What Essential Oils Keep Bugs Away? Our Favorite Picks

Essential oils offer an aromatic and plant-based way to enjoy your space, especially during warm months when bugs seem to make an appearance in every corner. 

While not a replacement for professional pest control, many people turn to essential oils for their vibrant scents and ability to help maintain a more enjoyable environment, indoors and out.

How Scents Can Help Maintain a Bug-Free Space

Bugs, like humans, respond to sensory cues. Some strong, herbaceous, or citrusy scents found in essential oils may help keep bugs from lingering in specific areas. Oils with crisp, minty or citrus-forward notes are often used to create environments that feel clean, uplifting, and less inviting to insects.

People commonly use these oils around windowsills, doorways, patios, and bedding, not to harm bugs, but to encourage them to move along.

Let’s explore which oils are most frequently used for this purpose and how to incorporate them into your daily routines.

Top Essential Oils Often Used to Keep Bugs Away

If you’re hoping to keep your home and garden free of six-legged visitors, these are the best oils to consider:

1. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint essential oil has a sharp, cooling scent that many people find invigorating. It’s often used near entryways or diffused indoors as part of a seasonal home refresh blend, especially in the warmer months when bugs are more prevalent.

2. Lavender Oil

Lavender’s strong floral scent is thought to be  unappealing to many bugs. Some users add it to sachets, linen sprays, or even use a drop on their pillow to enjoy its aroma while minimizing bug disruptions.

3. Citronella Oil

Citronella oil is perhaps one of the best-known essential oils in outdoor bug-related products. The crisp, lemony scent is often added to patio candles, garden torches, and diffusers for outdoor gatherings.

4. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil has a sharp, medicinal aroma with cooling undertones. It is often diffused or added to spray blends for its clarifying scent, especially in spaces that tend to collect moisture, like bathrooms or laundry rooms.

5. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree’s herbal and slightly camphorous scent can make it useful in keeping your indoor spaces feeling clean and bug-free. Often used in homemade cleaning sprays or diluted with water as a surface refresher.

6. Cedarwood Oil

This rich, woodsy oil is often added to closets, drawers, or wool storage because its natural scent is thought to make those areas less desirable for moths and similar insects.

How to Use Essential Oils to Help Keep Bugs Away

There are several different options for how to use essential oils to keep bugs away, depending on your specific needs and preferences.

1. Diffusers

Adding a few drops of essential oil to a diffuser can freshen the air while subtly encouraging bugs to steer clear. You can rotate oils depending on the time of day; for example, you can try peppermint during daylight hours and lavender in the evening.

2. DIY Room or Linen Sprays

Combine essential oils with distilled water in a spray bottle (around 10–15 drops per cup of water) and spritz around windows, entryways, and common gathering areas. These sprays are especially popular before hosting outdoor dinners or relaxing in the garden.

3. Candles and Outdoor Use

Soy or beeswax candles made with essential oils like citronella, lavender, or eucalyptus are commonly used outdoors for their mood-setting scents and ability to create a less bug-friendly environment.

4. Cotton Balls or Sachets

Place a few drops of oil on cotton balls or fabric sachets and tuck them into drawers, corners, or pantry spaces. Cedarwood and peppermint are particularly popular for this purpose.

5. Essential Oil Rollers

If you're heading outdoors, you can dilute essential oils with a carrier oil and apply them to your wrists, ankles, and neck. Lavender and citronella are both popular choices for those looking for a light scent that complements a summer evening.

Best Essential Oil Combinations

Looking to blend for a stronger effect or better scent? We’ve got you covered.

• Peppermint + Lavender – Refreshing and tranquil
  

• Lemongrass + Citronella + Tea Tree – Zesty and bright
  

• Eucalyptus + Cedarwood – Earthy, grounding, and clean
  

• Lavender + Lemon + Tea Tree – Fresh and uplifting
  

Just remember, essential oils are powerful, so a little goes a long way. Test any blends first and avoid direct skin contact without proper dilution.

Tips for Using Essential Oils Safely

To make sure you’re using your essential oils safely while deterring bugs, keep these tips in mind:

• Dilute Before Use: Essential oils should always be diluted before applying to the skin.
  

• Patch Test First: Test any blend on a small area of skin to check for sensitivities.
  

• Keep Away from Pets: Some oils are not safe for cats, dogs, or birds. Always consult with a vet before diffusing around animals.
  

• Use in Moderation: Start with a few drops and add more only if needed.
  

• Store in a Cool, Dark Place: Keep oils tightly sealed and out of direct sunlight to maintain freshness.

What Essential Oils Keep Bugs Away? Final Summary

If you’re wondering what essential oils keep bugs away, the answer often comes down to strong, crisp scents like citronella, peppermint, and lavender. These oils won’t replace full pest-control solutions, but they may help create an environment that’s less attractive to uninvited insect guests, while also making your home or garden smell wonderful.

Try experimenting with your favorite oils and blends to find what works best for your space and your senses.