Essential Oils for Pest Control

Using essential oils for pest control lets you avoid toxic pesticides.

Mosquito Repellent

To keep mosquitoes away from a space, diffuse lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus radiata, or lemongrass essential oil. To keep mosquitoes off of you, blend 1 drop of citronella oil to each 4 drops of vegetable oil or lotion and apply to exposed skin as needed.

Essential Oils Pest Control for Aphids

Mix 10 drops spearmint and 15 drops orange essential oil in 2 quarts salt water. Shake well and spray on plants. You can also try cedarwood, hyssop, or peppermint.

Essential Oils to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Mix 10 drops peppermint and 5 drops cypress in 1/2 cup salt water. Shake well and spray where roaches live. You can also try eucalyptus or sage.

Silverfish Repellent

Put eucalyptus radiata or citriadora essential oil on cotton balls or cedar chips and place in closets or drawers.

Essential Oils to Repel Ants

Place either orange, pine, peppermint, spearmint, or spruce on cotton balls or small pieces of sponge, and place them where ants come into the house. Replace weekly.

Here are some more specific essential oils for pest control.

Beetles: peppermint, thyme

Caterpillars: spearmint, peppermint

Chiggers: lavender, lemongrass, sage, thyme

Cutworm: thyme, sage

Fleas: peppermint, lemongrass, spearmint, lavender

Flies: lavender, peppermint, rosemary, sage

Gnats: patchouli, spearmint

Lice: cedarwood, peppermint, spearmint

Moths: cedarwood, hyssop, lavender, peppermint, spearmint

Slugs: cedarwood, hyssop, pine

Snails: cedarwood, pine, patchouli

Spiders: peppermint, spearmint

Ticks: lavender, lemongrass, sage, thyme

Weevils: cedarwood, patchouli, sandalwood