Natural Essential Oil Mosquito Repellents

Summer is a wonderful season, but one of the biggest annoyances is the mosquitoes that come around during that time. Dodging them practically becomes a sport in order to avoid getting the red and itchy bumps that they cause. While there are plenty of mosquito repellents on the market, did you know that there are essential oils that could do the job as well? Before you have a chance to encounter your next swarm of mosquitoes, let’s talk about some of the essential oils that may help keep the annoying little bugs far away from you.

Citronella Essential Oil
Chances are, during the summer, you run to get citronella candles and put them in as many places as possible. However, there is also citronella essential oil that you could consider using. It can make for a fantastic insect repellent that you can use to keep the bugs at bay. Additionally, it also has a variety of other benefits such as reducing inflammation and easing muscle pain.

Lemongrass Essential Oil
While lemongrass and citronella are related, they’re not the same although often (and understandably) misidentified as such. With a lemony and fresh scent, lemongrass essential oil can be used as an insect repellent. In addition to helping you ward off the unwanted mosquitoes, lemongrass essential oil may also help relieve your headaches, give you an energy boost, kill germs, and act as a natural deodorizer.

Cinnamon Essential Oil
Obtained from the leaves and bark of the cinnamon tree, cinnamon essential oil may not only keep mosquitoes at bay, but it could also kill mosquito larvae according to an article on www.sciencedaily.com. With a warm and spicy aroma, cinnamon essential oil smells lovely which is an added benefit, but it could also help to improve circulation, decrease inflammation, and stimulate the immune system.

Usage and Safety
It’s important to note that if you’re going to use any essential oils topically that it’s highly recommended that you dilute them first with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil, avocado oil, or fractionated coconut oil. Applying any essential oil directly to the skin could cause a negative reaction that is not exactly pleasant. For safety purposes, don’t forget to do a patch test first of the mix to ensure that the new blend and your skin are a good match and that you’re not going to have an adverse reaction.

There are many mosquito-repelling spray recipes out there using the aforementioned essential oils. Rather than use just one essential oil for your spray, you may want to consider using a blend of two or more different oils instead. The recipe depends on how much spray you want to make and the exact ingredients that you want to use.

The previously discussed benefits are just some of the ones associated with each oil, but there are a whole plethora of benefits that you might be able to look forward to if you start using them. Who knows, you may just be able to have a mosquito-free summer thanks to some essential oils!