Best Natural Mosquito Repellents: Repel Mosquitoes with Celery Extract, Tauroniro Tree Extract

Mosquitos transmit disease to more than seven hundred million people each year. Diseases transfered by insects is the number one cause of sickness and death in the world today. Most of these diseases occur in tropical and subtropical climates, but there no longer is any place in the world immune from disease carrying insects. In North America the threat of a mosquito bite had never been a major concern until the threat of West Nile Virus surfaced in 1999.

The ability to repel mosquitoes has now become more of a necessity than a choice. The use of natural repellents to ward of mosquitoes, ticks and other insects has increased greatly in recent years due to concerns of brain damage and other health risks associated with the ingredient known as DEET found in most chemical insect repellents.

Other shortcomings of DEET include its bad odor and unpleasant feel to the skin. It loses its potency in rising temperatures, and it can be washed off by sweat and the rain. Label warnings state not to apply indoors or use more than three times per day. DEET continues to be used today because of it has proven to be the most effective and long lasting protection against insect bites available.

Natural mosquito repellent formulations have been developed that are effective in protecting against insect bites, however they do not last as long as DEET so more frequent applications are necessary. The benefits of natural repellents include a pleasant odor and no serious side effects.

Essential oils have proven to be a safe and effective method of keeping ticks, mosquitos and other insects away. They include rose geranium, citronella, lavender, eucalyptus, clove and atlas cedarwood. Citronella is often used in natural repellents because it is inexpensive, but it is not the most effective.

One study conducted showed that citronella is thirty percent effective at repelling mosquitos, whereas rose germanium oil is ninety seven percent effective. However, it is not always used in natural repellents because it is more expensive than other ingredients. So when choosing a natural repellent make sure it contains rose germanium oil. Other effective formulations to look for contain different combinations of the following:
Rosemary, neem oil, thyme, lemongrass, peppermint, fennel, cedar, soybean verbena, pennyroyal, garlic, pine, lavender, cajeput, cinnamon, allspice, celery extract and basil.


Although these products are natural with no serious side effects they should not be over applied because they can cause minor irritation to the skin and eyes. Other precautions to consider: do not put repellent on young children's hands because they tend to put there fingers in their mouths.

Oil of citronella is used in candles torches, coils and candles to repel mosquitoes. Although they are quite effective at repelling mosquitos they should never be the only source of protection.

A natural compound that comes from the Tauroniro tree in South America has been found to be more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitos and ticks. Derivatives of the substance have been safely used in personal care products. New processing methods may make it possible to produce the substance as cheap as DEET. In the future we may see this product widely available but until then applying safe, natural repellents frequently is the best way to go.