Natural Mosquito Repellent
Natural mosquito repellent may appeal to people who would prefer to use more natural methods of keeping biting mosquitoes away.
Nowadays manufacturers are aware that not everyone is keen to put chemical products such as DEET mosquito repellent on their skin.
The result has been a selection of effective natural mosquito repellents making their way onto the market that are based on more natural substances.
Lemon Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil, an essential oil extracted from the leaves of eucalyptus trees, has natural mosquito repellent properties. Lemon eucalyptus oil (extracted from the eucalyptus plant Eucalyptus citriodora) is found in some spray mosquito repellents, the active ingredient of which is known as PMD (p-menthane 3,8-diol).
Mosi Guard Natural is also an effective natural insect repellent. It contains Citriodiol®, extracted from lemon eucalyptus trees, and is proven to be as effective as DEET in repelling biting insects. It is suitable for use in areas where there is a high risk of malaria.
Other Ingredients in Natural Mosquito Repellents
Here are some other ingredients in natural mosquito repellents to look out for:
- Citronella oil - Citronella oil, an essential oil of Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon), is a widely recognised natural mosquito repellent. It is a common ingredient in mosquito repellent sprays and in scented candles.
- Neem - Neem is derived from the Neem tree. Neem is also known as Margosa extract, which is found in MozzyOff Midge & Mosquito Repellent.
- Catnip oil - The essential oil, nepetalactone, extracted from the perennial herb Catnip (Nepeta cataria), has been found to be naturally good at repelling mosquitoes by researchers at Iowa State University. Catnip oil is available as a spray solution, and can be sprayed onto the skin.
- Soybean oil - Soybean oil is made from soybeans, and has been found to be a natural repellent against mosquitoes.
- Clove oil - Cloves are a popular spicy ingredient in Indian cuisine and have a very strong aroma. Studies have shown that clove oil, the essential oil extracted from cloves, is an effective natural mosquito repellent.
- Garlic - Many people believe that eating garlic helps to protect them from mosquito bites. Indeed, garlic is found in commercial sprays for treating gardens and other areas in order to keep insects away. Garlic does appear to have a repelling effect on mosquitoes, but it is unclear how much is required or the level of protection it will provide.
Not all natural mosquito repellents work on all species of mosquito, and such repellents may need to be reapplied more frequently than chemical mosquito repellents in order to be effective. If there is a risk of being bitten by a disease-carrying mosquito, choose an insect repellent carefully.