Ditch the DEET
When it comes to beating bugs, essential oils pack a punch

Having an evening BBQ or going on a short hike and don’t want to donate blood to a mosquito or tick? Read on… 

Among the dozens of mosquito species in Colorado are those that transmit West Nile Virus (WNV), a disease that has serious consequences for an unlucky few. Active evening and night, these mosquitoes are behind the annoying buzzing sound that keeps you awake. In 2022, Colorado had the highest number of WNV cases in the country and the highest percentage of cases involving severe outcomes.

And when it comes to ticks, here’s another creepy factoid: Colorado has at least 27 tick species. Two, the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick, transmit bacteria that cause multiple diseases with symptoms ranging from mild to dangerous. A third tick transmits a microbe that causes tick-borne relapsing fever, which resembles Lyme disease. Lyme ticks don’t yet live in Colorado, but this may change with climate change and given that one species of them now lives in northeastern Utah.

What to do?

Wear long pants and tuck the bottoms into your socks when hiking in tick territory. You’ll look dorky, but it’ll stop ticks from getting inside your pants and crawling up your leg. Also, avoid camping in areas infested with chipmunks and squirrels, such as in or near an old mountain cabin or by a woodpile. Disease-causing ticks that feed on them will gladly feed on you, too.

To prevent mosquito bites while out and about, wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt in light colors. And, protect infants using mosquito netting over strollers and carriers.

To reduce mosquito populations around your home, lose any unnecessary standing water. Bird baths, buckets, old tires, the Mr. Turtle pool, or anything else that holds even a small amount of water serves as a mosquito breeding site. 

And use repellents from head to toes on exposed skin and clothing. DEET is effective, but not everyone is excited about its scent and oily texture. Others are concerned about its safety. DEET sometimes causes rashes, especially when heavily applied or left on for a long time. There are relatively few well-documented serious reactions to DEET considering that millions of people use it each year. Those reactions that happen usually result from ingesting it or using excessively high amounts. (Don’t drink your DEET, folks!)

Another option is aromatic plants, which people have used as bug repellent for years. Researchers find that essential oils derived from many plants repel both mosquitoes and ticks. Because essential oils evaporate quickly, preparations based on them need reapplication every couple of hours for longer protection. While this is helpful for overnight backpacking trips, essential oil-based repellents can be handy for shorter-duration outdoor activities and events.

Please note, though, that natural doesn’t equal harmless. By the time they make it into those little brown bottles, essential oils are massively concentrated compared to their natural levels in plants. Many oils can irritate or sensitize the skin. Others aren’t great for the liver or nervous system, which means not applying undiluted oils to the skin.  

However, many oils are safe when used properly. Of the essential oils that repel mosquitoes and ticks, clove (Syzygium aromaticum), cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) are the strongest. They can be used on clothing or vaporized in a diffuser to make time on your balcony less buzzy. All three aren’t for use in any way during pregnancy.

And skip them for skin application, since they’re all irritants and/or sensitizers. To make a clothing spray, add 30 to 50 drops of essential oil per ounce of bottom-shelf vodka in a glass spray bottle. (Save the Grey Goose for cocktails.)

Shake the bottle every couple of squirts when applying. Blends often work better than a single essential oil, so consider combining two or three oils.

A study found that spearmint essential oil applied to pants in a 5% dilution (30 drops of spearmint oil per ounce of carrier) repelled ticks as effectively as 20% DEET. Like the oils already discussed, don’t use spearmint oil directly on skin.

For skin application, consider one or more of the following oils diluted to 3% (18 drops of essential oil per ounce) in olive oil or a scentless lotion. These carriers will slow essential oil evaporation a bit. Do a patch test before slathering on your skin by applying a small amount to your inner elbow. Wait 24 hours for any reaction.

• Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) - Yes, this is what’s in citronella patio torches. Citronella works even better when combined with eucalyptus.

• Ylang Ylang (Canaga odorata) - This oil is strongly sedating for some folks. Take a few sniffs — when not about to operate heavy machinery or drive — to see how you react.

• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) - This is otherwise known as “rose geranium,” because it shares chemistry and scent with rose.

• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) - There are multiple types of eucalyptus, so pay attention to the label. This particular eucalyptus works even better when combined with citronella.

• Vetiver (Vetiveria zinzanoides) - Aside from its repellent activity, vetiver is a “fixative” oil, which slows evaporation of other oils in a blend; not a bad addition to a repellent mix.

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale) - Aromatherapy expert Robert Tisserand uses this at 1% (6 drops per ounce of carrier) for children 2-6 years of age. The concentration of essential oil necessary for repellent activity is too high for wee ones under 2 years of age. Instead, 2% soybean oil (12 drops per ounce of carrier) is recommended, but skip it for those with soy allergies and, as with adults, do a patch test first.

Regarding essential oil usage during pregnancy, opinions are all over the place. The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists (NAHA) and the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists list ginger, geranium, eucalyptus and ylang ylang as likely safe during pregnancy. (To be clear, not safe internally… .) As mentioned, skip clove, cinnamon bark and lemongrass via any means, if pregnant. For more guidance, work with a certified aromatherapist (not a sales rep). Also, NAHA has a list of useful books that cover essential oil usage during pregnancy. 

Have fun out there this summer, and mind the bugs!

Anna Marija Helt is a biologist and certified practicing herbalist. The information here is not intended to treat or cure any disease or to supplant the advice of a licensed healthcare provider. ?