Nobody likes being stung by a pesky bug or bitten by a mosquito. Unfortunately, these itchy, sometimes painful bites or stings can really distract you from your otherwise lovely day and enjoying outdoor activities, like gardening, camping, or hiking.
However, we all want to enjoy the sunshine and fun summer activities. So, for June’s AromaBox, we’ve chosen three amazing essential oils that work great as natural insect repellents and a great essential oil roll-on that treats stings so that you can enjoy the summer weather bug-free!
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lemongrass Essential Oil is traditionally used for many things, including repelling insects and promoting increased circulation. It’s also recommended for encouraging detoxification and reduced cellulite, and muscle and joint pain. We also love Lemongrass Essential Oil for its energizing scent, which we frequently recommend for lifting the spirits and fighting fatigue and jet lag.
Here are a few of our top recommendations for using Lemongrass Essential Oil:
- Combine with Citronella Essential Oil. Lemongrass Essential Oil and Citronella Essential Oil make a perfect insect repellent! (See below for an easy recipe)
- Use as a pick-me-up! Lemongrass Essential Oil has a bright, uplifting scent that is sure to give you a jolt. Diffuse Lemongrass Essential Oil in the morning to give yourself a perky start, or add it to a carrier oil, lotion, or salve for a bright, energizing scent.
- Mix with other amazing essential oils. Lemongrass Essential Oil pairs well with many essential oils, such as Basil, Cedarwood, Ginger, Orange, and Patchouli. Create your own tailored blend, then add it to a diffuser, carrier oil, your bubble bath, lotion, and more!
- Always dilute your essential oils, but especially Lemongrass. This powerful essential oil should never be applied without proper dilution in a carrier oil.
If you’re interested in learning more about our AromaBoxes and what they include, click here.
Citronella Essential Oil
Citronella Essential Oil is a classic insect repellent that also works as a mild disinfectant. Like Lemongrass Essential Oil, it also has an uplifting fragrance that can help with fatigue. We love the lemony, sharp, sweet, and woody scent this essential oil brings to this month’s box.
Here are a couple of great ways to use Citronella Essential Oil:
- Create an amazing insect repellent. Citronella is an excellent natural insect repellent. A review of 11 studies on insect repellents found Citronella Essential Oil was an effective mosquito repellent. However, it's recommended that you reapply more frequently with Citronella Essential Oil than traditional DEET products to keep the effectiveness. The review also suggested that adding vanillin to Citronella Essential Oil may increase how long the insect repellent works on the skin.
- Pair with Lemongrass Essential Oil to make your own bug repellent. Simply add 30 drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil, 25 drops of Citronella Essential Oil, and 25 ml of witch hazel to a spray bottle filled with 50 ml of water. Spray on yourself, avoiding sensitive areas like the face and eyes, or around your home to deter bugs.
- May help with weight loss. A recent study found that inhaling citronella essential oil may help with weight loss because it was shown to lower cholesterol levels and decrease appetite.
- Use in a diffuser to uplift or relax the mind. Citronella Essential Oil is traditionally used to uplift the mood and reduce mental fatigue. However, some studies have shown that Citronella may also have relaxing effects on some individuals. We recommend testing Citronella Essential Oil inhalation on yourself to see if it’s relaxing or uplifting to you, then planning what time of day you’d benefit most from using Citronella Essential Oil.
- Combine with other awesome essential oils. We personally recommend mixing Citronella Essential Oil with Bergamot, Cedarwood, Geranium, Lemon, and Orange essential oils.
For more ideas on how to use Citronella essential oils, check out our previous piece here.
Catnip Essential Oil
Catnip Essential Oil is a wonderful essential oil known to be about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, which is used in most commercial insect repellents. On top of this, it may repel common household pests, and it makes a great addition to many bath and body products.
- Repel common house insects. Catnip Essential Oil may work to repel cockroaches and other house insects. One study even found that Catnip Essential Oil was 96% effective at repelling stable flies and 79% effective at repelling house flies!
- Add to your favorite body care products. Add Catnip Essential Oil, or any essential oils that you enjoy the smell of, to your favorite lotion, carrier oil, soap, massage oil, salve, bath salts, or more so that you can enjoy the scent throughout your day!
- Create a bug spray. Add 25 drops of Catnip Essential Oil to about four ounces of water, then spray it around your home, especially in areas where you spot insects or near possible entry points like windows or doors.
- Combine Catnip Essential Oil with other amazing essential oils. Our favorite combinations include Orange, Palmarosa, Fennel, Patchouli, Rosemary, Thyme, and Ylang Ylang. Use the blend in your diffuser, favorite body care product, bubble bath, or anything else you can imagine!
For more information on natural bug spray recipes, check out our previous piece on 15 Natural Remedies for Keeping Bugs Away.
Sting Stop Roll-On
Despite your best efforts, you still got stung. Don’t worry! We’ve all been there.
That’s why we included our Sting Stop Roll-On in this month’s AromaBox. Our Sting Stop Roll-On is an essential oil blend of lavender, tea tree, German chamomile, summer savory, and eucalyptus radiata essential oils, all in a base of organic aloe vera juice and witch hazel.
This potent blend has a rich, earthy smell with a beautiful blue color from the German chamomile. We suggest using the Sting Stop Roll-On by first removing the stinger - if there is one. Then, apply the roll-on to the affected area as often as needed, up to once every ten minutes for the first six applications. Avoid sensitive areas, like your mouth or eyes.
If the affected area or sting worsens, please consult with your doctor.
Enjoy this beautiful June weather and keep yourself insect-free with our June AromaBox’s essential oils!
Tschau mittenand,
Natalie & Leilah