Using Nature’s Aromas as Insect Repellents
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Now that summer has officially arrived, nature is calling us outside. Whether our summer plans include baseball games and patio parties or strenuous hikes and rugged camping trips, we will certainly come into contact with one of the season’s more annoying features: insects. While our flying buddies certainly have their places in our ecosystems, mosquitoes, flies and ticks can be a real nuisance when it comes to lapping up the sunshine and warm breezes of summer. Luckily, we have an aromatherapy arsenal to ward off the most common bugs of the season.
It used to be in years past that our only saving grace in the battle against insects was a DEET-based repellent. This chemically-dubious product has earned a mixed reputation; it is not recommended for young children and pregnant women, yet it is still widely used by adults because it is highly effective in warding off bugs over long periods of time. Our understanding of pest management through essential oils, however, may give us the opportunity to chuck the DEET, and its overbearing scent and mysterious side-effects, completely.
To begin with, let’s consider a handful of the most powerful essential oils for warding off bugs. What’s the first one that comes to mind? Citronella, of course! This oil’s reputation truly precedes it. We’ve smelled it in patio candles and tiki torches, but the oil of this tropical grass can be mixed with other oils and applied to the skin as well. Its lemony smell rekindles memories of past summers, and insects detest it.
Citronella’s magical powers are heightened when it is mixed with other aromatic oils. In fact, it’s not best when used alone. If we blend it with lemongrass, its relative, geranium, peppermint or cedar, we allow it to work its charm. Remember grandma’s cedar chest? Cedar has always had a good reputation for repelling bugs, and its woody scent takes the edge off of citronella’s sharp scent. Or maybe you’re a peppermint fan. A mixture of peppermint and citronella will ensure your home smells bright and tangy, and insects will steer clear.
If you ask a gardener the number one plant to put in the garden to ward off flying insects, especially mosquitoes, the winner will most likely be the geranium. The geranium is tough, pretty and it smells great, but insects happen to dislike it. If you like the floral note of geranium, mix that with citronella. They are such perfect companions that a special species of plant, the citronella geranium, exists. Put that in your garden, and you can smell it from feet away!
Essential oils can be applied as a bug-control mechanism in one of two ways: atmospherically or topically. A diffuser or nebulizer is the most effective way to get these oils circulating in the air, ensuring insects don’t come near. One or more of the oils listed above can be atomized, providing you and your family the uplifting benefits of aromatherapy while simultaneously protecting you in a no-fly zone. Additionally, if you do not have a diffuser, simply take twenty drops of essential oil in a small bottle, fill the rest with water, and manually mist the area.
Topical insect repellents are sometimes necessary, and with a few oils, you can create your own. We recommend using the following recipe as a base, then using the essential oil blend in your own lotion, sunscreen or spray bottle: 3 milliliters citronella, 1 milliliter peppermint, 0.75 milliliters cedar wood and 0.5 milliliters each of lemongrass and geranium. This recipe can be changed for pre-teens by cutting the essential oil concentration down by half before blending with a carrier product. For toddlers, cut in half again and do not use peppermint. Finally, for infants, a 1% concentration of citronella and/or lemongrass alone is sufficient. Test the skin first and be aware of any negative or questionable reactions. Then, use the oil as needed. When creating sprays, consider using a bit of witch hazel, a plant-based preservative, in with the water as well.
Studies in pest management with essential oils are yielding a lot of exciting and surprising new information. While we may already be familiar with the more common insect-controlling oils, such as citronella and lemongrass, other oils are being investigated for their efficacy as well. A study conducted at Seoul National University suggested fennel essential oil might also be useful in deterring mosquitoes. This pleasant oil is not as harsh smelling as citronella or lemongrass and is easy to find. Another oil that does not readily come to mind as a mosquito repellent, but definitely shows promise, is clove. A group of researchers at Mahidol University in Thailand found that clove oil, when rubbed full-strength on the skin, provided 100% effectiveness against mosquito bites over a 2-4 hour time span. This same study found patchouli oil was a great repellent as well, giving two hours of protection when used undiluted.
The newest research has revealed an interesting winner in the fight against insect bites with essential oils. Catnip, also called catmint, is apparently a powerful insect deterrent, according to a 2008 study conducted by the DuPont Company. A 15% concentration of catnip oil in a lotion or alcohol base provided anywhere from 4 to 8 hours of protection, depending on geographic location, against black flies and mosquitoes. Previous research has shown that catnip is actually more powerful than DEET. Because the oil is relatively expensive, it might be safe to work with small doses to make sure your insects respond more like those in these studies and less like your tabby cat.
Your chances of skating through the summer months without a single mosquito bite are slim, even if you are diligently using your preventative blends. Should you find yourself with an insatiably itchy bite, don’t fret. Lavender and blue tansy oils are well-known anti-itch medicines. Lavender can be applied directly to the skin and provides instant relief. Blue tansy should be diluted to a 2% concentration in a lotion or carrier oil and then massaged into the skin. Both of these oils smell good to many people, providing a nice change from the pink calamine lotion many of us endured as children.
Your days of smelling like citronella, or DEET for that matter, are numbered. There are many complementary oils that work well when combined with the tried-and-true citronellas and lemongrasses, so don’t be afraid to blend. Scent certainly both arouses and deters almost every person, animal or bug on the planet, but research in pest management shows that aromatherapy has the tools to help us attract the things we love and repel those we don’t. With the number of applications available, such as diffusers, misters and carrier oils, we are better equipped to deal with summer’s woes. Why not try a different approach this year? And let your nose thank you.
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