Some essential oils have a scent that is very unpleasant to mosquitoes.
The fearsome tiger mosquito is active both day and night. It has the particularity of being smaller than its peers and flying silently, which makes its presence difficult to detect. In general, the bite of the tiger mosquito causes more intense itching than that of other mosquitoes. To avoid being bitten, there is nothing like essential oils, known for their repellent properties!This is the case for those which contain specific molecules such as geraniol, geranial and citronellal. immediately poses Dr Aude Maillard, pharmacist specializing in scientific and medical aromatherapy. They have a scent that is very unpleasant to mosquitoes. Where can we find them?
- Geraniol is concentrated in palmarosa essential oil. This oil can be used for skin application (diluted with a vegetable oil) or diffused.
- Geranial is particularly present in lemongrass essential oil. Fresh and lemony, this oil has a very pleasant scent. It is very effective in repelling mosquitoes and other biting insects. It can be used for skin application (diluted with a vegetable oil) or diffused.
- Geranial is also present in lemongrass essential oil, if you prefer. Anti-inflammatory, antifungal, lemongrass oil is the one we immediately think of to repel mosquitoes. It can be used for skin application (diluted with a vegetable oil) or diffused.
- Citronellal is available in lemon eucalyptus essential oil. Renowned for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, lemon eucalyptus essential oil also proves to be a formidable anti-mosquito weapon. It can be used for skin application (diluted with a vegetable oil) or diffused.
Geranium essential oil is also very repellent to insects, tiger mosquitoes or not, but you have to love its smell….
Dr Aude Maillard offers us a synergy of essential oils to increase the effectiveness of each essential oil taken separately. In a 100ml bottle, pour 2ml of geranium HE, 2ml of lemon eucalyptus HE, 1 ml of palmarosa HE, 1ml of lemongrass HE then complete with jojoba vegetable oil to the top of the bottle. “Essential oils must be diluted in jojoba vegetable oil which is not too oily but which still leaves a film on the skin, which will allow better persistence of the essential oils on the surface of the skin” indicates the aromatologist. This synergy should be applied every 2 hours to exposed areas. It is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as children under 7 years old.
Thanks to Dr Aude Maillard, pharmacist specializing in scientific and medical aromatherapy, author of the Grand guide to aromatherapy (Ed. J’ai Lu)