Does Lavender Repel Mosquitoes?

If you’ve learned about natural ways to repel mosquitoes, you’ve probably seen that certain plants and essential oils can be effective. That said, not every plant or essential oil actually works.

We’re here to break down the most popular (and scientifically proven!) plants that repel mosquitoes. Our focus today? Lavender. Learn more about whether or not lavender repels mosquitoes here!

Does Lavender Repel Mosquitoes?

The short answer? Yes! Lavender is highly effective at repelling mosquitoes. According to a 2019 scientific study, lavender essential oil showed an 80% repellent rate against mosquitoes and was effective for up to eight hours. Another study from 2009 found that linalool’s repellent rate was 58% outdoors and 93% indoors.

The long answer? The form of the plant matters, such as whether you’re using a freshly-grown lavender plant or essential oils.

There are many different methods you can use to repel mosquitoes, such as spraying your clothes with DEET or buying mosquito-proof clothing, however, that involves the use of potentially harmful chemicals.

While those methods work, lavender is also an effective and natural way to keep mosquitoes away.

Why Does Lavender Repel Mosquitoes?

Lavender is a fragrant plant that’s a member of the mint family. It’s beautiful, easy to grow, and has plenty of health benefits. Lavender contains a large amount of a compound called linalool. Linalool is responsible for lavender’s strong smell. DEET is an effective mosquito repellent because it overwhelms the insect’s sense of smell, which is also what happens when mosquitoes catch a whiff of lavender.

While this scent is appealing to people, mosquitoes hate it! Because of this scent, it also repels other insects such as fleas, ticks, and moths.

How to Use Lavender to Repel Mosquitoes

Getting rid of mosquitoes naturally isn’t as hard as you think it might be, and lavender is one of the most effective ways to do so! There are a few different ways lavender can be used to repel mosquitoes. The two main ways are growing fresh lavender plants and using lavender essential oil.

Grow Lavender Plants

Growing lavender plants is a great way to get rid of mosquitoes at home!

You can plant lavender seeds in your yard or purchase potted lavender plants to place on your patio or balcony! Lavender grows best in areas with lots of sunlight, and it’s a beautiful addition to any backyard space.

Use Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is also effective at repelling mosquitoes! As mentioned above, studies have shown that lavender essential oil has an 80% repellent rate against mosquitoes. This is much more effective than citronella oil and camphor oil. Plus, it’s safe to use topically!

To use lavender essential oil as a natural mosquito repellent, you’ll need to dilute it with a carrier oil. A good rule of thumb is to use about 1-2 drops of lavender oil for every ounce of carrier oil. (Some of our favorite carrier oils are coconut oil and avocado oil!) Then, you can rub it on your skin before you go outside to keep mosquitoes away from you.

In addition to keeping insects away, lavender oil has many health benefits including treating anxiety, helping to stop mosquito bites from itching, and even fighting insomnia.

Make Lavender Spray

Instead of purchasing mosquito repellent spray that contains potentially harmful chemicals, you can make your own spray using lavender oil! Spray this oil on yourself or on your clothes to keep mosquitoes away from you!

Here’s how:

• Add about 30-40 drops of lavender essential oil to a spray bottle
• Fill the rest of the spray bottle up with water. You’ll want to keep it at about 20% oil to 80% water dilution for the most effective spray possible.

Other Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

While lavender is a great option for keeping mosquitoes away, there are other plants that repel mosquitoes. Mosquito-repelling plants include:

• Citronella
• Basil
• Marigold
• Thyme
• Lemon
• Mint

While these plants have been proven to repel mosquitoes, lavender, catnip, and citronella are among the most effective. You can also use essential oils from these plants to keep mosquitoes away from you, whether you use them topically or with an oil diffuser!

Try Mosquito Magician’s Mosquito Repellent

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