It has four volatile compounds that also help keep mosquitoes away (citronellal, limonene, nerolidol, and estragole).
You can use fresh basil to prepare a DIY insect-repellent spray. Combine four ounces of boiled water with four to six ounces of fresh basil leaves.
Leave the mixture to steep for several hours before you take out the leaves and squeeze all of the moisture out of the leaves into the liquid.
Add four ounces of vodka to the basil water. Mix and close well. Keep it in the fridge and apply it as an insect repellent on your skin when you’re going outside.
Lavender
Lavender may be one of our favorite aromas out there; however, mosquitoes, flies, and other insects dislike it a lot!
In fact, insect repellents with lavender essential oils are praised as having 80.9 percent repellency against the mosquito species A. stephensi.
You can also benefit from lavender’s insect-repelling properties by tying bouquets of lavender in the sunny parts of your garden or near areas where you’re spending time outside.
You can also apply lavender essential oil as an insect repellent for the skin. It will nourish and calm down the skin too.
Lemon thyme
This herb is great at repelling mosquitoes when crushed. It has 62 percent repellency of DEET.
Prepare the leaves by cutting off a few stems and rubbing them between your hands.
Another great way to ensure they protect you from insects is by burning several sprigs while preparing a barbecue or using the campfire.
You can also plant it in your garden: it’s a non-demanding plant that thrives in a sunny location and doesn’t require deep soil.
Lemongrass
Citronella is the natural oil present in lemongrass and it’s a popular natural insect repellent.
Citronella candles and insect-deterring products are therefore very popular. This ornamental can reach a height of up to four feet in one season only.
According to studies, its repellent effects against A. culicifacies, a mosquito species, are 100 percent.
Another lemongrass type that’s also a great insect repellent is citronella grass. Plant it in a pot or in the soil in an area that is sunny and well-draining to keep insects at bay.
Rosemary
The oils of rosemary are praised as highly effective in the fight against insects. You can make a natural repellent using a quart of dried rosemary combined with a quart of water and leave it to steep for half an hour.
Then, strain it into a container with a quart of cool water. Keep this repellent in the fridge and spray it on the exposed body parts before you go outside.
You can also grow it in pots or herb gardens and hang some sprigs near sitting areas.
