Lemon eucalyptus
Cinnamon oil
Thyme
A solution of 5 percent thyme oil kept mosquitos away from hairless mice in one study, making it another effective repellent for those disease-carrying insects.
Greek Catnip Oil
Catnip is famous for attracting felines. But you know who can't stand the stuff? Annoying mosquitos and perhaps other flying insects. Catnip is a member of the mint family. And though its long flowers are pretty, it's the crushed and bruised petals of the flowers—and the essential oil created from them—that works its magic on clearing pests.
Soybean oil
Soybean oil, the active ingredient in the child-friendly Bite Blocker for Kids, has been shown to be an effective repellent for mosquitos and other pests. However, the product must be re-applied after 1.5 hours.
Citronella
Citronella is a tried-and-true way to keep mosquitos and other insects away from your outdoor entertaining space. Light up coils or citronella candles, which are made from the oils of a mix of ingredients including citrus, and you can clear the area of these annoying and sometimes disease-carrying pests.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a natural repellent for a number of annoying bugs, including lice and mosquitos. Derived from plants that are native to Australia, it is also known for its antiseptic properties. Keep in mind, if you're using it to treat lice, tea tree oil only repulses them—it doesn't actually kill them. So it should be used in tandem with deep removal of nits and lice or an over-the-counter insecticide formulated for lice treatment.
