This One Surprising Ingredient Could Help Repel Mosquitoes—and You Probably Already Own It

Vanessa Hall
·4 min read
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Ah, summer! Pool parties, backyard barbecues, family vacations and sunshine galore! The kids are out of school and the weather is finally warm enough to enjoy. What's not to love about summer? Well, bugs, for one. Mosquitoes to be exact. No one likes mosquitoes—what purpose do they really serve, anyway?

Companies the world over have created everything they can think of to rid our lives of this pesky insect, and while some of them do work, some of them are downright annoying. The smell of certain bug sprays and how sticky they can be are definitely off-putting. But what if there was a better way to protect yourself and your loved ones from those itchy bites? You've come to the right place! Keep reading to discover the one surprising ingredient you need to help repel mosquitoes.

Related: Avoid Getting Eaten Alive This Summer With These 25+ Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

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The One Surprising Ingredient To Help Repel Mosquitoes

When we think of summer and being outside, inevitably we think of sweat, sunburns and mosquito bites. To help alleviate those issues there's deodorant, sunscreen and coconut oil? Yep, that's right. Using coconut oil and coconut-scented products can actually help deter those pesky little bugs from biting you. While there are other bug repellents already on the market, it's been proven that a more natural approach can sometimes work better! According to a 2018 study, "Increasing regulations and growing public health concerns about synthetic repellents and insecticides like DEET have sparked interest in developing plant-based repellents that are more effective and longer lasting."

Organic Coconut Oil, Cold-Pressed - Amazon's no. 1 Bestseller

Organic Coconut Oil, Cold-Pressed - Amazon's no. 1 Bestseller
Organic Coconut Oil, Cold-Pressed - Amazon's no. 1 Bestseller
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Check Price

Who knew? Coconut oil and its many uses have gained a lot of traction on social media lately. Now, there's yet another practical use to add to its many attributes! If you haven't kept this ingredient in your kitchen before now, with warmer temps coming it might be time to make that change!

To make a repellent out of coconut oil, simply apply it to your skin like lotion. You can also add essential oil such as peppermint, tea tree or rosemary to the coconut oil to enhance the effectiveness. Another way to make a repellent is to mix liquid coconut oil and lemon eucalyptus essential oil to a spray bottle and shake before spraying to apply.

Another study states that while "it’s still unclear whether the coconut scent itself repels mosquitoes or whether it enhances one of the naturally occurring chemicals on human skin that is a repellent," it's safe to say that using coconut scented products this summer could save you quite a bit of heartache and pain.

If you're wondering which products you should try out, this recent study from May 2023 does a wonderful job of describing the different effects of Dove, Dial, Native and Simple Truth soaps. They chose those four based on their popularity, but there are plenty of other soaps that you could try! They found the soap with the highest level of deterrence to be Native, but it really all depends on your body chemistry and how it reacts with whatever product you choose to use.

What Other Scents May Repel Mosquitoes

The 2023 study lists multiple chemicals that are found in certain scents that they used as a repelling mixture. (These were most closely related to the makeup of the Native soap they used.) They are:

  • Benzyl benzoate (an organic compound found in the scent of flowers and commonly used to treat scabies and lice)

  • γ-nonalactone (a component of watermelon’s scent and identified as a key compound of the aroma of American Bourbon)

  • Benzaldehyde (an aromatic aldehyde commonly found in plants with a characteristic almond-like odor)

It has also been found that utilizing these scents can help repel mosquitos as well. Whether you use a soap, plant the natural plant in your yard or keep a potted plant on your back patio, or light a candle, these scents are worth a try to keep those bugs away!

  • Lavender

  • Citronella

  • Clove

  • Peppermint

  • Basil

  • Cedarwood

  • Eucalyptus

  • Lemongrass

  • Rosemary

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