The Best Essential Oils For Keeping Bugs At Bay + How To Use Them

Bug bites may be a cost of entry to summertime outings, but that doesn't make them any less annoying. While repellents containing DEET or picaridin will provide the most protection from hungry insects, certain essential oils also help keep bugs at bay—and smell pretty great doing it.

Plants have evolved to emit fragrant compounds that offer some level of protection from insect attacks. These are preserved during the distillation process, so any high-quality essential oil will also contain them.

"Essential oils all comprise multiple chemical constituents with names like geraniol, citronellol, citronellal, and linalool. Studies are sparse on individual components, but some (like geraniol and vetiverol) are more active against insects than others1," Villafranco explains.

Some commonly available essential oils that are often used to keep bugs at bay include lemongrass2, citronella3, and geranium4, says Villafranco. Mint5, basil6, and turmeric7 are also skin-safe oils that have been researched for their repellent properties.

Lathering up in any combination of these scents will make you less attractive to hungry critters. Villafranco recommends using body oils as opposed to alcohol-based sprays, which don't hold the essential oils on the skin for as long. Either way, you'll want to make sure that any spray or oil you buy or DIY comes from a trusted EO source, as certain oils can really irritate (or even damage) the skin if they're not properly diluted, especially when exposed to sunlight.

Experts caution against using essential oils and DIY remedies as your only form of bug protection—especially if you're in an area with known insect-borne diseases or doing a higher-risk activity like hiking, camping, or working with animals.

As one 2011 review4 on plant-based insect repellents concludes, "Repellents containing only essential oils in the absence of an active ingredient such as DEET should not be recommended as repellents for use in disease endemic areas."

Instead, Villafranco adds, "If you're in an area where there's a concern for mosquito transmission of Zika virus, dengue virus, or malaria, this tool by the EPA9 can be helpful for choosing an effective repellent."