Does Peppermint Repel Mosquitoes?

  Sprinkler Magician
  July 29, 2021

If you know anything about natural mosquito repellents, it’s that scents such as lavender, basil, and eucalyptus are effective! But does peppermint repel mosquitoes? And how long does it last?

We did the research, and we’re here to answer your questions about natural mosquito repellents! Learn if peppermint plants and essential oils repel mosquitoes here.

Does Peppermint Repel Mosquitoes?

Yes ‒ peppermint, or Mentha piperita, repels mosquitoes when applied directly to the skin.

One study found that peppermint oil repelled 84-100% of mosquitoes, depending on the species. A few drops of peppermint oil are also an effective way to kill mosquito larvae in standing water.

Will Peppermint Keep Mosquitoes Away?

Yes, certain types of peppermint will keep mosquitoes away!

A study published in 2011 found that applying peppermint oil on one arm protected both arms from mosquito bites for up to three hours. Peppermint (in both its plant and essential oil forms) has also been found to be an effective repellent against mosquitoes, ants, and cockroaches.

Peppermint gets rid of mosquitoes, however, not all Mentha plants are created equally. Mentha pulegium, also known as pennyroyal, is highly toxic to humans ‒ even in small doses!

Why Does Peppermint Repel Mosquitoes?

The short answer? The smell of peppermint is a mosquito repellent!  Peppermint contains menthol, which produces a concentrated odor. Like other natural oil repellents, this causes mosquitoes to go “nose blind” to the wearer’s presence because it’s so overpowering to their senses! This means mosquitoes aren’t able to find humans to bite.

How Do You Use Peppermint to Repel Mosquitoes?

If you need to get rid of mosquitoes naturally, peppermint is one of your best options! You can use peppermint to repel mosquitoes in a few different ways, including growing peppermint plants, using peppermint essential oils, or making peppermint spray.

Grow Peppermint

Planting peppermint will keep mosquitoes away because of its fragrant smell! You can plant peppermint in your yard or purchase potted mint at your local nursery. In most cases, peppermint should be grown in a confined space, as the plant can become invasive if uncontrolled.

Peppermint leaves can also be crushed and rubbed on your skin to produce an effective mosquito repellent. Additionally, peppermint oil can stop mosquito bites from itching!

Peppermint Essential Oils

Applying peppermint oil topically is also effective for repelling mosquitoes. According to a 2019 scientific study, peppermint essential oil showed potent repellent rates against adult mosquitoes when applied to the skin. Solutions with 20% peppermint oil repelled 57% of mosquitoes, with a protection time of 6.5 hours.

While other essential oils, such as lavender and lemongrass, have also been proven to repel mosquitoes, peppermint has a longer protection time!

Can You Put Peppermint Oil On Your Skin to Repel Mosquitoes?

Yes! But if you’re applying peppermint oil to your skin, you’ll need to dilute it first. As a general rule, use 1-2 drops of peppermint essential oil for every ounce of carrier oil. Our go-to carrier oils are coconut oil and avocado oil.

Make Peppermint Spray

Natural spray is the best way to get rid of mosquitoes! In general, peppermint oil is enough to stop mosquitoes from biting you, so you won’t need a lot of ingredients! However, because peppermint oil is extremely potent, it should be diluted before you spray it. Also, if you can’t smell the peppermint, the solution probably isn’t strong enough!

Here’s how to make your own mosquito repellent:

  • Add 10-15 drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle
  • Fill the bottle with two cups of water

And that’s it! There are so many ways to use peppermint oil to repel mosquitoes. You can even put cotton pads in the solution and use them to get rid of mosquitoes around the house.

Plants That Naturally Repel Mosquitoes

While peppermint is effective at getting rid of mosquitoes, there are other mosquito-repelling plants you can use, including:

While each of these plants is proven to repel mosquitoes, they also work for killing mosquito larvae. Essential oils can be safely sprayed or dropped into standing water in your yard.

Try Our Mosquito Repellent

Ready to prevent mosquitoes from infesting your home? The end of mosquitoes begins with Mosquito Magician! Formulated to be an effective mosquito repellent, our Mosquito Magician concentrate is made up of several essential oils that are long lasting!