safe way to repel mosquitoes and freshen the air

There’s no doubt about the efficacy of natural ingredients used to repel mosquitoes. It is safe for children and pregnant women who are looking to avoid chemicals in the products they use.

But what if there’s a product that repels mosquitoes and freshens up the air by eliminating unpleasant odor at the same time?

The Crown Choice selections of natural air fresheners have natural ingredients like lavender, Lemon zest, Lemongrass Geranium, Vanilla Cinnamon, and Eucalyptus that can eliminate bad odors and repel mosquitoes in a safe and natural way. Eucalyptus and Siberian Cedar are considered natural bug repellants.

What is good about The Crown Choice air fresheners?

• It has natural essential oil sprays that are NON-toxic to children, pets, and the environment.
• NO synthetic colors or contaminants natural fresheners.
• It contains natural ingredients that are formulated to absorb odors rather than mask them.
• Hypoallergenic, Phthalate-free, vegan, and environment-friendly.
• And because it has natural ingredients that are effective in repelling mosquitoes, spraying it to all corners of your home can keep mosquitoes away.

Keep mosquitoes away and freshen up your room with The Crown Choice’s finest selection of natural air fresheners.

Wanna know what our top 10 essential oil bug repellants are? Read on.

Top 10 Essential Oil Bug Repellent

In the summer we want to spend most of our days being out in the sun basking on the feeling of warmth and enthusiasm it brings and prompts us to enjoy those days going camping, hiking, visiting the lake, or just laughing on a porch with your family while savoring your mom’s famous barbeque recipe.

Just when you’re having that perfect moment to relax, an old familiar buzzing sound came steadily louder from that blood-sucking flies, and before you know it, they’re already feasting on your leg.

So what are the best way to stop these annoying mosquitoes and irritating flies, gnats, and ticks without putting chemicals into your skin? You can go natural and use essential oil bug repellent.

Repel mosquitoes and other insects with essential oil bug repellent. Certain essential oils are not only effective as mosquito and other insect repellents, but they can also help in painful and itchy bug bites.

Don’t let these blood suckers’ annoying insects ruin your summer by leaving you with legs covered with red bumps, swelling, and itching like crazy.

Arm yourself with this natural essential oil bug repellent to protect you from pesky insects and enjoy your summer flawlessly.

What’s Good About Essential Oils?

Here are some good reasons you need to go for homemade bug repellent aside from being safer than chemically stored bought insect repellent.

• Easy to formulate. Just mix and match the essential oils according to what scents you like.
• Value for your money. You just need a few drops of essential oils to create your DIY bug spray per batch. It won’t cost much and it will last for a long time.
• Versatile. You can either have your essential oil sprayed or rub-on.
• Great for sensitive skin. Being natural, essential oils are softer to the skin especially those that have sensitive skin, and safe enough for those who have other skin issues.
• Smells divine. You get the benefit of aromatherapy by smelling good and its smell has the ability to relax you as well.
• Safe to use for your children and around your fur babies.

You don’t want to miss all these benefits of natural-made mosquito repellent.

Double-duty Essential Oils

It’s no surprise that some essential oils are multitaskers. There are a whole bunch of essential oils that do double duty that not only repels mosquitoes and other insects but also relieve any soreness, itch, and pain that comes from being bitten by bugs.

Get to know these essential oils.

1. Clover essential oil relieves itching, swelling, and pain especially for bee and wasp strings but should not be used on broken skin.

2. Lavender essential oil is a natural analgesic to reduce pain, irritation, and swelling especially from bee stings, spiders, and ant bites. Safe to use to heal toddlers and babies from insect bites.

3. Peppermint essential oil has a tingling and cooling sensation that numbs and soothes the skin for speedy healing from the pain, swelling, and redness.

4. Tea tree essential oil is a natural anti-inflammatory,anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial that effectively stops itching, reduces pain and swelling, and kills bacteria.

5. Geranium essential oil is proven to be effective to repel a wide variety of bugs. It has antiseptic properties that can reduce pain, swelling and soothe itchiness.

6. Citronella essential oils are the most popular among essential oils when it comes to repelling mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, fleas, and moths. It is derived from lemongrass that contains insect deterrents of citronellal, citronellol, geraniol, and limonene. It not only repels bugs by its scent but also works by masking those odors that are most attractive to insects.

10 Products to Fight off Mosquitoes and Bugs

You can not avoid those pesky bugs buzzing around during summer as it is part of the season and sometimes bug bites are a consequence of spending time outdoors.

But let not this ruin your perfect summer, you can always prepare by having on your side insect repellent products that make use of essential oils that are safe to use.

Find what you think s best for you here on this list.

⭐Editors Choice⭐

The Crown Choice Cedar Oil Spray

Our best natural bug spray. It has a natural cedar scent great for rooms, closets, draws, wood. It’s also a great air freshener that can eliminate and neutralize odor. It doesn’t mask odors like chemical sprays. It’s a legit odor eliminator. Spray it and forget it. No need for cedar blocks. It’s non-toxic, non-irritating, and natural cedar oil spray that will repel bugs, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and more.

Now let’s move on to the top list.

1. Sallyeander no-bite-me natural bug repellent and anti-itch cream

This cream works in two ways: it repels bugs and treats uncomfortable bug bites. It has the strong scent of mint and herbaceous and has the essential oils of cedarwood, mint, lemongrass, geranium, clove, thyme, rosemary, and eugenol. It’s in a cream form that keeps the bugs away for 4 hours while keeping your skin safe and healthy. Great for seasonal travelers and safe to use by children. Effective to repel mosquitoes, black flies, fleas, and thicks.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Great scent
• Safe for children to use
• It’s very handy

Cons:

• Too strong scent.
• Needs to re-apply every now and then.
• It minimizes bug bites but you still get bitten.

2. Repel Plant-based Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent

If you are looking for an alternative to DEET, this repellent is natural and has 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus that provides up to 6 hours of outdoor protection from mosquitoes. Repel uses the oil of lemon eucalyptus essential oil that differs from lemon eucalyptus oil because it contains an extracted organic compound called PMD that shown effective for most bugs except for ticks so if you’ll be in tall grass and woods you should use an additional protection.

Pros:

• Not sticky or greasy
• Smells better than DEET
• Inexpensive
• Non-toxic

Cons:

• Doesn’t protect against ticks.
• Not as effective as DEET or Picaridin

3. Babyganics bug spray

If you love traveling with your babies, this bug spray for babies is safe to use and has no chemical residue. It contains 100% essential oils of citronella, peppermint, rosemary, geranium, and lemongrass. Helps to keep flies, mosquitoes, and gnats away from your babies.

Pros:

• It has a great smell.
• Gives your baby lesser bug bites.
• Not only for babies but adults can use it too.

Cons:

• The new formula has cedarwood. If you are allergic then it’s not for you.
• It’s too oily.
• It stains clothes when it leaks.
• It does not give full protection from mosquitoes.

4. Sun Essential Oils – Lemon Eucalyptus

When you want to formulate your own mosquito repellent or bug spray, there is a whole host of essential oils like lemon eucalyptus of Sun Essential Oils that can deter blood-thirsty bugs away from you.

Pros:

• Smells better than DEET.
• Safe to use
• Good for the environment
• It can be combined with other essential oils to be more effective in warding off mosquitoes.

Cons:

• May not be as effective as DEET.

5. Cutter Backwoods insect repellent

It has a formulation of 25$% DEET that can provide protection against annoying mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, biting flies, chiggers, and fleas for 10 hours. It also helps in repelling mosquitoes that may transmit terrifying virus-causing diseases like Zika, West Nile, Dengue, and Chikungunya.

Pros:

• It’s sweat-resistant
• Provides 10 hours protection
• Perfect for hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities.

Cons:

• It smells bad
• It may be effective but it still has chemicals that can have harsh effects in the long run.

6. Off Botanicals DEET-free bug spray

This plant-based contains a chemically synthesized active ingredient of pine extract. It has no added fragrances and protection can last about 2 hours. Repels black flies, no-see-ums, and mosquitoes that may carry the West Nile virus.

Pros:

• It has a great scent.
• Good for people prone to insect bites that love outdoor activities.
• Safe for children to use.
• No sticky feel.
• Tiny spray that can fit the pocket.

Cons:

• It only lasts for 2 hours.
• It may not be as effective as those with DEET.
• The spray isn’t misting and squirts just a jet of spray.

7. Sawyer Premium Permethrin clothing insect repellent and Picaridin insect repellent

If you are concern with crawly insects that can creep on your clothing, gear, and tents then this insect repellent is for you. Sawyer Premium Permethrin is ideal for anglers and hunters as it is odorless. You can spray it on your hammock, tents, and sleeping bags to prevent disease-riddled bugs from pestering your day. It is also great in spraying your clothing as it will help to deter crawling insects from making a ride going home with you.

Pros:

• Effective in keeping off bugs from your clothing.
• Effective against yellow fever mosquitoes that can transmit the Zika virus.
• It won’t stain or damage your clothing, any fabrics, plastics, and other outdoor gear.

Cons:

• Relatively expensive
• Heavily reduced duration against certain insects.

8. Proven insect repellent spray

Proven insect repellent contains 20% picaridin recommended by CDC as an alternative for DEET. It has long-lasting protection for up to 12 hours that repels mosquitoes and ticks while 8 hours protection to repel gnats, chiggers, no-see-ums. It also comes in lotion form which has a repellency of 14 hours.

Pros:

• Odorless and clean feel
• You can choose from 3 sizes and in spray and lotion form.
• It has long-lasting protection.
• It’s non-greasy

Cons:

• Extremely expensive

9. OFF family care picaridin

If you want to use an insect repellent that is one go for the whole family, OFF family care offers long-lasting protection for the whole family as it contains 10% picaridin in liquid form that repels mosquitoes. It has a wide aerosol spray that is safe to use by the whole family.

Pros:

• Does not have an oily or greasy feel.
• It does not have a harsh and eye-watering scent.
• It won’t damage fabrics or plastics.

Cons:

• It doesn’t have a lock or cap on the can.
• It only comes in one size.
• It’s bulky to carry around when going hiking, and camping.

10. Coleman botanicals insect repellent pump

The active ingredients of Coleman botanicals insect repellent are the oil of lemon eucalyptus, ethyl alcohol, and deionized water. It has a cool and refreshing scent and provides protection in a travel-size mosquito repellent.

Pros:

• It has a pleasant smell
• Non-greasy and refreshing to spray.
• Compact size for easy handling.
• The pump works well for easy application

Cons:

• You can’t spray it upside down due to the pump’s function.
• The spray dripped around the nozzle making a little mess.

Know which Essential Oils for Which Bugs

Now that you have the list of the commercial product that you can buy, it will be easier for you to choose which of them are more suited that will meet what you are looking for in an insect repellent.

However, if you are a little short on budget, you can always make your own insect repellent.

If you do the DIY bug spray, the next that you should know is which essential oil is effective to repel certain insects?

All essential oils are good in repelling bugs but there are essential oils that repel certain insects better than others.

Insects hate the strong scent of essential oil that keeps them away and missed their target. But to us, it gives aromatic benefits which stay for a longer period.

Here’s the list of what type of essential oils repel what insects so you’ll be aware of what it is you need to combat a certain insect.

1. To keep mosquitoes away try these: Citronella, cedarwood, lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, geranium, basil, lavender, thyme, and clove.
2. For fleas: Cedarwood, tea tree, citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, orange, lavender, and pine.
3. For ticks: Cedarwood, lavender, lemongrass, geranium or rose geranium, and eucalyptus.

You can also choose from the combinations of these essential oils for making your own essential oil for mosquitoes repellent.

DIY Bug Spray with Essential Oils

The nice thing about doing your own homemade insect repellent is that you can mix and match the essential oils you may have. You can be able to follow what scent you want, how strong or mild you want your repellent to be, and determine the budget for making it.

Here’s what you’ll need for essential oil mosquito repellent.

• 4 oz. clean spray bottle
• distilled or boiled water
• 1.5 ounces of vodka or hazel witch
• 30 drops of citronella essential oil
• 25 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 15 drops of tea tree oil

Note:

• If you want to add more varieties of oils, just add less of the oils you are adding in.
• If you wish to make it less strong then just add fewer drops
• Keep the amount of essential oils under 15% for safety.
• Remember not to fill the bottle completely full so that it will still have room to shake the essential oils as it doesn’t dissolve and separates in water.
• Use only high-quality therapeutic essential oils.
• Avoid spraying in the eyes and mucous membranes

Step 1: Fill with water the 4 oz. spray bottle.
Step 2: Add the witch hazel or vodka.
Step 3: Add the essential oils
Step 4: Give it a good shake
Step 5: You can now spray unto skin and clothing.
Step 6: Re-apply every 2 hours or needed.
Step 7: Store in a dark bottle and do not expose to sunlight or heat.

This formulation can be sprayed on your dog’s collar to keep ticks and fleas away but do not spray on cats as all essential oils are toxic to them.

Steps in Making Your Own Essential Oil Bug Repellent: Rub on Mosquito Repellent

Rub-on is also convenient to carry around if you need to put in some for mosquito bites. It’s so simple to make and it only has 3 ingredients.

What you’ll need:

• Carrier oil like sweet almond oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil. Choose what you like.
• 10-20 drops of essential oils. You can either have combos just like the one above or single essential oil will do great also.
• Small bottle or old sanitized jar

Step 1: In the small bottle or jar, add 2 tablespoons of carrier oil.
Step 2: Add 10-20 drops of your preferred essential oils.
Step 3: Shake the bottle and apply it to the affected skin with mosquito bites.

What you should know before buying essential oils

Now you know how to make your own insect repellent and which essential oils are better to repel certain insects, you should also know how to spat a good essential oil so that you can make those lotions, rub-on, and spritz you want for your family and your dogs.

Remember that not all essential oils are created equal. There are good essential oils that are pure, safe, and kind to your skin while there are other brands that contain, cheap mixed with synthetics, GMO’s, and other artificial substances that can harm and irritate your skin.

Spatting good essential oil needs some research on the brands that have 100% pureness in their essential oils. However, as starters, you can refer to this list of what you should know before buying your essential oils.

1. Try to choose one that does not go through the chemical process. Chemical distillation can dilute or contaminate the essential oil which can lose efficacy and scent.

2. Don’t purchase oil that is stored in a plastic container as sunlight and heat can penetrate and alter the oil and its scents.

3. Pure essential oil is packaged in amber or dark-colored glass bottles to protect it from becoming rancid.

4, Always check the ingredients to see if it is 100% pure and contains no additives.

5. Pick the essential oil that comes from a trusted manufacturer that’s transparent in its source and countries of origin.

6. Steer clear if the essential oil label contains outrageous health claims. when in doubt, refer to National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health which lists botanical plants that are used in essential oils, its claims, cautious and side effects.

Additional tips on how to deal with the itch and pain from insect bites

No matter how careful we are and how much we protect ourselves, we still get bitten by insects so here’s some tip that may lessen the itch or pain from bug bites.

• Apply lavender or tea tree oil directly to the skin where the insect bite is.
• Apply apple cider vinegar to the bite.
• Rub a lemon slice into the bug bites.
• Hold an ice cube to the bite.
• Create a paste of water and baking soda and apply directly to the affected area.
• A slice of onion has been known to remove the pain from insect bites.

Frequently asked questions

The best air freshener with Essential oil bug repellent

The Crown Choice natural cedar oil spray is not just your ordinary room deodorizer but also an effective repellent for ticks, fleas, and moths.

Natural cedar oil spray is NON-toxic to children, pets, and the environment. It has NO synthetic colors or contaminants and contains natural ingredients that are formulated to absorb odors rather than mask them.

It’s a hypoallergenic, phthalate-free, vegan, and environment-friendly natural home spray. You can spray it in your office, bathroom, bedrooms, and cars as well as on shoes, linens, and bed sheets.

There is really nothing more versatile than The Crown Choice cedar oil spray that freshens your rooms and keeps insects away from lurking into your home. It’s also a perfect companion on your camping and hiking as you can spray it around your area to prevent insects and at the same time keep your surroundings fresh and smelling good.

So get your money’s worth by choosing The Crown Choice products for all your cleaning needs.