Mosquito bites are annoying, and they can also be dangerous. If you get bitten by a mosquito that carries a disease like malaria or Zika, your next few days may include fever, flu-like symptoms, and other unpleasant side effects. But there’s good news: Eucalyptus oil may be able to keep those bloodsuckers away from you.
How effective is eucalyptus oil for mosquito repellent?
If you’ve been searching for a natural mosquito repellent, you might have come across eucalyptus oil as a remedy. Unfortunately, while eucalyptus oil is great at repelling other insects like ticks and fleas, it doesn’t work well on mosquitoes.
A recent study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration found that applying eucalyptus oil to your skin can actually attract mosquitoes and make them bite more frequently. This may be because of the scent or because of its chemical composition (the same study found that some chemicals in the oil can react with your sweat).
Does eucalyptus oil repel ants?
Eucalyptus oil is not effective at repelling ants.
While it’s true that eucalyptus oil can kill ants when applied to their bodies, the amount of time required to use it in this way makes it impractical. Ants and other insects are sensitive to the smell of eucalyptus oil, so they will actively avoid coming into contact with it and trying to run away from its odor as soon as possible (1). However, since eucalyptus oil has a very strong scent and takes some time for the insects’ nervous systems to pick up on this odor, there’s no guarantee that they won’t be harmed by ingesting small amounts of the substance while they’re trying to escape. This means that while most people who use eucalyptus oil probably don’t have any major issues with cockroaches or fleas getting into their homes (2), using this product will make these critters less likely than normal ones would be able to come near you because they won’t want anything having anything do with your home either!
Does Corymbia citriodora oil work to kill mosquitoes?
You know what makes me happy? The idea that I can keep my family safe from mosquitoes without having to resort to chemicals.
I’m also a big fan of plants, so I’m always on the lookout for ways to make my home more sustainable. And if it happens to look good in the process, even better!
So when I heard about eucalyptus oil and its ability to repel mosquitoes, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, science has found this claim isn’t entirely accurate:
Does thyme oil repel mosquitoes?
- Does thyme oil repel mosquitoes?
It’s a resounding “no”. In fact, applying thyme oil to the skin won’t even have any effect on ants or flies, let alone mosquitoes. It also has no impact on fleas or bed bugs.
Conclusion
With all that in mind, we’re confident that eucalyptus oil will work well as a mosquito repellent. It has been tested extensively, and most people find it to be an effective product for keeping insects away from their skin. If you want to try this out for yourself, the best place to start is with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil. You can then add ten drops of eucalyptus essential oil into the mixture and rub it on your body before going outside—especially if you are planning on traveling somewhere tropical!
