Mosquitoes can become a real nuisance in the summer months. Not only do their bites itch unpleasantly; The little pests can also transmit dangerous diseases. How good that there is an herb that mosquitoes absolutely hate smelling: lemongrass. In its Asian homeland, the grass plant is not only planted as a delicious spice, but also to keep mosquitoes away.
How does lemongrass work against mosquitoes?
Lemongrass is an effective, natural mosquito repellent as its scent, which consists of essential oils such as citral and geranium, deters the insects. Lemongrass oil can be used in steam lamps, applied to the skin, or simply placed as a plant nearby to keep mosquitoes away.
The effective ingredients
Essential oils such as citral and geranium are responsible for the lemon scent that is aromatic to our noses. Lemongrass also contains myrcene, which has a pain-relieving and antibacterial effect when applied to the skin.
Citronella oil: The scent that mosquitoes hate
Natural lemongrass oil is an excellent way to protect yourself from stinging insects, both indoors and outdoors. The application is completely unproblematic:
- Fill the bowl of the steam lamp with a little water.
- To scent a room, 5 drops of citronella oil are enough.
- You can add a few more drops to the steam lamp on the balcony or in the garden.
You should always ventilate your bedroom during the day and leave the aroma lamp burning for an hour in the evening before you go to bed. Alternatively, you can break a few stalks of freshly cut lemongrass several times and roughen them with a knife. This causes the fragrant lemongrass oil to escape and evaporate. The wonderful lemon scent repels mosquitoes and at the same time ensures a pleasant room scent.
Repellent for application to the skin
You can make your own natural repellent using coconut, neem or almond oil and lemongrass oil. In contrast to citrella oil, coconut and neem oil are less volatile and therefore stay on the skin for a long time. Both oils support the defensive effect of lemongrass oil, as they also have a deterrent effect on stinging insects. Almond oil nourishes the skin and is also very well tolerated by babies and allergy sufferers.
Add about 15 to 25 drops of pure lemongrass oil to 100 milliliters of the vegetable oil and apply the repellent thinly to the skin. Sensitive people should place a drop of the mixture in the crook of their arm before use to reliably rule out allergic reactions.
Tips & Tricks
As an alternative to a fragrance lamp or lemongrass candle, plant several lemongrass plants in pots. Easily transportable, they can be placed wherever you want to relax and their lemony scent keeps mosquitoes away. SKb
