Clove, peppermint, thyme, rosemary, and citronella oil are just a few essential oils that can help keep bugs away.
Those most closely associated with repellency are citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, and catnip oil, but others include clove oil, patchouli, peppermint, and geranium.
Lavender has a pleasant scent that comes from the essential oils in the leaves of the plant, but the bugs hate it. Hang some dried lavender in your closet and you won't have to worry about moths eating your clothes.
EUCALYPTUS. 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.
Mint. Mint is yet another fragrant herb that has pest-fighting properties. According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, menthol, the active insect-fighting ingredient in mint and peppermint oil, has biocidal properties that help repel and control mites, mosquitoes and various other pests.
Heavily scented soaps, perfumes, hair care products and lotions attract bugs as well as woods and standing water.
Aromatherapy diffusers are fantastic at diluting essential oils into the air over time. Not only do they give off a great scent and are easy to prepare, they are also a great tool for deterring bugs (similar to bug repellent candles).
Clove, peppermint, thyme, rosemary, and citronella oil are just a few essential oils that can help keep bugs away.
Spiders really don't like strong scents such as citrus, peppermint, tea-tree, lavender, rose or cinnamon. Add 15 to 20 drops of your chosen essential oil or a couple of capfuls of Zoflora fragrance to a spray bottle filled with water, and spritz around the house.
Smells that roaches hate: a quickfire summary
Oregano, rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and catnip are great herby options. Citrus oils work brilliantly too. And surprisingly, lower concentrations – 2.5 parts per hundred – seem to work best as deterrents. Just don't bother with lavender.
While peppermint is generally a bug repellent, there are some types of insects that are actually attracted to the smell of mint and/or mint plants. The really neat thing is that the insects mint attracts are actually beneficial!
Tea tree oil helps in repelling bed bugs successfully as the smell encourages the pest to leave the area. Once they smell it, they will instantly run away. The essential oil not only makes an annoying odor for them, but it can also affect their exoskeleton.
Cinnamon is considered a natural bug repellent because "insects and other pests don't like the smell of cinnamon, nor are they fond of its powdered texture," explains pest control expert Natalie Barrett.
Repel Ticks, Bugs and Mosquitos
Many attribute the oils in Vicks in helping to prevent bug bites and ticks from latching themselves onto the skin. Vicks VapoRub contains cedarleaf oil, a mild pesticide which may actually repel insects.
1. Lavender. Not only is lavender beautiful and fragrant, but it is known to repel mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and moths.
Deter Insects
We may be fans of Vicks, but insects decidedly are not. Dab a bit on your arms, legs, neck, or other areas of exposed skin to keep bugs (including mosquitoes) at bay, however, it is not as effective at preventing bites as a commercial insect repellant.
We love the smell of lavender candles and soaps but, as it turns out, mosquitoes can't stand it. Lavender candles are easy to come by and make your home or garden smell great. Burn a lavender-scented candle to make your air more pleasant while making it intolerable to these biting pests.
It is effective against a wide variety of pests, including but not limited to flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. Its distinctive odor drives away some insects, while preventing others from identifying a host. Candles made of Citronella oil work effectively to repel mosquitoes and insects when burned in the immediate area.
The lemon scent, which repels the bugs, is powerful. It rubs off very well onto the skin. Lemon balm repels mosquitoes and gnats.
In short, they hate these natural essences. Peppermint in particular has a strong scent bed bugs can't take. Spraying an ample amount of diluted peppermint around your bedframe or mattress can help keep bed bugs at bay while you're enjoying your well deserved sleep.
Chrysanthemums. This might be the best plant to deter bugs. Ants, Japanese beetles, roaches, bed bugs, spider mites, silverfish, and ticks will stay away if you have some of these around. Some bug repellents use an ingredient in this flower because of how effective it is.
Rosemary is an herb that many of us are very familiar with and their woody scent is exactly what keeps mosquitoes as well as cabbage moths and carrot flies away. They do best in hot and dry climates and thrive in containers, which may be ideal for areas with winters.