Mozzies Hate Oils!
If you are interested in using essential oils to repel mosquitoes, you may be wondering how they all compare?
Let’s compare them by their repelling strength and persistence (how long they repel). For example. lemon grass repels mozzies (Australian for mosquitoes), but this essential oil is so volatile that it fades rapidly.
The next obvious quality to consider is it’s smell. The most effective mosquito repellent ever discovered is from the wild tomato plant. However, it’s aroma is so horrid that is also used to repel cats and dogs! (People, too) Ghastly!
Cost matters. That’s self explanatory. Knock it out of the park with Palo Santo, if you can afford it! Palo Santo is very effective at keeping mosquitoes away.
Lastly, are the essential oils that you are planning to try out safe? NEVER play with an oil from the Rue family. They cause extreme photo sensitivity. Reports of painful skin damage are common. There are safer choices that are just as effective. Any refreshing oils from the citrus family promote light sensitivity, as well, but to a MUCH lesser extent than Rue. Maybe utilize this citrus group in the evening or after dark. Still, there are better choices…
Cautions exist for using clove and cinnamon essential oils. Take care with their use around the mucous membranes. Toxic if chugged (only a young child would do this).
As with all essential oil use, test it in a small way first on a small area of skin. Personal reactivity varies wildly. Every item on our list is generally considered non-toxic. Please, test to make sure that you are not that rare exception.
Ratings:
Effectiveness – H high, M medium and S some
Persistence – H high, M medium, L low
Smell – P pleasant, OK depends on your taste, SS strong and odd
Cost (per 16 oz.) – $ <$30, $$ $30-$70, $$$ $75 plus
Essential Oils with Known Anti Mosquito Properties
………………………………………….Effectiveness.Persistence.Smell.Cost
Basil M, M, P, $
Bergamot (horsemint) H, M, P, $
Castor Oil M, H, OK, $
Coconut Oil S, H P, $
Cedarwood (Texas) H, ? OK, $
Cinnamon (bark and leaf) H, M OK, $$
Citronella H, M P, $$
Citrus (all) M, M P, $$-$$$
Citrus Bergamot (not horsemint) M, M P, $$$
Clove H, H OK, $$
Dillweed M, ? P, $
Frankincense M, ? P, $$
Geranium H, M SS, $$$
Lavender M, L P, $$
Lemon Eucalyptus H, L OK, $$
Lemongrass L, L P, $
Mints-Catnip VH, H P, $$$$
………..Peppermint M, ? P, $
NEEM H, H SS, $
Palo Santo H, H OK, $$$$
Patchouli H, H OK, $$
Rosemary M, M P, $$
Rue XXXXXXXXXXX
Tea Tree M L OK, $$
Thyme (red) H, M P, $$$
Tomato (wild) VH, H SS, ?
Vanilla M, ? P, $$$$
Note that the High ratings for effectiveness are clear cut results. Classifying M and S effectiveness are fuzzy.
Lastly, each species of mosquito can respond differently to individual oils. One particular oil might repel the anopheles mosquito gangbusters, while at the same time the Tiger mosquito species will ignore that same oil. Thankfully, citronella, NEEM, lavender, lemon eucalyptus, thyme (red), clove, patchouli, and Texas cedarwood all seem to clear the area of the vast majority of mosquito species.
Note: to really dig deeper into the big money research go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles