Mosquitoes can become a real nuisance in the summer months. Not only do your bites itch uncomfortably; the little pests can also transmit dangerous diseases. How good that there is a herb that mosquitoes absolutely do not like to smell: lemongrass. In its Asian homeland, the grass plant is therefore not only planted as a tasty spice, but also to keep mosquitoes away.

The effective ingredients

Essential oils such as citral and geranium are responsible for the aromatic lemon scent in our noses. Lemongrass also contains myrcene, which when applied to the skin has a pain-relieving and antibacterial effect.

Citronella Oil: The scent that mosquitoes hate

Both indoors and outdoors, natural lemongrass oil is an excellent way to protect yourself from biting insects. The application is completely unproblematic:

  • Fill the bowl of the steam lamp with some water.
  • 5 drops of citronella oil are sufficient to scent a room.
  • On the balcony or in the garden you can put a few more drops in the steam lamp.

You should always ventilate the bedroom during the day and leave the aroma lamp on for an hour before going to sleep. Alternatively, you can break a few stalks of freshly cut lemongrass several times and roughen them up with a knife. As a result, the fragrant lemongrass oil escapes and evaporates. The wonderful lemon scent drives away mosquitoes and at the same time provides a pleasant room scent.

Repellent for application to the skin

You can make a natural repellent yourself from coconut, neem or almond oil and lemongrass oil. In contrast to citrella oil, coconut and neem oil are not very volatile and therefore remain on the skin for a long time. Both oils support the repellent effect of lemongrass oil, as they also have a deterrent effect on biting insects. Almond oil cares for the skin and is also very well tolerated by babies and allergy sufferers.

Put about 15 to 25 drops of natural lemongrass oil in 100 milliliters of the vegetable oil and apply the repellent thinly to the skin. Sensitive people should spread a drop of the mixture in the crook of their arm before use to reliably rule out allergic reactions.

tips and tricks

As an alternative to an aroma lamp or a lemongrass candle, plant several lemongrass stems in pots. Easily transportable, they can be set up wherever you want to relax and keep mosquitoes away with their lemony scent.
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Category:

Herbs