Tired of those pesky mosquitoes but wary of using chemical-based repellents? You would be happy to know that there are natural options out there - plants that repel mosquitoes. Here are some examples of plants that can help prevent mosquito bites.
Basil
Basil is an herb that is also known as a good pest repellent. It produces a pungent smell that insects hate. Mosquito Reviews noted that basil leaves provide up to 79% efficacy in repelling several species of mosquitos. Also, in a laboratory setting, basil oil proved to be 100% effective in deterring mosquitos.
However, they also noted that a 0.07% concentration is considered the safest threshold as far as minimizing the risk of exposure to a carcinogen called methyl eugenol.
According to Hunker, here are some ways to use basil as a mosquito repeller:
Crush some basil leaves and rub it onto the skin or clothing.
Cut some leaves and bruise the leaves before strewing them on your patio or porch.
Dry some basil leaves by hanging them by the stems or spreading them in a dry, dark place. Once fully dry, crush the leaves and put it in a fire-safe container designed for burning incense, before burning it.
Lavender
Lavender is another popular plant when it comes to insect repellant properties. The essential oil derived from lavender contains linalool. The scent produced by linalool overloads the mosquitos olfactory organs which helps keep them at bay. Mosquito Reviews noted a study that found that lavender oil has a 93% repellant rate against indoor mosquitos and 53% against outdoor mosquitos.
You can rub it on the skin and allow its natural oils to repel mosquitoes. Make sure that you avoid the eyes, nose, mouth, and other sensitive areas. You can also make your own bug spray repellant using lavender oil, the Popsugar way. What you need is a 3-ounce spray bottle, 30 - 40 drops of lavender essential oil, and 3 ounces of distilled water.
Simply add the essential oil to the spray bottle. Then fill the bottle with distilled water and put the nozzle back on before shaking the bottle.
Citronella grass
The citronella oil is a naturally occurring bug repellent that is derived from the stems of Cymbopogon nardus grass. The oil is obtained from the fresh or dried stems through a distillation process. The oil can be colorless or pale yellow in color and has a grassy or floral scent.
Citronella oil can be found as an ingredient in many products such as candles, sprays, and lotions. However, the plants alone would not be enough to produce that same insect-repelling effect as what the citronella candle or spray can do.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass, like citronella, also helps repel mosquitos primarily because of its scent. The strong scent coming from this grass blocks our own scent that attracts the mosquitos. The effect is, it helps us stay undetected by these annoying insects.
According to Mosquito Reviews, most users agree that the best way of using lemongrass as mosquito repellent is by crushing the leaves to extract the oil. The extract is then applied onto the skin which effect can last up to several hours. However, sweat can decrease the length of its effectivity. It is important, though, to evaluate first and make sure that you are not allergic to it.
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