Expert: Judy Frayne - 1/31/2011

Question
Hi Judy,

First of all I'm sorry if I asked this under the wrong category, but I have no idea where else to look for answer as it is involving the use of essential oils.

I like working with blend of essential oils around home and work, I have an oil burner that I'd use for it. However, now that it is summer, I really want to keep my windows open, but I hate that the flies would come in. Because I'm renting in an apartment building, I can't install screens on their windows and doors, so I'm trying to make my own fly and insect repellent - at the moment I'm still using commercial fly spray, and I've only used it 3 times this summer, I can't stand the smell, especially if I'm staying in the room. I'm paranoid about it getting onto kitchen bench, my couch pillows and clothes too.

Do you have a recipe for fly and/or insect repellent using essential oils that I can put on the oil burner? I mainly need a fly repellent, but if there's also a recipe for general insect repellent, it would be wonderful too. I had a look around, but the ones I found are mainly for topical applications or for use on animals. I hope you can help me with this.

Thank you very much.

Kind regards,
Fi

Answer
Hi Fi ( sorry couldn't resist !# thanks for your question. Here are some suggestions for oils to repel flies and other insects.

◦Lavender oil - lavender is considered to be particularly effective against flies
◦Citronella oil  
◦Eucalyptus oil  
◦Peppermint oil - likely more effective against mosquitoes but also considered to work against horse-flies
◦Lemongrass oil

Are you using the type of burner that has hot water over a night light candle ? This would be very effective at getting the oils airborn. I have no experience of using electric burners I'm afraid. The larger the water section of your burner, the more steam you will create.

Into your hot water I would put one to two drops of each, or any combination of the above oils and replenish as the water goes down and the oils evapourate. Don't use more than one or two drops of each oil at any time as you may well give yourself a headache. I personally don't like the smell of citronella, but it is supposed to be one of the most effective oils used for candles and burners against flying insects.

You could also make a spritzer spray up with these oils in water. Give it a good shake up an then spray around areas where the insects might come in. For instance, you could lightly spray the wall surrounding your windows if you have access through the window frame. The oil spray would not be suitable for polished wood surfaces, but you could spray painted wood lightly, and just blot dry with a cloth. Insects do not like to settle where oils have been. Alternatively if you have polished wood furniture, you could get some lavender wood polish - or make your own

16 ounce spray bottle
Two teaspoons olive oil # preferably the light kind)
Up to 15 drops in total of lavender and or lemon essential oil or any of your oils listed above
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water

How to use:
Spray formula on your rag or directly onto the furniture. Wipe it dry immediately. The olive oil conditions and the vinegar cleans. You can also squirt some on your dust mop for your hardwood floors.

Re your pillow and your clothes - you can always put a couple of drops of lavender oil neat onto a paper tissue and tuck it into your pillow, or into your clothes storage. This will help with repelling insects and the lavender at night on your pillow will help with sleep.

as a final thought - If you have access to Avon Cosmetics - their Skin So Soft oil has great natural insect repelling qualities on the skin. I don't think it's intended to but many have found it wonderful as a guard against mosquitoes.

Good luck

Judy