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T (Maryland, USA) on 08/24/2012
5 out of 5 stars

Beautyberry, coconut oil and lavender to repel mosquitos...

We have a huge mosquito problem here, and thanks to the invasion of aggressive Asian Tiger mosquitoes here about 10 years ago, we get attacked all day as well as night. I don't want to be slathering on chemicals but protection is a necessity to enjoy any time in the yard. I've read of various concoctions using a variety essential oils, but didn't have any of the listed ones on hand. In desperation I added about 10 drops of lavender essential oil to a small jar filled with VCO. We dip our fingers in the jar and rub the oil on any exposed skin and around the back of the neck to help keep them away from the face. So far it seems to be doing the trick, and of course the VCO is also a nice skin treatment :)

I'm looking to get some beautyberry bushes to plant as I've just read that they are a great repellent - you can crush the leaves and rub them on and it's apparently as effective as DEET. It also is 100% effective against ticks. In the meantime, my lavender/VCO mixture is definitely helping. I've also seen the info in spraying Listerine around the yard and that does seem to help as well.

REPLY   7      

Replied By Jennifer (St Paul, Mn) on 09/14/2012

I have been using virgin coconut oil on my skin this summer simply because it makes my skin feel great. Recently I watched mosquitos hover around my arms and legs and then fly away. Everyone sitting on the patio with me was complaining about the mosquitos and they were not bothering me at all. I used to be mosquito repellent for everyone else!
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Replied By Phil (Sydney, Australia) on 10/12/2012

I have found that a dab of Lavender Oil on a mossie bite removes the itch within about 2 - 5 minutes. I used it on my children to prevent them from scratching until they break the skin then leaving marks.

The downside is the smell. I noticed that mossies tend to stay away after application as well.

I have told many people of this who were using creams. Many disbelieved until they tried it. Now they don't use anything else.

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Replied By Zark (Emerald City, The Land of Oz) on 01/25/2023

Lavender oil worked great for treating itchy mosquito bites. Thanks! Worked very fast and more effective than Calamine lotion :) Wife, son and myself were all bitten by the blighters.
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Replied By Rob (Kentucky) on 05/17/2025

LAVENDER OIL – RELIEF FROM FLIES AND MOSQUITOES.

Source: Practical nursing, p. 154, By Louise Henderson · 1919

Pour into an atomizer half a teaspoonful of lavender oil. Add to this as much alcohol as will make a saturated solution. Use as a spray. Sweet clover hung about the room will banish flies and mosquitoes. The drier the clover becomes, the more effectual it is.

Note: Lavender oil contains linalool, a compound that has insect-repelling properties. Studies have shown that lavender oil is effective against various types of flies, including house flies, fruit flies, and mosquitoes. The scent of lavender oil is unpleasant to mosquitoes, deterring them from biting. Studies have shown that lavender oil can be effective in repelling mosquitoes for up to 8 hours.

Sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) is a plant that can act as a mosquito repellent due to its strong, citrus-like scent, which mosquitoes find unpleasant. The scent, especially when the leaves are crushed, releases citronella oil, a natural insect deterrent. Sweet clover can be used as a natural repellent in various ways, including growing it in gardens, using crushed leaves, or placing dried flowers indoors

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