6 Relieving Essential Oils For Insect Bites

Citronella Essential Oil is known to be one of the most popular essential oils used in insect repellent formulations. Citronella Oil repels insects by masking scents that are attractive to insects. This makes it difficult for insects to locate their target to feed.

Citronella Essential Oil is also known to have amazing antibacterial and antifungal abilities.

It is further considered to be a biopesticide, meaning it is a natural nontoxic remedy against potentially harmful insects like mosquitoes.

In fact, a 2011 review found that when Citronella Oil is mixed with vanillin (found in vanilla beans), it provided mosquito protection for up to three hours.

According to research, you need to reapply Citronella Oil every 30 – 60 minutes for its bug-deterring effects to last. You can dilute your Citronella Essential Oil in a carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and apply it as an insect repellent.

We recommend a 2 – 3% dilution for skin application and a 0.5 - 1% dilution for facial application.

You may also add a few drops of Citronella Essential Oil to a diffuser to experience its benefits through aromatherapy. This is also a perfect solution to repel insects on those warm summer nights.

Lemongrass Essential Oil shares a similar chemical profile to Citronella Essential Oil and because of this, it also works as an effective natural insect repellent. This makes it a great option for those who are wanting to create a natural insect repellent but do not favour the aroma of Citronella Oil.

In fact, Lemongrass Essential Oil is known to be as potent as commercial insecticide. It also contains citronellol and geraniol, making it effective for repelling against a wide range of biting insects like mosquitoes, fleas, lice and ticks, amongst others.

You can dilute your Lemongrass Essential Oil in a carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and apply it as an insect repellent. We recommend a 2 – 4% dilution for skin application and a 1% dilution for facial application.

You may also add a few drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil to a diffuser to repel insects on those warm summer nights.

When diluted and applied topically, Camphor Essential Oil is known to soothe and reduce skin irritations caused by insect bites such as redness, sores and rashes. The cooling effect is also known to alleviate itchiness.

The antiseptic properties within Camphor Oil further work to disinfect small cuts, scrapes and wounds, whilst preventing the formation of further infections.

You can dilute your Camphor Essential Oil in a carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and apply it as an insect repellent. We recommend a maximum 1% dilution for skin application as Camphor Essential Oil is so potent.

You may also add a few drops of Camphor Essential Oil to a diffuser to repel insects on those warm summer nights.

Tea Tree Essential Oil is highly valued for its powerful analgesic, anti fungal, antibacterial, decongestant, healing, diaphoretic, stimulating and deodorising properties. Because of this, it is commonly used to help heal wounds and ease inflammation.

Tea Tree Essential Oil is also widely recognised when it comes to skincare. When diluted and applied topically it has been seen to help reduce symptoms associated with insect bites.

You can dilute your Tea Tree Essential Oil in a carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and apply it as a skin serum. We recommend a 1 – 2% dilution for skin application and a 0.5 - 1% dilution for facial application.

Lavender Essential Oil is a common ingredient in a lot of skincare products. Lavender Essential Oil is also known to naturally reduce the appearance of redness and scarring, and other common symptoms of insect bites.

You can dilute your Lavender Essential Oil in a carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and apply it as a skin serum. We recommend a 2 – 4% dilution for skin application and a 1 - 2% dilution for facial application.

Because of its antiseptic and antibiotic properties, Peppermint Essential Oil naturally soothes irritation, inflammation and redness, and other common symptoms of insect bites.

When diluted and applied topically, Peppermint Oil dilates blood vessels and therefore has a ‘cooling’ and ‘analgesic’ (pain relieving) effect. For this reason, Peppermint Oil is known to ease skin complaints related to insect bites.

You can dilute your Peppermint Essential Oil in a carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and apply it as a skin serum. We recommend a 1 – 2% dilution for skin application and a 1% dilution for facial application.

Peppermint Essential Oil can be found in multiple variants such as Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha Arvensis) and Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha Piperita).

While essential oils are generally available to purchase at health, wellness and retail stores, it is important to keep in mind that the purity and quality of these essential oils will vary. That is why we recommend finding a reputable supplier.

Here at AWO we have a wide selection of 100% pure essential oils and organic essential oils that are sold at reasonable prices. Because our stock is purchased in bulk quantities our costs are significantly less, which allows us to offer our high-quality products at affordable prices. We are also based right here in Australia!