5 Essential Oils That Repel Insects

Spring is quickly turning to Summer, as we pack away the winter woollies and squeeze back into our bathers! Summer brings plenty of things to love, including long days on the beach, cool drinks, healthy salads and warm breezes. But it also brings those annoying biting insects!

Midges, mosquitoes and March flies are definitely the downside to summer, and can ruin a backyard barbecue or beach picnic in minutes.

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So what do you do? Stay indoors? Cover yourself in toxic insect repellent? Thankfully there is a healthier alternative – and that’s Essential Oils. Here are our 5 favourites.

TEA TREE OIL

If you haven’t got a bottle of this in your bathroom cupboard, buy one now! Whilst not the most sweet-smelling of the oils, Tea Tree is definitely a must-have.

Make your own safe and effective personal bug repellent by mixing a few drops of Tea Tree Oil with water in a spray bottle. Apply frequently to keep mosquitoes and other biting insects away.

Tea Tree can also be used around the home to get rid of bugs. Simply soak cotton balls in the oil and place them in strategic positions to keep away mosquitoes, ants, spiders, ticks and fleas.

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If you do happen to get bitten, dab on Tea Tree Oil immediately. Being antibiotic, antiseptic and antifungal, it will stop both the itching and infection.

LEMONGRASS

Insects can’t stand the smell of Lemongrass, and that makes it a fantastic bug repellent. Make up a spray by mixing around 20 drops of Lemongrass Oil with half a cup of warm water. Spray liberally around your doors and windows to keep the annoying little critters away.

You can also ward off those tiny fruit flies by spraying the mixture onto kitchen counters, cabinets, your fridge and walls. Do it for several days in a row and they won’t come back.

Lemongrass is antifungal, insecticidal, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory so it has many uses around the home, as well as making it smell great.

PEPPERMINT

We may love the minty clean smell of Peppermint, but the bugs don’t. It is a natural insecticide that can repel and kill flies, mosquitoes, ants, spiders, fleas, and even mice.

Mix 5 drops with water in a spray bottle and use it on yourself, and around the home. As with Tea Tree Oil, you can also put a few drops of Peppermint Oil onto cotton balls and place them where you’ve seen the bugs.

EUCALYPTUS

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Everyone knows Eucalyptus Oil is great for relieving cold and flu symptoms, but it is also a very effective insect repellent. Research shows that this pungent oil is more effective against sand flies than any other natural product.

As with the other oils, you can make your own spray by adding a few drops to water. Not only will this keep the biters away from you but, when sprayed on plants, it will also get rid of mites, aphids, whiteflies and earwigs.

LAVENDER OIL

Of course Lavender Oil is on the list – because it is one of the most useful and versatile essential oils in the world.

Lavender has been used as a natural bug repellent for hundreds of years. It will keep mozzies away from you, and moths out of your linen. It will also work against flies, fleas, and black beetles.

To make a body spray, mix a few drops of Lavender Oil with a good quality carrier oil, such as Grapeseed. Spray onto exposed skin at regular intervals.

It is really important to use only 100% Essential Oils, not diluted or blended oils. Only pure oils have the ability to repels insects and treat bites.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
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