How to Make a Natural Mosquito Repellent

You’re probably already familiar with this ingredient as it is one of the most commonly found ingredients in natural mosquito repellents. When mixed with herbs, this essential oil is effective against mosquitoes. If it is not formulated correctly, it won’t be effective as it will evaporate quickly. You will need the right formulation for this to be as effective as DEET and provide protection for up to two hours.  You may also use citronella candles but they only offer 50% protection. 

This an ingredient derived from plant oils like lemongrass, rose, and citronella. It is a type of alcohol also used to add flavor and fragrance. It is an effective mosquito repellent but it depends on the species. Unlike other natural ingredients, this one should be avoided by people with sensitive skin and kept away the eyes as it may cause skin and eye irritation.

If you happen to have lavender flowers, crushing these will produce a fragrance that mosquitoes hate. One study shows adult mosquitoes didn’t feast on hairless mice that have lavender oil on them. This also shows that even the product is safe to use for animals. It’s also great for calming and soothing the skin since lavender has antifungal, antiseptic, and analgesic properties.

Also called melaleuca oil, this is a popular ingredient that originated from Australia. Similar to lavender, it also has antiseptic qualities, as well as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Recently, they found that tea tree oil can also be used to repel mosquitoes. It is also effective against biting midges and bush flies.

This one is a popular ingredient found in natural mosquito repellents and has been used since the 1940s. It contains an active ingredient called Menthoglycol, which is comparable to the effectiveness of DEET. Despite the name, this is not a blend of eucalyptus oil and lemon but an ingredient extracted from the Corymbia citriodora tree.

Lemon eucalyptus oil is also considered effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A study shows that a repellent containing 32% of this ingredient provides more than 95% protection for three hours.

You don’t have to look for this ingredient because chances are, you have cinnamon in your home. Who doesn’t love to top their desserts or snacks with cinnamon? Mosquitoes, specifically Asian tiger mosquitoes, hate this ingredient. There was also a Taiwanese study that shows cinnamon oil can be used to kill mosquito eggs. It’s time to kill these pests at the source!

Another effective ingredient against mosquitoes, even malarial ones, is thyme oil. One study shows that after applying 5% of this ingredient on hairless mice, it resulted in a 91% protection rate. Aside from a direct application on the skin,  you can also burn thyme leaves as it can provide 85% protection for an hour up to an hour and a half.

If you know the organic insect repeller Bite Blocker For Kids, this product contains 2% soybean oil. Based on a study from the University of Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, repellents containing soybean oil can protect us from mosquitoes for a long time.

Mint is great at warding off mosquitoes. One member of the mint family that is effective at repelling is Nepeta parnassica, the source of greek catnip oil. This white and pink flower is related to catnip and can grow up to 18 inches. To make use of it, you need to extract the oil from its bruised leaves. Research shows that this oil is effective against mosquitoes for two to three hours. There’s also a study conducted by researchers at Iowa State University who found that catnip is 10 times more effective than DEET.

This natural ingredient can also be used to repel but the results aren’t consistent. One study showed that it only provided 70% protection for three hours in Ethiopia. Mosquito repellents with neem oil aren’t approved to be used on the skin as it may cause irritation.