Crops have developed to emit aromatic compounds that provide some degree of safety from insect assaults. These are preserved in the course of the distillation course of, so any high-quality important oil may even include them.
“Important oils all comprise a number of chemical constituents with names like geraniol, citronellol, citronellal, and linalool. Research are sparse on particular person elements, however some (like geraniol and vetiverol) are extra lively towards bugs than others,” Villafranco explains.
Some generally out there important oils which might be usually used to maintain bugs at bay embody lemongrass, citronella, and geranium, says Villafranco. Mint, basil, and turmeric are additionally skin-safe oils which have been researched for his or her repellent properties.
“All of them work fairly effectively, however as a result of they’re risky, that means they evaporate into the air pretty shortly, they must be reapplied often to stay efficient. For that purpose, I like vetiver, which stays on the pores and skin for much longer than most different important oils,” Villafranco notes.
