Natural Remedies Against Insects

Summer brings with it many joys: sunny days, evenings spent outdoors, picnics and backyard barbecues. However, there is one nuisance that can ruin all this pleasure: insects. Flies, ants, mosquitoes and other insects can turn a pleasant day outdoors into an irritating and unpleasant experience. But fear not, because there are natural and effective solutions to protect yourself from these little creatures without having to resort to harmful chemicals or pesticides.

In nature, scents play an important role in attracting or repelling creatures of various sizes. In our homes, we can use specific scents to keep unwanted visitors away, encouraging them to settle somewhere else.

Everyone loves to feel good and cozy in their home, including bugs, and certain scents keep them from doing so. That's why essential oils are so helpful, and they don't kill anything, which is a nice change from many insecticides that not only kill the bug but also bring unwelcome chemicals into our homes. That's not to say that chemicals don't have their uses; sometimes, a bug infestation can be so bad that you have no choice but to eliminate them completely (sorry, bugs).

So, addressing the problem as soon as it occurs prevents the insects from multiplying, which usually happens very quickly.

Many insects have very short lifespans and, like tourists, come and go at particular times of the year in waves. One week our house is infested with wasps, the next week it’s spiders. Since we can gather so much information about their movements, what they like and don’t like, with a little planning it’s pretty easy to make sure they run away and bother someone else. Of course, there are many different species of insects and they will all have different likes and dislikes for different aromas. So, experiment until you find out which essential oil works best against your particular unwanted visitors.

These are some of the most useful essential oils against insects :

• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata/globulus)
• Lavender (lavandula angustifolia)
• Cinnamon (cinnamomum zeylanicum)
• Lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus)
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
• Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus/flexuosus)
• Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
• Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)
• Black pepper (Piper nigrum)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
• Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)
• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
• Tea tree (Malaleuca alternifolia)
• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
• Sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. dolce)

Use them in all the usual methods for environments, or focus your attention on the points from which the infesting insects enter, usually doors and windows. To prevent insects from entering the house, prepare strips of paper (using for example kitchen paper) or cut cotton ribbons , apply 1 drop of essential oil to each and hang them in strategic positions, but always away from direct sunlight and heat sources. In addition, this method perfumes the rooms.

The aromas that keep moths away are vetiver , lavender , cedar , peppermint , lemongrass , citronella and citrus essences in general.

Flies and mosquitoes dislike vetiver , eucalyptus , geranium , patchouli , and lavender . Additionally, flies try to avoid basil , cloves , citronella , lemongrass , peppermint , and eucalyptus . If flies tend to gather around garbage cans, both inside and outside your home, you may want to use one of these essential oils when you wash them.
Mosquitoes are also annoyed by the scent of palo santo .

One of the most effective insect repellants is neem oil , which however does not have a particularly pleasant smell. Neem is a very effective essential oil for repelling all types of insects, but it is best used outdoors - in the garage or shed - since its aroma can be a deterrent for insects as well as for people!

The following blends will do a great job of keeping most bugs out of your window. Mix the essential oils together and use them in a spray or any other room method. You can also simply put the essential oil on cotton pads , which you can place in the most discreet corners of the room.

For general prevention against insects :

Mix 1:

Eucalyptus 20 drops
Basil 10 drops
Lavender 10 drops
Geranium 5 drops
Mint 5 drops

Mix 2:

Lemongrass 10 drops
Mint 3 drops
Lavender 5 drops

Mix 3:

Eucalyptus 10 drops
Basil 5 drops
Cloves 3 drops
Lavender 5 drops

Ants enter your home like a tiny army determined to get where they want to go; convincing them to turn around and march elsewhere is a battle best fought with peppermint , eucalyptus , orange and catnip.

But be careful, because these essential oils, if used pure, can damage painted surfaces and wood floors. If the flooring is tile or concrete, the battle plan is simple: create a barrier using essential oils, especially at entry points. Other barrier methods could be chalk strips or chili pepper and mustard powder. The combination of chalk strips and peppermint essential oil has always worked well in many homes in the Mediterranean area. If there is no risk of causing damage to the surfaces, add essential oils to these powders.

(taken from The Big Book of Essential Oils )