Mint. Mint is an excellent nontoxic option for keeping mosquitoes, flies and even ants away. The more pungent the aroma, the less bugs you'll have. Grow it in pots on your patio where it can be easily reached if you want to drop a leaf or two in your afternoon tea.
Minty fragrances are unpleasant to a mosquito's keen senses. The mere presence of peppermint plants can ward off these pesky flying insects to some degree. You can also turn peppermint into a personal repellent by crushing the leaves and rubbing them on your skin. Mosquitoes won't be able to tolerate your presence!
Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and rosemary. They also hate smells such as smoke, for further insight, see our exploration on, does smoke keep mosquitoes away?
Spearmint, peppermint or chocolate peppermint, or any mint, will help repel the mosquitoes. And make your planting area smell like a candy dish. Mints are aggressive and spread quickly, so be sure to harvest often. Lavender may be a favorite for many uses because of its pleasing aroma, which does not please mosquitoes.
Mint. Mint is yet another fragrant herb that has pest-fighting properties. According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, menthol, the active insect-fighting ingredient in mint and peppermint oil, has biocidal properties that help repel and control mites, mosquitoes and various other pests.
Mint (Mentha)
The scent of mint repels aphids, cabbage moths, flea beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies, and even ants. To prevent this aggressive grower from taking over your vegetable garden, you can simply lay sprigs of mint among the plants you want to protect, but the sprigs must be replaced often.
Many natural scents that are appealing to humans actually repel mosquitoes, including lavender, peppermint, basil, and eucalyptus. Many of these scents can be worn as an essential oil on your skin to help keep these pesky pests from biting you.
Since the US Department of Agriculture developed DEET in 1944, the synthetic chemical has been a mainstay of bug repellents. Short for N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, DEET works by activating the olfactory receptors in mosquitoes, effectively repelling them because they dislike its smell.
Use 0.5% permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes. Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.
However, lemon eucalyptus oil, in particular, has provided reliable results when it comes to preventing mosquitoes from biting, regardless of application style. As such, it can certainly be considered one of the most effective natural mosquito repellant options available.
Mosquitoes may bite you more for various reasons, including your blood type, your clothes, your breathing, or even the bacteria living on your skin.
If you use essential oils, you will know how often peppermint oil is used in a homemade mosquito repellent. My DIY mosquito repellent calls for peppermint, lemon and eucalyptus essential oils. The minty clean scent serves as a natural mosquito repellent. It will also kill mosquito larva.
Not only does lavender keep mosquitoes away, but dried lavender is often used in sachets to repel moths and other pests from closets and wardrobes.
Mosquitoes hate peppermint much like wasps and other common pests. Lavender – Lavender is not only an effective mosquito repellent, it's also touted as a powerful ointment to relieve itchy mosquito bites. This oil has a pleasant floral scent and is the safest choice for children.
NoBites™ is Australia's strongest and longest lasting natural insect repellent, providing protection from mosquitoes for over 10 hours.
Citronella oil is a natural mosquito repellent that will kill mosquitoes and drive them out of your house. Look for citronella candles or use citronella essential oil in your vaporizer or oil diffuser.
You can also apply insect repellent, use specialty candles, and pretreat the garden with a backyard repellent. If nighttime mosquitoes are bothering you indoors, install fly screens to keep them at bay, and sleep under a mosquito net for extra protection.
Deter Insects
It is also an insect repellant and kills fleas," says Jose. "This is the major substance in Vicks, aside from Vicks use in upper respiratory infections, that can be used to repel mosquitoes and even fleas."
Castor, peppermint, and spearmint oils are odors that digging and burrowing animals dislike. (This can include groundhogs, mice, moles, rats, skunks, voles, and others.)