Herbs that Repel Insects

I get asked alot is there any herbs that repel insects 

surprisingly there is a lot of herbs that Repel insects that otherwise would do harm to us or our pets so here is a small list  of herbs and uses how to repel and what they repel

Eucalyptus

Feeling congested? tie fresh sprigs of Eucalyptus on to shower heads. When you take a hot bath or shower, the steam will release the eucalyptus oils. Eucalyptus is a natural decongestant, taking a shower with one can help to clear up sinuses and loosen cough.Also as a bonus it smells really good, and also a natural spider repellent. cuz nothing ruins a shower than seeing a big scary spider in the shower.

also Eucalyptus repells Ants and mosquitos and Aphids , Mites, Ticks and Fleas

however if you do grow it know it Grows Rapidly and can take over your yard so keep it in containers

Cedar 

Cedar oil, which is extracted from the bark of cedar trees, is a safe and natural insect repellent that is particularly effective against fleas. By mixing pure cedar oil with other types of natural oils, such as citronella and lemongrass oil, you can repel mosquitoes as well as Spiders, Moths, Spiders, ants, Flies, Ticks , Fleas 

Purchase pure cedar oil to use as an insect repellent throughout your home. When diluted with rubbing alcohol or distilled water, and poured into a spray bottle, cedar oil can be applied on carpeting, furniture and anywhere you might find flea activity. Cedar oil in spray bottles can usually be found at your local pet store.

Mix cedar oil with lemongrass or citronella oil to create an insect repellent that will work equally on mosquitoes and fleas throughout your home. You can use a mixture of these oils to double the duration of the repellent, since each oil used independently can lose its potency after just 1 to 2 hours.

Add a few drops of cedar oil to your pet's shampoo for a natural way to combat fleas and other parasites from spreading in your home. Cedar oil, when used in moderation, is a very safe and natural way to keep insects away from your pets, and to hide odors as well. You can also place a few drops of cedar oil underneath the cushions of your pet's bed for extra protection against fleas and mosquitoes.

Use your spray bottle of cedar oil to apply the solution on your clothing just before you go outside. While diluted cedar oil is generally safe to use on most fabrics, you may want to test a small area of clothing first to find out whether the cedar oil will cause a stain. Squirting a drop or two into pockets might be effective as well.

Ensure that cedar oil doesn't get into your mouth, eyes or nose when you apply it as an insect repellent, and use caution when applying cedar oil on small children, who may be tempted to taste or lick the aromatic substance. While cedar oil is generally safe to use externally, internal consumption could cause illness.

Sandwood

Sandalwood essential oil, from the heartwood of Sandalwood trees, has a warm, woody aroma prized for its use in skin care, meditation and stress relief. It is known to relax, support the immune system, relieve mild depression and strengthen emotions. People may love this scent, but not all insects do. It can be used as a mosquito repellent.

it also repells ants, flies, ticks, fleas, spiders, roaches, gnats, stink bugs

Sandalwood mosquito repellent can be found in several forms including the popular incense sticks, which last from three to six hours depending on size, or sandalwood sprays and even perfume oils or balms

• Sandalwood typically comes from Australia (Santalum spicatum), India (Santalum album) or the Pacific (Santalum austrocaladonicum). Sandalwood has been used by many cultures for centuries and was first used to repel mosquitoes by burning the leaves, bark or wood.

Making the Repellent

• You can easily make your own mosquito repelling sandalwood perfume oil by adding 10 to 20 drops of sandalwood essential oil to 1 tbsp. of jojoba oil or fractionated coconut oil and apply behind the ears, inner elbows, wrists, backs of knees and ankles.

Basil

There are about a million kinds of basil and new varieties being introduced all the time. Basil is a beautiful fragrant plant that grows easily in most climates. It even tolerates the dry, Texas heat pretty well.

Most people know fresh basil is delicious in pesto, tomato based dishes, and salads but did you also know that it is one of the best ways to keep flies out of your house? Just plant basil next to the doors, use as a foundation planting mixed in with your flowers, or plant in containers. The flies will stay far away.

You can grow basil in containers by your picnic table or on your patio and cut a nice size bunch of it to decorate the blanket with when you go to a remote picnic spot. As an added bonus, mosquitoes don't like it either. Choose your favorite, all the basil that I have tried works equally as well.

Dalmatian Pyrethrum Chrysan-themum cinerarifolium. This variety of chrysanthemum is the source for many natural insecticides for flying and crawling insects. It is one of the least harmful to mammals or birds, but the dried flowers of the pyrethrum daisy will kill or stun the insects the moment it touches them. It is one of the safest pesticides to use on pests and their bedding to keep fleas and ticks away. The powder is the result of drying and crushing the flowers.

Epazote Chenopodium ambro-siodes. This annual plant is used in much Southwestern cooking, particularly in bean recipes, but you can also make a strong tea from the plant and use the water to wash floors and porches to repel insects and larvae.

Holy Basil , Ocimum sanctum :  Repels    flys and mosquitoes

Feverfew 

Chrysanthemum parth-enium. Another lovely daisy plant, feverfew blooms midsummer through fall. The flower heads are used to make a pesticide to kill many pest insects.

Lavender 

Lavandula angustifolia. All of us know lavender as a beautiful aromatic herb that is used to scent food, soaps, cosmetics and many other products. However, if you dry bunches of lavender and hang them in the closet, they will repel moths and make your clothes smell good at the same time.

Lavender smells wonderful and if you have never used lavender buds in cooking you should give it a try. In small amounts it adds a wonderful floral and citrus flavor to baked goods, meats, and even vegetables. Lavender also repels moths, mosquitoes, and fleas.:

• Hang a bundle of it in your closet or lay a few sprigs of it in with the out of season clothes you are storing.
• Grind it to a powder and sprinkle it on your pet's bedding.
• Grow it in containers on your patio to repel mosquitoes.
• Grow it in your kitchen garden to keep rabbits out of your lettuce and spinach.

Lemon Basil Ocimum basilcum v. citriodorum. An aromatic herb with small pretty flowers and lemony fragrance, lemon basil is a fine culinary herb. When planted in the garden close to tomatoes, it not only improves the taste of the tomatoes but deters white flies as well.

Lemon Balm: Melissa officinalis  Repells ants, Roaches, moths ,mosquitoes spiders, ticks ,Fleas and gnats

Lemon Thyme: Thymus x citruidirus   Repells Spiders, Ants, Fleas, Ticks,  mosquitoes and gnats

Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris. Often thought of as a medicinal herb, mugwort leaves are used to repel moths. They can be made into sachets or dried and hung in the top of the closet.

Mexican Marigold: Tagetes minuta   Repells  mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, Spiders and gnats

 Mint

Mint, catnip, and any member of the mint family planted around the foundation of your house can keep both ants and mice out of your home. Neither of these pests seem to like the smell and all but the most determined will head to a better smelling yard. You can also place shallow bowls of the dried mint leaves in your pantry to discourage mice. 

 Great in tea, peppermint also helps to repel ants, aphids, cabbage lopers, flea beetles, cabbage worms, squash bugs and whiteflies. Plant it near susceptible plants or make a tea from the crushed leaves and spray it on infested plants.

Sage Salvia officinalis. Although you can't make Thanksgiving dressing without it, sage is also helpful planted next to cabbage to improve the taste and repel cabbage worms, spiders, ants, mosquitos and moths

Sweet Woodruff

Sweet Woodruff has long been used to deter carpet beetles and moths. Just lay it beneath wool carpets (or other types). It may also deter ants. An added benefit is that it releases a sweet scent when you walk across your rugs

Rosemary

Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs, not only for cooking and grilling but because it has a number of uses medicinally and as a household herb. As it grows it repels mosquitoes. Try planting it around your patio or any area that you use in the evenings to keep the air smelling fresh and the mosquitoes on someone else's property. Rosemary also repels cats, so planting it around the kids sandbox is a good idea. You can use rosemary springs under the cushions to keep the cats off the furniture but beware - the oils in the rosemary can stain the cushions. Be sure they are the one sided type

Wormwood Artemisia absinithium. Another member of the artemisia family, this variety grows tall with gray silky foliage and spikes of small flowers. Powdered dust made from the leaves and sprinkled on plants and soil will deter many insects. It is not toxic; the bugs just don't like the fragrance.

Rue and anise are good at repelling aphids, a perennial garden pest. Chamomile and hyssop will help discourage cabbage moths on your cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Basil and dill planted near your tomato plants will help keep tomato hornworms away and encourage your tomatoes to grow steadily. Dill and fennel are also good food plants for butterflies, particularly the swallowtail. They lure the caterpillars from other plants you'd rather not have gnawed.

 Natural Household Bug Repellents:

• Essential Oils: Using essential oils such as lemon, orange, clove, peppermint, and mint around the home will deter most bugs as they are turned off by strong odors. 

• Garlic and Pepper Powder: Most bugs avoid both garlic and pepper; therefore, sprinkling the powder around the key areas in the home helps keep the bugs at bay.

• Cucumber Slices and Ants: As summer approaches, ants flock to kitchens on the hunt for food crumbs. Ants are appalled by cucumbers; therefore, the cucumber slices work best when placed near cracks or other areas where ants may enter the home.

• Crushed Mint and Flies: Small packets of crushed mint helps to repel flies. 

• Lemon Peels and Moths: We love the fresh, citrus smell of lemons and prefer it to using cedar blocks in the closet to keep moths from destroying our clothes.

• Vinegar and Borax
One option to rid your house of water bugs is to use vinegar. Vinegar repels these bugs. Just pour it down all the drains in your house and garage. Another easy solution is to use borax. Do not use this option if you have pets or small children. Simply sprinkle borax in cracks, on baseboards and outside your home. Borax sticks to water bugs' legs. They then take this substance back to their den. This powder will eventually kill all the insects in the colony.

• Dish Detergent brand name does not matter
Swimming pools are obviously a big draw for water bugs. They are attracted to the water and more likely to enter a home that has a pool or other water source nearby. In order to rid your pool of these creatures, put a couple of tablespoons of dish detergent on top of the water. The dish detergent needs to sit on the water until dark. Turn off the swimming pool pump so the surface is smooth. Then turn on the swimming pool light. Light attracts the bugs. As they come to the surface for air, the detergent traps them under water so they cannot breathe. In the morning, you will simply need to scoop up the dead bugs off the surface. The soap detergent will be neutralized so will not affect you when swimming.

• Squash bugs

4tsp baking soda (anti fungal properties, also stops powdery mildew type problems)

1tsp vegetable oil  (smothers) Neem oil would work well here. The amount could be doubled.

1tsp soap (emulsifier/sticker) Best to use a natural soap such as Dr. Bronner’s.

1 to 2 tbs garlic juice (kills)

Juice:  1 med bulb (not clove) of garlic blended with 1 to 2 cups of water.  Let sit a minimum of 15 minutes and strain.

Add concentrate to a gallon of water and spray liberally. Repeat as often as needed to drive off or kill the squash bugs.

Herbs of Caution  I am putting them here so everyone can be aware of them while they do repel insects they are toxic to humans and pets     

Tansy,Repels insects Moths, Flies, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, spiders ,ants, roaches and many many more 

Tansy Tanacetum vulgare. Leaves of this fern-like plant are used to repel ants and moths in sachets or when strewn around. The small yellow flowers are used in potpourri and dried for everlasting insect repellent

But Tansy is toxic to pets and humans so use caution and do not ingest 

English Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium. A small-leaved herb that has spikes of lavender flowers, pennyroyal is a member of the mint family and tends to sprawl rather than grow upright. Ground pennyroyal is one of the most effective tick deterrents available. Dust powder made from the leaves around areas where the pet sleeps and plays. The plant makes a good ground cover and grows well in hanging baskets.

use caution around animals and children and pregnant women when using royal Penny

it can cause liver damage if ingested