Basil plants have been used for centuries as a natural mosquito repellent. The essential oils in basil, such as citronella and linalool, are known to repel mosquitoes.
Planting basil in your garden or keeping it indoors can be a simple and effective way to keep mosquitoes at bay. The strong scent of basil can be overwhelming to mosquitoes, keeping them from approaching.
Some studies have shown that basil oil can be up to 90% effective in repelling mosquitoes. This makes it a great alternative to chemical-based repellents.
On a similar theme: Lavender Plant Insect Repellent
Repelling Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are warded off by the fragrance of basil. The more aromatic your basil plant, the better it will repel mosquitoes.
You can plant basil near outdoor eating and sitting areas to keep mosquitoes away. This is especially useful during the summertime when mosquitoes are most active.
To create your own homemade mosquito repellent, you'll need a few simple ingredients. These include a heaping handful of fresh basil leaves, ½ cup boiling water, ½ cup witch hazel or vodka, and ¼ teaspoon essential basil oil.
Here's a step-by-step guide to making the repellent:
- Place a handful of fresh basil leaves into a glass measuring cup. Pour one-half cup of boiling water over the basil. Let the leaves steep for two to four hours.
- Squeeze the basil leaves to get out as much of the liquid as possible. Pour the infused liquid into a spray bottle. Add ¼ teaspoon essential basil oil if you'd like to increase the potency.
- Add one-half cup witch hazel or vodka to the squirt bottle. Shake gently to mix the contents.
- Apply this all-natural insect repellent by spraying it on your skin. Be sure to spray it where you’d like to repel mosquitoes … they may end up biting on skin that’s not coated with the basil mixture.
Using Basil Plant as Mosquito Repellent
Using a live basil plant as a mosquito repellent is a simple and effective way to keep those pesky insects at bay. You can place the plants near outdoor eating and sitting areas to keep mosquitoes away.
The more aromatic your basil plant, the better it will be at repelling mosquitoes. In fact, you can use the fragrance of basil to create your own homemade mosquito repellent.
To make this concoction, you'll need a heaping handful of fresh basil leaves, ½ cup boiling water, ½ cup witch hazel or vodka, and ¼ teaspoon essential basil oil. Simply steep the basil leaves in boiling water for two to four hours, squeeze out as much liquid as possible, and mix with witch hazel or vodka.
Live basil plants are reasonably effective close-range mosquito repellents, and they can be used as often as necessary. However, if you're using basil oil as an all-natural bug repellent, be cautious and apply it no more than twice a day, expecting anywhere from 1 to 3 hours of protection each time.
Check this out: How to Care for Basil Plant from Grocery Store
Here are some options for employing basil as mosquito protection:
- Using live plants to drive off mosquitoes
- Extracting oil from basil and using it as an aromatic repellent
- Burning fresh basil in a fire to infuse the smoke with the same aromatic compounds
Note that more and bigger plants are better, as they'll provide more protection. You can also use high-quality basil essential oil in conjunction with a wax warmer or vaporizer to help blanket an area and keep mosquitoes out.
Basil Plant Mosquito Repellent Facts
Live basil plants are reasonably effective close-range mosquito repellents.
The more aromatic your basil plant, the better it will repel mosquitoes.
You can plant basil near outdoor eating and sitting areas to keep mosquitoes away.
To make a homemade mosquito repellent with fresh basil leaves, you'll need a heaping handful of fresh basil leaves, ½ cup boiling water, ½ cup witch hazel or vodka, and ¼ teaspoon essential basil oil.
Fresh basil leaves can be used to make a natural mosquito repellent by infusing them in boiling water and then mixing with witch hazel or vodka.
Basil contains oil that mosquitoes just can't stand, which makes it a great natural mosquito repellent.
A different take: Patchouli Oil Mosquito Repellent
Some other herbs that contain this compound and can be used as mosquito repellents include lemongrass, thyme, patchouli, and clove.
Dried basil is somewhat effective against mosquitoes, but not nearly as effective as live, fresh basil or concentrated oil.
Table: Basil Plant Mosquito Repellent Methods
Live basil plants can be used to create a decorative, pleasant, and edible mosquito repellent that works just as well as anything coming out of a factory.
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