10 Natural Mosquito Repellents that Actually Work

June 5, 2026

Lavender from my garden I discovered my impressive mosquito-enticing capabilities when I was fourteen. Earlier in my childhood, I had the occasional run-in with the annoying little pests but it wasn’t until I took a trip with family friends into one of the many heavily forested areas of British Columbia, that I discovered my hidden talent.

We stopped in a small town in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and decided to enjoy the hotel’s indoor hot tub, which was only steps from our rooms. Afterward, I made a mad dash outside back to the room where I was staying, which took no longer than thirty seconds. When I entered my room, I had 14 mosquito bites, while all of the people with whom I travelled had been left untouched. I averaged one bite for every two seconds outdoors!

Since the discovery of my intense attractiveness to the microscopic vampires, I have been on a personal mission to learn what makes some people so desirable to mosquitoes, as well as to find repellents that actually work to keep them at bay.

I learned that mosquitoes are attracted to a wide variety of factors, including: body heat, skin moisture level and the presence of certain microorganisms, carbon dioxide from breath, and over 270 different compounds such as ketoglutaric acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, ammonia, acetone, among others.

The Chemical Options

Most of the mosquito repellents on the market contain a chemical compound known as DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide). While they are widely used to repel mosquitoes, research in the Journal of Neurochemistry found that DEET-based products may be linked to neurological disorders and nerve degeneration. Other products may contain a compound known as picaridin, which is a synthetic compound similar to piperine found in black pepper. There hasn’t been a lot of research conducted on picaridin’s safety, although it was documented as causing vomiting, and eye pain and irritation. Other products may combine these chemical ingredients.

Natural Mosquito Repellents

Fortunately, there are many natural herbs that research demonstrates, when used in their concentrated essential oil form are equal to, or in some cases superior to, the chemical alternatives in their ability to keep the pesky critters at bay. Here are some of the best natural mosquito repellents from a self-proclaimed expert who has used her body as a proving ground of options (and which are documented in more scientifically valid and rigorous testing as well):

Ylang Ylang: Forget repellents that smell disgusting, this heavenly-scented essential oil really works and doesn’t smell like, well, bug spray! A study published in the journal Parasitology Research found that ylang ylang essential oil repelled 97.1 to 99.4% of various species of mosquitoes. Compare that to a study published in the Journal of Insect Science that showed the DEET-based insect repellents ranged from 52% to 98.11% effectiveness, depending on the product.

Lemon Eucalyptus: The same Journal of Insect Science study found that a product made up of lemon eucalyptus was equal to or outperformed most DEET-based insect repellents with its 91% repellency rate. Another study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found that lemon eucalyptus was highly effective at repelling mosquitoes. Check out "Today's Card" on the right side of this page to learn more about how lemon eucalyptus acts like an invisibility cloak preventing mosquitoes from locating you.

Lemongrass: Lemongrass is not just great in cooking, it shows potent mosquito repellent properties as well. According to a study published in the Journal of Vector Ecology, researchers found that lemongrass essential oil was highly effective against the species of mosquitoes it was tested against.

Marjoram: Also known as Turkish oregano, a study published in Natural Products Research, found that marjoram, was as effective as DEET-based insecticides at repelling mosquitoes. Incidentally, marjoram was also highly effective at repelling ticks, making it an excellent choice when you’re heading to wooded areas. While it is also called “Turkish oregano,” marjoram is not the same plant as the one we know as oregano.

Eucalyptus: Used primarily to clear the sinuses during sinus infections or cold and flu season, eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus globulus, specifically) demonstrated mosquito repellent activity for up to one and a half hours after application in a study published in Parasitology Research.

Vetiver: According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology, researchers found that vetiver essential oil exhibited potent mosquito-repelling properties. Earlier research even found that vetiver was as or more effective than DEET-based insecticides used to repel mosquitoes. It repelled more than 95% of a particular species of mosquito.

Neem: Research published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found that two percent of neem oil mixed in coconut oil as a carrier oil is effective against mosquitoes for twelve hours before it needed to be reapplied.

Catnip: The plant universally loved by cats seems to be hated by mosquitoes. The Journal of Vector Ecology study found that catnip showed mosquito repellent results equivalent to DEET and other chemical insecticides against some species of mosquitoes while it demonstrated superior effectiveness to the chemical-based products against other species. Catnip essential oil may be challenging to find but planting catnip in areas where you spend time outdoors, such as around a patio, may also be helpful to ward off the bugs.

Citronella: Research in the journal Current Drug Discovery Technologies found that pure citronella essential oil is highly effective at repelling mosquitoes. Most of the citronella products are synthetic versions of citronella. Be sure to choose a natural option.

Lavender: While most people love the floral fragrance of lavender, it appears that mosquitoes do not share this love. Research in Malaria Journal found that a 20% concentration of lavender oil repelled over 80% of mosquitoes for around eight hours.

To use the essential oils above you’ll need to dilute them in a carrier oil like sweet almond, fractionated coconut, or apricot kernel oil. Higher potencies of the active ingredients yielded superior repellent properties in the research but you’ll need to balance that with your skin’s tolerance as well. Studies typically found that a 5% solution (about 60 drops of essential oil in one ounce or 30 mL of carrier oil) yielded excellent results; however, start with a 2% solution which is about 24 drops of essential oil in 30 mL of carrier oil and gradually build up after you’ve confirmed that your skin can tolerate it. Ideally, conduct a test patch test on the inside of your wrist and wait at least 48 hours before using more extensively.

Some or all of these ingredients may also be found in pre-formulated mosquito repellents in many health food stores. This article first appeared in French in Vitalité Québec magazine.

Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD is an award-winning, best-selling, and 25-time published author, whose books include: The Cancer Files, 60 Seconds to Slim, Pain Erasers, and The Ultimate pH Solution. She is the recipient of a Gold Foreword Indies and a Silver Nautilus award. Her work has been featured in Woman’s World, WebMD, Reviews.com, Yahoo!, Yoga Magazine, and Mother Earth News. Her book, Pain Erasers, was selected by Woman’s World as the “Best New Book.” She is the publisher of the popular free newsletter at DrMichelleCook.com. Follow me on: https://Facebook.com/drschoffrocook https://Instagram.com/mschoffrocook https://X.com/mschoffrocook. If you found this information helpful, consider buying me a coffee.