Home - Garden
Repel Mosquitoes From Your Outdoor Space With This Household Essential
By ETHAN HARRISON SMITH
Mosquitoes can make it hard to relax and enjoy your outdoor space. One way to keep your family safe from disease-carrying pests is by using an essential oil diffuser on your patio.
Certain essential oils, particularly when used in a diffuser, can help deter mosquitoes by overwhelming their senses. Find the best diffuser with settings that fit your needs.
It may be helpful to choose a diffuser that has a timer and an auto switch-off feature. Consider getting one that's portable and battery-operated so it can be easily used outdoors.
Think carefully about where you'll place the diffuser and the size needed to cover the size of your patio. A larger unit will take up space but will need to be changed less often.
Add water to the tank's fill line, then add 5 to 10 drops of your chosen essential oil. Once the unit is on, the oils will diffuse, fill the air, and help repel mosquitoes.
As for oils, citronella is popular, but it has a repellence rate of only 68%. Linalool has a repellance rate of 93% as is found in coriander, petitgrain, basil, and lavender oils.
Geraniol is a natural compound found in many essential oils, including rose, geranium, palmarosa, and lemon. It is the most effective of the three with a 97% repellence rate.