The 11 Best Herbs And Spices To Repel Mosquitoes

Repel mosquitoes can become a difficult task. These small insects that feed on blood are, in some cases, quite dangerous since they can transmit serious diseases such as malaria, dengue or yellow fever, among others.

In addition, without going to that extreme, their bites are usually very uncomfortable because they generate annoying itching and allergic reactions that can take several hours to relieve.

They generally breed in stagnant water and unsanitary environments that can be close to homes. Therefore, it is important to reinforce hygiene measures and keep repellants on hand.

While there are several options available on the market, there are also natural solutions to repel mosquitoes. Would you be interested in discovering them?

1. Garlic, to repel mosquitoes

Although it is believed that the strong aroma of garlic would serve to repel mosquitoes, these effects have not been corroborated by the studies carried out.

In 2000, a clinical trial was conducted, the results of which were published in JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association . It was observed that the group that had eaten garlic regularly had received fewer mosquito bites than the control group.

A later investigation, in 2005, also failed to establish a proven and direct relationship that endorses the use of garlic as a way to avoid bites. Either way, you don’t lose anything by trying this tip from grandma.

How to use?

• Crush a raw garlic and place it near the entry points of these insects.

2. Cinnamon to repel mosquitoes

The aroma of this spice is delicious to us, but apparently mosquitoes would hate it. In 2017, researchers evaluated the possible larvicidal effect of cinnamon essential oil ; The results suggested that certain concentrations of this essential oil would help to eliminate mosquito larvae.

How to use it?

• Put essential oil near the openings in your home. Another option? Dilute some cinnamon in hot water and place the mixture in a container near your living room or bedrooms.

3. Basil

After an extensive review of studies, the authors of an article published in the Malaria Journal concluded that the basil plant would provide some protection against mosquitoes capable of transmitting malaria and yellow fever.

By putting this plant at the entrance of the home, you can prevent different insects from entering the interior since the aroma it gives off would be annoying and keep them away.

How to use it?

• Put a small pot with basil in the entrance of the home or in the corners of the interior.
• If you want to repel them in the rooms, you can also use the dried leaves.

4. Thyme, an idea to repel mosquitoes

Thyme would be useful in the fight against these annoying critters that invade the house and garden. A 2002 animal study indicated that mice smeared with thyme essential oil were protected against mosquitoes for a few hours.

For this reason, it is believed that both thyme essential oil and its leaves and seeds could be used to combat the spread of diseases in the long term.

How to use?

• Burn some thyme seeds and let the vapors dissipate through the different rooms.

5. Mint

The refreshing scent of peppermint wouldn’t be to the liking of these little bugs either, according to data from the Malaria Journal article mentioned above. Thanks to its properties, its essential oil would help protect the skin from bites.

How to use it?

• Make sure you have the plant in your garden and keep another one in the kitchen as well.
• Use its sheets for small spaces, like bedrooms.

6. Cloves to repel mosquitoes

Did you know that the experts determined in 2014 that the methanolic extract of cloves has a repellent activity? This would keep pesky mosquitoes away.

How to use them?

• Put a few cloves on a small plate and burn them to give off their strong aroma.
• Next, tie several nails with string and attach it to the front door.

7. Herbs to repel mosquitoes: rosemary

Both the plant and the essential oil of this bush are valued in natural medicine for their properties. Among them, its repellent potential stands out , which would last up to 8 hours and was verified by the specialists who carried out the study entitled Effectiveness of plant-based repellents against different Anopheles species: a systematic review .

How to use?

• To repel mosquitoes  and keep them away from your skin, apply a little essential oil to exposed areas.

• If you want to remove them from your home, burn a few dry leaves or prepare a concentrated infusion.

8. Citronella

This herb is characterized by having a delicious lemon aroma that, for insects, would be unpleasant, as seen in the positive results of a 2013 study. For this reason, it is possible to find different anti-mosquito products on the market that include it .

How to use it?

• Place a few branches of the grass in the corners of the rooms.
• Also, you can prepare an infusion with its leaves and let the vapors dissipate throughout all areas of your house.

9. Repel mosquitoes with black pepper

The pungent and strong fragrance of black pepper would kill pesky mosquitoes entering a room. In fact, the journal Parasides & Vectors maintains that black pepper shows a larvicidal potential against mosquitoes that transmit malaria.

How to use it?

• Roast some black peppercorns and put them in various corners of the bedroom.

10. Eucalyptus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the use of eucalyptus oil as a repellent against mosquitoes. This is because eucalyptus leaves give off such a strong aroma that it would immediately repel pesky mosquitoes and insects.

How to use them?

• Burn several eucalyptus leaves and let the smoke dissipate in the room.
• If you prefer, boil several leaves in a pot of water and use the vapors as a repellent.

11. Laurel to repel mosquitoes

The mild smell of laurel does not bother us, but the grandmothers say that for insects and mosquitoes it would be very annoying, like the previous products.

How to use?

• Crush several bay leaves and spread the resulting powder in the areas most frequented by the bugs.

Forget mosquitoes with natural options

Although, as we have already pointed out, there is no 100% reliable data on the efficacy of the proposed alternatives, as they are not topical remedies, you can try them without risk.

Now that you know several homemade alternatives to insecticides, feel free to use them every time these bugs try to colonize your home. We are sure that they will be of great help to you!