When it comes to getting rid of bugs or pests, certain essential oils can act as deterrents. Whether you’re looking to create a skin-friendly bug deterrent blend or want a natural way to keep insects, mice, or rats out of your home or garden, our collection of essential oils for bugs offers what you need. We also offer expert advice on which of our custom bug-deterrent oils and blends are right for your home, garden, or personal needs.
With its sharp, minty scent, peppermint oil is frequently used to discourage rats from frequenting indoor and outdoor areas. Formulators often incl...
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Known for its crisp and cooling scent, peppermint oil is a go-to choice for creating a home environment that's less inviting to mice. Its strong na...
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Did you know that the smell of peppermint can help you keep spiders at bay? With its minty fresh scent, peppermint oil for spiders is effective at ...
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Peppermint oil is not only good at making your home smell clean, but its menthol and menthone components mean that ants don't like to be around it....
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Neem oil for plants is made from the seeds of the Neem tree, which is a plant that's native to India. It has a long history of being one of the bes...
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Neem oil comes from the seeds of the Neem tree, which is native to India; it's been used for a wide range of applications for thousands of years an...
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Peppermint oil offers a powerful, revitalizing scent that makes it a staple in DIY home care sprays and fabric fresheners, particularly in areas li...
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Lavender oil is known for its floral aroma, but it's also a popular ingredient in natural household blends aimed at freshening up bedding and linen...
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Tea tree oil is a versatile essential oil with a sharp scent, often used in household cleaning sprays and linen sprays to promote a fresh, clean fe...
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If you want to add an uplifting aroma to your home or property and keep carpenter bees away, citrus oil is a good choice. Its tangy smell is potent...
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The most potent essential oils for bug control contain eugenol, citronellal, and geraniol. These aromas are known to keep bugs away, including ants, flies, and mosquitoes. If you’re hoping to deter rodents like rats or mice, peppermint oil is a powerful choice for preventing pests from entering your home.
You should also consider whether or not you wish to add your essential oils into a candle, a cleaning mixture, or a lotion, as this can determine whether or not you choose certain fragrances. For example, lavender is a skin-friendly oil often used in bug-deterring personal sprays, while citronella essential oil is a popular choice for outdoor candles.
Choosing essential oils for bugs and pests doesn’t need to be confusing. Our answers to the most frequently asked questions about essential oils for bugs and pests, including mice and other rodents, can help you put your concerns to rest.
Essential oils can deter bugs and pests, as they generally avoid the compounds found in these oils. Essential oils are often used in commercial bug deterrent products as well as homemade bug and pest deterrents.
Peppermint essential oil is frequently recommended for pest-focused DIY blends due to its sharp, refreshing scent. Many people incorporate it into cleaning sprays or entryway treatments as part of their regular home care routines. Other oils may be layered for scent complexity, but peppermint is often the primary choice.
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils associated with rat deterrent routines. Its bold, cooling aroma is often used in cotton balls, sachets, or diluted sprays placed near entry points. These applications focus on scent-based environmental management rather than direct contact.
Peppermint essential oil is widely used in DIY methods intended to make spaces less appealing to mice. It’s commonly added to diluted sprays for baseboards, cupboards, and corners where activity is noticed. For best results, applications are typically refreshed regularly to maintain the scent presence.
To deter rats and mice from entering or staying in your home, you can apply cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil near doorways or in the corners of your rooms, as well as in attics, garages, and crawl spaces. Refresh the cotton balls every few days to keep protecting your home.
You always need to dilute essential oils before using them, especially if you are planning on using them on your skin. Mix your essential oils into a carrier oil, a homemade bug or pest deterring spray, or a basic lotion to apply on your skin. You should also always patch test essential oils (after combining them with a carrier oil) to make sure they don’t cause you any irritation.
You can use essential oils as a natural alternative to bug spray by mixing the essential oils into a spray (ideally with a carrier oil, water, or alcohol) to dilute them. Typically, you will need to reapply your bug spray a little more often than you would with a commercial bug spray that utilizes harsher chemicals.
Making a bug deterrent spray with essential oils is fortunately fairly easy. The exact amount and method depend on the type of essential oil you choose for deterring bugs. We offer a Ready to Use Blend for convenience, but also provide undiluted essential oils for those who prefer to make their own. Detailed DIY instructions are available on each product page - just scroll to the "Undiluted" section under your chosen oil.
The best place to put essential oils to deter bugs are the areas of your body where bugs are typically attracted to - think arms and legs. However, you should not use a bug deterring spray directly on your face, as the essential oils that are best for bug deterring are generally too potent for use on delicate face skin.
You could spray your essential oil bug deterrent spray on clothing or furniture to deter bugs, but we recommend making sure that the spray is fabric-safe before applying liberally. You shouldn’t use undiluted essential oils for this, and some homemade bug sprays could stain or ruin fabrics when applied. Burning a bug deterrent candle might be a better idea in some areas where you are worried about damaging fabrics with essential oils.
