Very few people want to live in a home that’s full of bugs, and even fewer want to sit outside and get bitten by mosquitoes this summer. While bugs are a hassle to deal with, especially if you don’t want to call your local exterminator, plenty of solutions are out there to help you keep bugs away. In fact, you can even keep bugs away without making your home or body smell terrible, thanks to essential oils.
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that produce strong odors that bugs may dislike. However, only some essential oils will keep bugs away, while others may invite them in. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Read on to learn more about what essential oils keep bugs away.
What Is Essential Oil?
Essential oil is a highly concentrated extract from plants. Typically, it’s made through steam distillation by having steam pass through the leaves and stems of plants. The result is a potent oil that has an intense aroma. For example, lavender essential oil is made by distilling the leaves and stems of some species of lavender plants.
While these aromas are often used for aromatherapy, they’re also great for keeping bugs away, but only if you use the right fragrances. Therefore, you can keep bugs away from your home without making your home smell terrible.
What Essential Oils Keep Bugs Away?
There are a lot of essential oils that keep bugs away. However, some of them are more tolerable than others, especially if you plan on spraying them around your home.
For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best essential oils that keep bugs away without stinking up your home. Learn more about some great options, like peppermint oil, below.
1. Peppermint Oil
One of the best essential oils for keeping bugs away is peppermint oil. The menthol and thymol in the peppermint oil are great at disrupting pheromones and creating an uncomfortable environment for bugs to settle in. For this reason, peppermint oil tends to be efficient for dealing with ants, spiders, and many flying insects.
2. Lavender Oil
If you’re dealing with a mosquito problem, you may want to go with lavender oil. While it’s not the best all-around essential oil for keeping bugs away, it’s one of the best-smelling options for your home, and mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender. What’s more, this also applies to flies, and you can subtly add lavender oil to your cologne or perfume to keep them from landing on you.
3. Clove Oil
One of the best essential oils for keeping bugs away, for reasons other than its aroma, is clove oil. Sure, bugs will also hate how it smells, but clove oil is also one of the few natural insecticides on the planet. This is because it contains eugenol, which can kill some bugs and keep others away. Plus, it doesn’t smell half-bad, either.
4. Rosemary Oil
Another great essential oil that can keep bugs away from you and your home is rosemary oil. Rosemary oil is one of the best choices because it smells great and integrates well with perfume, cologne, and other fragrances. Plus, it’s safe to apply on your skin if you want to keep bugs, like mosquitoes, from biting you. That said, rosemary oil can also be spread around your home with cotton balls or used in an aroma diffuser to keep bugs out.
5. Eucalyptus Oil
Like peppermint oil, eucalyptus is a great choice because bugs hate the fresh and minty aroma it creates. In fact, if you plan on using an aroma diffuser to keep bugs out of the inside of your home, eucalyptus oil is one of the best choices. This is because it remains strong enough to keep bugs far away from it, even when mixed with water and sent through the air. That said, you can still spray areas of your home or leave cotton balls soaked in eucalyptus oil to keep bugs away.
Understanding What Essential Oils Keep Bugs Away
So, what essential oils keep bugs away? The verdict is that many essential oils can keep bugs away, but you should look for strong scents that disrupt their pheromones or ability to communicate. Therefore, some of the best choices include citrus, mint, and some earthy essential oils.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer the smell of peppermint or the fruity aroma of citrus; it’s always important to choose the best essential oils to keep bugs away. Otherwise, you’ll end up buying expensive oil and possibly having more bugs than before.
When shopping for essential oils to keep bugs away, always choose the best essential oils for bugs from reputable brands, like Wholesale Botanics, that ensure their products are fresh, natural, and safe. Also, make sure products are third-party tested and that any carrier oils they’re mixed with are safe as well.
