Last Updated on March 18, 2022 by
Did you know that different types of mosquitos are drawn to people with different blood types? For example, the Aedes albopictus is drawn to people with type O blood!
Whatever your blood type, you’ve surely experienced how a tiny bite from a tiny creature can cause a large annoyance. You can keep these pests away with spray, but traditional bug sprays contain DEET, which can have harmful side effects at high concentrations.
What can you do to deter mosquitos if you want to avoid chemicals like those found in traditional repellants? This blog will walk you through natural mosquito repellant options. So swat those mosquitos away and read on!
Table of Contents
1. Harness Mosquito Repellant Plants
The trope of the “plant lady” is growing ever more popular. But those plant ladies may be onto something. These plants repel mosquitos:
Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal is a flowering plant in the mint family. It sports attractive lilac or purple blooms. Pennyroyal is a great mosquito repellant for your yard because the fresh aroma discourages mosquitos from gathering.
Citronella Grass
When leaves of the citronella are crushed and rubbed on your skin, the aroma helps repel mosquitos. Citronella thrives in sunny to partly shady locations and prefers a pot with good drainage.
Lavender
The scent from lavender oil is believed to interfere with a mosquito’s ability to smell. Crush the leaves in your hand and rub them onto your skin to release the oils. Plant in a sandy potting mix and use a liquid fertilizer to encourage flowering.
Lemon Balm and Lemongrass
Both lemon balm and lemongrass produce a bright lemony scent. It is this scent that is thought to hinder a mosquito’s ability to smell and therefore find you. Both are fast-growing perennial plants that prefer growing in pots.
Peppermint
This is a great plant for in the house as it has a number of culinary uses in addition to its natural repellant scent. Rub the leaves on your skin to keep away the bugs and nibble a leaf to freshen your breath while you’re at it!
Rosemary
Throwing rosemary into your campfire will create a smokescreen that deters mosquitos. Rosemary is a drought-resistant, easy-to-grow plant. It needs lots of sun, so plant it out in the open.
Basil
Another culinary plant is basil. Basil excretes a strong scent that repels mosquitos without having to crush and rub on the leaves. As basil prefers full sun, keep it in pots on your window.
2. Employ Essential Oils
There are many essential oils that can act as natural mosquito repellants:
- Lemon eucalyptus oil
- Cinnamon oil
- Thyme oil
- Greek catmint oil
- Citronella oil
- Tea tree oil
You should dilute these essential oils with a carrier oil such as almond oil, olive oil, or fractionated coconut oil. Do not apply non-diluted oil directly to the skin as it can irritate the skin. When applied topically, the scent of the diluted oil acts as a natural mosquito repellant.
Deploy Natural Mosquito Repellant
If you’d like to avoid the chemicals found in commercial bug sprays, give these natural mosquito repellant options a try. In addition to keeping the pesky bites away, your house will look and smell fantastic!
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Read more: The Benefits of Using a Mosquito Fogger for Pest Control
