Insect Repellent Essential Oils List

If you’re noticing damage to your plants the most likely reason is going to be insects, bugs, or some other type of pest in your garden.

While I can’t name every possible insect, the following insect repellent essential oils list covers most common pests and will give you a good idea of the essential oils most effective at repelling or killing insects.

Insect Repellent Essential Oils List

Bug/Insect	Essential Oils
Ants	Citronella, orange, cedarwood, spearmint, peppermint.
Aphids	Cedarwood, orange, spearmint, peppermint.
Beetles	Cedarwood, orange, spearmint, peppermint, thyme.
Caterpillars	Cedarwood, orange, spearmint, peppermint.
Chiggers	Cedarwood, lavender, lemongrass, orange, thyme.
Fire ants	Lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary.
Fleas	Cedarwood, citronella, lavender, lemongrass, orange, peppermint.
Gnats	Cedarwood, citronella, eucalyptus, orange, spearmint, peppermint.
Midges	Cedarwood, chamomile, cinnamon, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint.
Mosquitoes	Cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, orange, peppermint, thyme.
Moths	Cedarwood, citronella, lavender, peppermint, spearmint, orange.
Cockroaches	Cedarwood, cinnamon, eucalyptus, orange, thyme.
Slugs	Cedarwood, garlic, orange, peppermint, spearmint.
Snails	Cedarwood, garlic, orange, peppermint, spearmint.
Spiders	Citrus, lime, orange, peppermint, spearmint, lavender.
Ticks	Lavender, lemongrass, oregano, thyme.

As you can see from the above list, there are some essential oils that kill or repel most insects.

Cedarwood is a must, as well as orange, peppermint, and spearmint.

The good news is that these oils smell great to us, (well at least most people think so) but they are fatal to insects and bugs.

Why Cedarwood Is Effective at Repelling Bugs and Insects

Cedarwood is extracted from conifer trees, commonly known as pine trees that I’m sure you’re all familiar with.

It’s known to be toxic to most bugs and pests, making it an obvious choice to use when repelling these annoying pests.

The science behind this is that cedarwood blocks a compound called octopamine, which is essential to some insects to regulate their heart rate and other functions.

If they have the opportunity they will flee the area pretty quick when they detect cedarwood. Otherwise, they will die, and you may see evidence of this in the areas you spray.

The good news is that it’s not toxic to us or our pets. Although you always need to be careful using essential oils around pets and it’s best they keep their distance.

How to Use Essential Oils to Deal with Insects and Bugs

All you need to do is add a few drops to a spray bottle with some water and soapy solution in.

The soapy solution is good because soap is particularly good at grounding flying insects as it makes it hard, or impossible for them to use their wings.

As for how much you use of oils, soap, and water, it’s up to you how strong you want the solution to be.

Don’t go overboard on your first batch, just add a few drops of oil. Then give it a few days use and see how much of a difference it’s making to your plants.