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Does Lemongrass Keep Mosquitoes Away? (Explained)

Lemongrass is famous for its strong yet energizing smell. It is used to make a flavorful appearance in many cuisines to enhance the taste of many recipes. Lemongrass oil is also used in diffusers to make a place aromatic.

But have you ever heard the power of lemongrass against those annoying mosquitoes all around your home? Well, as a home-made DIY and organic technique, lemongrass is often recommended to keep bugs such as mosquitoes at bay. 

But is this herb really effective? Which lemongrasses are suitable to use as a repellent? Or how can you make repellent from lemongrass?

We’ll dig all these questions here to light you up about this multi-purpose herb!

Does lemongrass keep mosquitoes away?

Lemongrass repels mosquitoes with its intense smell. The lemongrass oil is rich in the properties of citronella. It clogs the smelling sense of mosquitoes and they can’t find humans by smelling. So planting this herb around the house or using the oil can keep mosquitoes away.

Cymbopogon citratus, popularly known as lemongrass, is an herb that’s largely available in Asian, African and Australian zones. It’s a thin long herb that’s noticeable for its strong odor.

Lemongrass has a powerful lemony, earthy and refreshing scent. It’s used a lot in cooking to enhance flavor, as an air-freshening essential oil and as a decorative plant too. 

Beside all these, lemongrass plays an important role to keep mosquitoes away as it contains mosquito repelling properties.

Lemongrass has an oil in it called Citronella oil. This oil works against mosquitoes as when applied on human skin it numbs the smell that mosquitoes follow to detect humans. Thus they can’t find humans through the odor.

Moreover, the musk scent of lemongrass that’s kind of earthy plays its’ part too to deter those tiny yet noxious insects as it discomforts mosquitoes when around. 

Let’s know how lemongrass plants and lemongrass oil keeps mosquitoes away from your house.  

Lemongrass oil:

Lemongrass oil is a very familiar refreshing and anti-stress essential oil. This oil is actually Citronella oil since the plant itself contains this compound. 

And since Citronella oil deters mosquitoes, Lemongrass oil when used in the diffuser or applied on skin don’t let mosquitoes fly near anywhere.

Lemongrass Plant:

Not only the oil, lemongrass plant too is a mosquito repellent. When planted around or in the house this aromatic grass keeps the air of that place fragrant with its intense smell which mosquitoes can’t tolerate. 

Thus it prevents mosquitoes from entering the house.

Is lemongrass mosquito repellent? Which lemongrass repels mosquitoes?

Yes, lemongrass is a mosquito repellent. Citronella oil found in this herb and its intense smell can keep mosquitoes away. However, lemongrass isn’t very beneficial against heavy infestation.

Citronella found in lemongrass is highly active against mosquitoes when released in the air with the strong aroma of lemongrass. Mosquitoes can’t stand against the excessive woody smell of lemongrass that includes Citronella properties.

Mosquitoes around lemongrass plants or oil find it tough to locate humans and getting irritated with the smell and oil leave the area.

Lemongrass has more than fifty species and varieties. Depending on the climate, temperature and weather different types of lemongrass grow in different places. 

Among all the types Cymbopogon citratus, which is used a lot in preparing foods, is known to be an effective mosquito repellent. Most mosquito repellent recipes are made from this particular type of lemongrass.

Why does lemongrass repel mosquitoes?

When it comes to repel those harmful flying bugs, that mean mosquitoes naturally, lemongrass is an option most people love to go for. 

Now you may ask among so many herbs and plants why lemongrass deters mosquitoes or what it actually has.

Here we’ve mentioned two major reasons explaining why this herb drives mosquitoes away.

Lemongrass has a strong fragrance:

A reason why you won’t notice mosquitoes around your lemongrass tubs is because of its strong odor. 

Lemongrass has an intense woody smell with a hint of fresh lemon that many insects including mosquitoes can’t put up with. 

They get irritated while flying around lemongrass plants because of its strong scent. So they avoid those fragrant areas to stay out of discomfort. 

Lemongrass has Citronella:

Citronella is a compound that’s highly present in lemongrass plants. This is an essential oil of lemongrass and popularly known as a mosquito repellent ingredient. It prevents these hazardous insects from causing harm.

Citronella when applied over human skin seals the scent of mosquitoes’ sense to find humans thus mosquitoes fail to locate their target and can’t harm. Same happens when this essential oil is released with the fragrance of lemongrass.

How effective is lemongrass against mosquitoes?

Lemongrass is an easy and natural solution against mosquitoes. It surely deters those flying dangers but only when the place is not highly infested. Moreover, lemongrass mosquito repellent isn’t a good option if you’re looking for something that gives long time protection.

Lemongrass has been used for years as a home remedy to keep mosquitoes away. It’s easy to grow, use and most importantly free of chemicals. Having a powerful earthy-lemony scent and an essential oil, Citronella together this herb really terrifies mosquitoes. 

So planting a lot of them around the house or using lemongrass oil as a repellent can give you relief from the burning mosquito bites. 

But sadly this herb as a repellent isn’t very powerful and needs frequent application. It doesn’t impact places that’s infested with mosquitoes. No doubt lemongrass drives away mosquitoes but it’s not the best remedy. 

How do you use lemongrass for mosquitoes?

Lemongrass is used as an organic, non-toxic method to keep mosquitos away. Mosquitoes can be driven away by using the leaves, the plant and the intense fragrance of lemongrass.

You can use lemongrass against mosquitoes in various ways. Such as –

You can use the whole plant:

Only by keeping lemongrass plants around your house can reduce the presence of mosquitoes at a noticeable rate. Since lemongrass is a strongly scented plant the fragrance of it remains in the air covering a good distance. 

Thus the mosquitoes can’t come near the house.

You can use lemongrass oil in a diffuser:

Lemongrass has Citronella which makes the lemongrass oil an effective mosquito repellent. You can simply diffuse some lemongrass oil in an air-diffuser, so that the smell evaporates in the air. 

This way mosquitoes won’t enter your house getting irritated by the odor.

You can formulate lemongrass mosquito repellent:

Lemongrass is a safe natural herb that can be applied on skin if processed rightly. Using a few leaves of this plant with some solvent you can prepare a non-toxic mosquito repellent easily.

You can use the leaves:

To benefit from lemongrass against mosquitoes quickly you can simply boil some of its leaves and the scented vapor will work as a shield between you and those health hazards.

Also you can pick some fresh leaves of this herb and by placing them in different corners of the home you can fight mosquitoes. 

How to make lemongrass mosquito repellent?

Lemongrass can be turned into a much effective mosquito repellent if you know how to do that. There are many ways to make repellent out of lemongrass at home. Here we’ve mentioned a method to make lemongrass mosquito repellent in five easy steps:

Pick fresh leaves:

From your regular lemongrass plant pick some fresh lively and green leaves. It’s better to pick them from the root for more benefits.

Wash them properly:

Using fresh water that’s at the normal temperature, wash the leaves. There could be soil, dust in the roots so make sure you clean the leaves properly.

Boil it:

Take 60 ml of water (approx.) in a pan. Put the leaves in it.Boil the leaves in a medium flame until the water is discolored. Turn off the heat if you notice the water color has turned yellow.

Mix carrier oil:

Lemongrass can react negatively on skin if not mixed with a carrier oil. Mix some coconut or olive oil, (around 5-10ml is fine) in the boiled solution. 

You can even use some other essential oil such as lavender, rosemary, etc. according to your choice.

Pour it in a spray bottle:

Wait for the solution to get cold and then pour it in a spray bottle. You can use this spray frequently as a natural mosquito repellent.

Final Thoughts: 

Lemongrass can be a quick yet effective homemade mosquito repellent. It has Citronella that acts against mosquitoes and keeps them away. Moreover, the strong odor of lemongrass repels mosquitoes as they can’t stand its intense woody smell. However, lemongrass cannot deter mosquitoes totally.