Can Lemons And Oranges Really Keep Mosquitoes Away?

Mosquito repellents work by employing volatile chemicals that create a protective barrier against mosquitoes. Mosquito-repelling products range from lotions and sprays to roll-ons and wristbands. Among the many options available, some contain synthetic chemicals like DEET, while others contain natural essential oils like citronella. While citronella can work to keep mosquitos away from your home, it's one of several natural scents that have been shown to repel mosquitoes.

The lemony scent we're familiar with in citronella (called limonene) is also found in other citrus-scented fruits and plants. This compound is found in lemon and orange and actually acts as a natural deterrent to mosquitoes. Lemon and orange fruits and their essential oils are available at many stores, making them accessible and easy for anyone to use. As more individuals search for natural alternatives, especially for bug sprays, citrus fruits offers a sustainable option to combat mosquitoes. Whether you're looking to create a homemade spray or add some plants to your garden, lemons and oranges provide an excellent and natural way to repel mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes don't like many strong, naturally fragrant scents, with lemon and orange being particularly potent. This effectiveness is attributed to the high concentration of limonene in these citrus fruits. Linalool is also found in citrus and herbaceous plants like lavender and mint, which are other distinct, sharp scents that can help keep mosquitoes at bay. 

Linalool has similar repellant properties due to its phytochemical nature. Linalool acts as a naturally bioactive substance. Together, limonene and linalool compounds help mask the human scents that attract mosquitoes, providing a natural deterrent. Herbs natural in linalool are great options to use in your garden, and you can also use mosquito-repelling plants in pots around areas you frequent outside to repel them. This dual approach uses scents that mosquitoes hate, effectively warding off these pests while giving you a fragrant and easy-to-maintain area around your home. This use of lemon, orange, lavender, and mint helps manage mosquito populations and offers a natural method to keep these pests at bay.

One way to keep mosquitoes away naturally is by planting mosquito-repellent plants. Lemon-scented plants like lemon balm, lemon mint, lemon thyme, lemon geraniums, and lemon eucalyptus all contain limonene. This strong, lemony scent adeptly masks the human smells that attract mosquitoes, providing a natural defense against them. Strategically planting these along your garden borders or in containers is a great way to add a beautiful scent to your landscape and create a mosquito-repellent zone, but you can make even more use of them than that. 

For personal use, you can crush the leaves to release the oils and rub them directly onto your skin. Alternatively, you can create a homemade mosquito repellent spray. A homemade spray could include orange and lemon-scented oils, witch hazel, water, and glycerin. This provides a natural and sweet-smelling repellent that's gentle on the skin but is effective at banishing bugs. Whether you cultivate these plants in your garden or use the extracts in a mosquito repellent spray, lemon and orange scents (and anything containing linalool) provide an appealing and eco-friendly solution for mosquito defense.