Essential oils for mosquito bites

Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem in 1911 claiming that the female of the species is more deadly than the male. While this statement is definitely up for debate, it couldn’t be more true in the case of mosquitoes!

essential oils spray to repel mosquito

Although they are tiny creatures that live for only about 50 days, mosquito bites can transmit serious diseases at worst, and be the cause of great discomfort at best.

If you’re plagued by mosquito bites and the itching and pain they cause, there is a natural remedy that can help. Various essential oils have incredible anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties, and many of them can help speed up the healing process too.

Using essential oils is a wonderful natural alternative, but it’s always best that you know a bit more about them to ensure you use them as safely and effectively as possible. Our in-depth guide tells you everything you need to know about using essential oils for mosquito bites.

Content/Quick links

  • Mosquito bite symptoms
  • How to use essential oils for mosquito bites
  • Add your essential oil mix to a bath
  • Create a spray
  • Make an ointment
  • Why use essential oils for mosquito bites?
  • Top essential oils for mosquito bites
  • Chamomile
  • Lavender
  • Lemongrass
  • Mint
  • Rosemary
  • Tea Tree
  • Science-backed data
  • Tea tree oil’s anti-itching properties
  • Chamomile and its effect on skin healing
  • The anti-inflammatory effects of lavender
  • Rosemary’s anti-inflammatory qualities
  • Peppermint’s anti-inflammatory benefits
  • Lemongrass for repelling mosquitoes and their after-effects
  • What to keep in mind when using essential oils for mosquito bites
  • Effective blends of essential oils for mosquito bites
  • Date Night
  • Focus
  • Sleep
  • Essential oils for mosquito bites FAQs
  • What essential oils are good for mosquito bites?
  • What are essential oils?
  • Are mosquitoes attracted to essential oils?
  • Do essential oils prevent mosquito bites?
  • How do you use essential oils to repel mosquitoes?
  • In summary

Mosquito bite symptoms

girl looking at the red round bump from mosquito bite

Finding out all about the best essential oils for mosquito bites can help you to mitigate the symptoms many people experience as a result of these creatures. You may even be able to prevent them altogether.

Usually, after a mosquito has bitten you, a round bump forms on your skin. In certain cases, a small dot may also be present in the bump’s centre. The bite eventually reddens and hardens due to swelling. Due to the way that mosquitoes feed, you’ll usually experience more than one bite at a time, and a cluster of two or three bites is very common.

Itchy, red bumps are the most common symptom. But depending on the state of your immune system and your general makeup, mosquito bite symptoms can also include blistering, bruising, hives and swollen lymph nodes. Interestingly, children often experience stronger reactions to bites than adults do.

How to use essential oils for mosquito bites

When you know what essential oils are good for mosquito bites, how you use them is up to you.

After diluting the oil you’ve chosen with a carrier oil, you could opt to put the mix directly onto the bite. Or you could cover the bite up with a bandage after applying the diluted mix onto your skin or to the bandage itself.

Here are some other ways you can use essential oils for mosquito bites:

Add your essential oil mix to a bath

volant diffuser and essential oil in the bathroom

If you have been bitten repeatedly, you may want to soothe your skin in a bath that has added healing benefits. Add a few drops of your diluted essential oil mix into the hot water as you relax, and then apply it again topically to problem areas once you’ve gotten out and toweled off.

Create a spray

homemade essential oil sprayed

Create a hot or cold compress using a cotton pad or washcloth. Add a few drops of your essential oil/carrier oil mix and lay it over your throat to help relieve some of your pain.

Make an ointment 

essential oil ointment for mosquito bite

Creating your own personal salve with the most effective essential oils for mosquito bites is another option. Do so by combining the essential oil you’ve selected with a carrier oil and using that or by adding a few drops of oil to your store-bought or homemade moisturizer or lotion. This method keeps the essential oil on your skin longer and is therefore more effective than diluting it in water.

Why use essential oils for mosquito bites?

essential oil spray to repel mosquito surrounded with essential oil bottles

Essential oils may well be able to provide you with some relief from the discomfort mosquito bites cause. These natural products work to target itching and inflammation and can take much of the misery of bug bites away.

Knowing what essential oils are good for mosquito bites and using them correctly may also help you to resist the urge to scratch. This, in turn, helps to prevent further itching as well as infections, as scratching can open the wound and allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream.

Top essential oils for mosquito bites

The best essential oils for mosquito bites have antimicrobial, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. They may also speed up the healing process and can work to repel these bugs in the first place. This means that using them may help you avoid getting bitten at all.

These are the best essential oils to use on mosquito bites:

Chamomile

Volant Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

An aromatic European plant belonging to the daisy flower, chamomile is added to a range of skin products because of its palliative effects. Using chamomile essential oil can reduce skin wound pain and itchiness and may speed up recovery, making it the perfect essential oil for mosquito bites.

volant organic roman chamomile essential oil skin impurities like acne
volant organic roman chamomile essential oil skin impurities like acne
organic roman chamomile
volant organic roman chamomile essential oil bottle packaging skin impurities like acne
volant white diffuser using organic roman chamomile essential oil with calming and relaxation effect

Organic Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

29 €

Lavender

Volant Lavender Essential Oil

This aromatic evergreen shrub belongs to the mint family and is a very popular option for treating bug bites. Lavender essential oil has soothing properties and relieves pain. It can be used to treat mosquito bites and is often recommended for spider bites as well as bee stings due to its wound-healing properties, so it’s a very handy addition to any medicine cabinet.

volant organic lavender essential oil that promotes relaxation and better sleep
volant organic lavender essential oil that promotes relaxation and better sleep
organic lavender
volant organic lavender essential oil bottle packaging that promotes relaxation and better sleep
volant white diffuser using organic lavender essential oil promoting relaxation and better sleep

Organic Lavender Essential Oil

11 €

Lemongrass

Volant Lemongrass Essential Oil

Lemongrass essential oil has antimicrobial effects which can help prevent the spread of certain diseases carried by insects. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and, because swelling can be a major source of pain and itching from mosquito bites, using it on your welts can bring a lot of relief.

Lemongrass is also one of the best mosquito repellent essential oils. It has numerous studies showing its effectiveness in repellent mosquitoes across species. Luckily, it smells great too!

volant organic lemongrass essential oil to repel insects
volant organic lemongrass essential oil to repel insects
organic lemongrass
volant organic lemongrass essential oil bottle packaging with antibacterial properties
volant grey diffuser using organic lemongrass essential oil to repel insects

Organic Lemongrass Essential Oil

10 €

Mint

Volant Peppermint and Spearmint Essential Oils

Mint oils, like peppermint essential oil and spearmint essential oil, are excellent options for treating mosquito bites. The cooling sensation they deliver can reduce irritation, and their aroma also repels mosquitoes, working to ensure you don’t get bitten again. These oils will help you to deal with itchiness, decreasing your urge to scratch and removing the risk of a more serious infection occurring.

volant organic peppermint essential oil to keep mosquitoes away
volant organic peppermint essential oil to keep mosquitoes away
organic peppermint leaves
volant organic peppermint essential oil bottle packaging to keep mosquitoes away
volant white diffuser using organic peppermint essential oil to keep mosquitoes away

Organic Peppermint Essential Oil

11 €
volant organic spearmint essential oil soothe ailments such as skin problems, headaches, nausea, vomiting, respiratory issues, and cold symptoms
volant organic spearmint essential oil soothe ailments such as skin problems, headaches, nausea, vomiting, respiratory issues, and cold symptoms
organic spearmint leaves
volant organic spearmint essential oil bottle packaging for ailments such as skin problems, headaches, nausea, vomiting, respiratory issues, and cold symptoms
volant white diffuser using organic spearmint essential oil helps you focus while working or studying

Organic Spearmint Essential Oil

9 €

Rosemary

Volant Rosemary Essential Oil

The anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and antimicrobial qualities of rosemary essential oil make it another amazing option for treating mosquito bites.

Interestingly, this evergreen aromatic shrub also belongs to the mint family and has more uses than just a culinary enhancement or insect repellent. It is popular in perfumery and is used as an emblem of remembrance in certain cultures.

volant organic rosemary essential oil for hair growth
volant organic rosemary essential oil for hair growth
organic rosemary leaves
volant organic rosemary essential oil bottle packaging for hair growth
volant grey diffuser using organic rosemary essential oil to relieve stress and relax

Organic Rosemary Essential Oil

11 €

Tea Tree

Volant tea tree essential oil

Tea tree essential oil has a well-earned reputation for its anti-itching, anti-swelling and anti-pain qualities. Because it is antimicrobial, it’s also excellent at preventing bacterial infections so it’s one of the best essential oils for mosquito bites.

Tea tree essential oil can actually be used to treat a range of different insect bites, including those from bees, fire ants, mosquitoes, spiders and ticks.

volant organic tea tree essential oil as antibacterial for skin
volant organic tea tree essential oil as antibacterial for skin
tea tree
volant organic tea tree essential oil bottle packaging for hair and skin
volant white diffuser using organic tea tree essential oil for aromatherapy

Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil

10 €

Science-backed data

There’s been a marked interest in plant-based insect repellents in recent years. Now more than ever, consumers are looking for products that protect them without doing them any harm, or causing any harm to the environment.

Scientific research into this sector is on the rise, which means that there are now provable hypotheses as to why essential oils work.

These are just some of the studies that offer a science-based perspective on the subject:

Tea tree oil’s anti-itching properties

Tea tree oil may be able to help you with the discomfort and itching associated with mosquito bites as well as act as an antibacterial and repellent agent.

Research on dogs conducted in 2014 showed that tea tree oil was adept at handling pruritic dermatitis (or dry, itchy skin) in dogs. This is a result that many people using tea tree oil to combat the urge to scratch insect bites attest to as well.

Chamomile and its effect on skin healing

When compared to a 1% hydrocortisone cream for skin irritation, it was found that chamomile healed lesions far more quickly while also reducing inflammation, itching and pain.

The anti-inflammatory effects of lavender

A 2012 study revealed that lavender has significant anti-inflammatory effects on a cellular level. A review published in 2020 concluded that lavender essential oil does indeed speed up wound healing of the skin. This explains why it's such a popular option when it comes to treating insect bites of all types.

Rosemary’s anti-inflammatory qualities

Rosemary has been shown to reduce skin inflammation and accelerate wound healing in mice. Combined with peppermint, its topical application was also shown in mice to reduce osteoarthritis pain and inflammation. These qualities of rosemary all make it ideal for use on mosquito bites.

Peppermint’s anti-inflammatory benefits

Five gracious human volunteers tested the ability of peppermint oil to repel mosquitoes. Amazingly, peppermint oil prevented 100% of bites over the first 2.5 hours while mosquito bites were recorded on the arms treated with just ethanol.

An in vitro and in vivo study on diabetic wound healing found that peppermint oil had antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects while accelerating wound healing.

Peppermint oil has also been shown to improve inflammatory muscle pain in rats when applied topically, showing that it can help reduce pain.

Finally, peppermint oil was shown to reduce chronic itching in human volunteers over 2 weeks compared to a placebo.

Lemongrass for repelling mosquitoes and their after-effects

Lemongrass has been thoroughly studied for its ability to repel mosquitoes and, according to one study, worked as well as a commercial formulation, performing at 50% repellency or higher for 2-3 hours.

A 2017 in vitro study confirmed that lemongrass does indeed have anti-inflammatory effects in human skin cells, and another study of the same year discovered that applying lemongrass oil topically for a month reduced pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

What to keep in mind when using essential oils for mosquito bites

DIY Mosquito repellent essential oil spray surrounded by essential oil bottles

Knowing that you can use essential oils for mosquito bites can bring you much relief from the discomfort these bites are so famous for. It can also make you feel better about using them on yourself and your family as opposed to sticky, stinky sprays or medicated ointments.

However, although essential oils are incredible natural remedies that can replace certain pharmaceutical and chemical treatments, you need to ensure that you use them correctly.

If you’re planning on applying oils directly to your skin, you need to do a patch test first. Pure oils must always be diluted with a carrier oil, and then you can swab a small spot on the inside of your arm to test it. If your skin doesn’t react, you should have no problem using a diluted mix of the oil on your body.

If you experience any type of allergic reaction when using essential oils for mosquito bites, you should always stop using them at once. You also need to be sure that, in the case of mosquito bites, that’s what you’re actually treating.

Your body’s reaction to a mosquito bite can mimic symptoms of very dangerous, venomous bites from other creatures, especially spiders, for example. Welts that initially appear as simply itchy and troublesome can become very painful very quickly and can make you seriously ill.

If you’re unsure whether you’ve been bitten by a venomous spider or a mosquito, it’s best to consult your doctor as soon as possible, preferably before use.

If you’re going to use essential oils on children or pets to either repel mosquitoes or to relieve itching from mosquito bites, check out our guides first to see which essential oils are safe to use on children and our furry friends - since we all know both are prone to licking themselves or putting their fingers in their mouths!

Effective blends of essential oils for mosquito bites

One of the many reasons essential oil use is on the rise is that they're so versatile. You can use these oils on their own and in blends, and for a variety of different purposes.

Experiment with your own mixtures when you start using essential oils for mosquito bites, and check out these combinations exclusive to Volant too:

Date Night

Volant Date Night  essential oil blend

Don’t let these pests ruin a romantic evening out or in! Volant’s Organic Date Night blend contains several different essential oils, including lavender, which makes it a contender for a blend that will soothe itching, irritated skin.

volant date night essential oil blend made with pure Amber, Lavender, Frankincense and Bergamot
volant date night essential oil blend made with pure Amber, Lavender, Frankincense and Bergamot
red wine and volant black diffuser using date night essential oil blend made with pure Amber, Lavender, Frankincense and Bergamot
volant date night essential oil blend bottle packaging made with pure Amber, Lavender, Frankincense and Bergamot
volant black diffuser using essential oil blends

Date Night

16 €

Focus

Volant Focus essential oil

Volant’s Organic Focus blend contains multiple essential oils to help keep your attention on the task at hand. The fact that it contains cinnamon and rosemary essential oils, however, also makes it a good choice not just for repelling mosquitoes but also for treating itchy bites.

volant focus essential oil blend made with pure Vanilla Beam, Clementine, Rosemary, and Cinnamon
volant focus essential oil blend made with pure Vanilla Beam, Clementine, Rosemary, and Cinnamon
volant white diffuser using focus essential oil blend made with pure Vanilla Beam, Clementine, Rosemary, and Cinnamon
volant focus essential oil blend bottle packaging  made with pure Vanilla Beam, Clementine, Rosemary, and Cinnamon
woman studying using volant focus essential oil blend made with pure Vanilla Beam, Clementine, Rosemary, and Cinnamon

Focus

17 €

Sleep

Volant sleep essential oil

As difficult as these critters can make it to get some rest, our Organic Sleep blend, which includes lavender and Roman chamomile, will help you get your 40 winks.

These two essential oils are natural aids in the fight against mosquito bites and, in combination with frankincense and Palma rosa, will help you settle down for the night.

volant sleep essential oil blend bottle made with pure Lavender, Frankincense, and Palma Rosa and Roman Chamomile
volant sleep essential oil blend bottle made with pure Lavender, Frankincense, and Palma Rosa and Roman Chamomile
volant white diffuser using sleep essential oil blend made with pure Lavender, Frankincense, and Palma Rosa and Roman Chamomile
volant sleep essential oil blend bottle packaging made with pure Lavender, Frankincense, and Palma Rosa and Roman Chamomile
girl sleeping using volant sleep essential oil blend made with pure Lavender, Frankincense, and Palma Rosa and Roman Chamomile

Sleep

18 €

Essential oils for mosquito bites FAQs

What essential oils are good for mosquito bites?

Choose from essential oils like chamomile, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint and tea tree to treat your bug bites.

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are fat-soluble substances within the various parts of the plant that give it its aroma, protection from invaders, attract pollinators and help it heal and grow. They are extracted into liquids that evaporate quickly when exposed to the air. They have powerful healing and mood-altering effects in humans.

Are mosquitoes attracted to essential oils?

On the contrary! Many people use essential oils for mosquito bites and as a repellent and to deter them from biting at all.

Do essential oils prevent mosquito bites?

Some essential oils, like peppermint or lemongrass, can prevent you from getting bitten by mosquitoes.

How do you use essential oils to repel mosquitoes?

You can apply a dilution of essential oils and carrier oil topically to your body to repel mosquitoes and other biting insects and to treat mosquito bites.

In summary

As you’ll now no doubt agree, using essential oils for mosquito bites is an excellent idea. Whether you’re looking to repel these bugs, thus preventing them from biting you at all, or need to address the discomfort they’ve left you in, there are several oils that can help.

Scientific research confirms that using essential oils for mosquito bites is an effective remedy and that, if used properly, they can definitely reduce a variety of symptoms.

Soothe that itchy, burning feeling of mosquito bites with Volant’s 100% pure, organic essential oils. Mosquito bites don’t have to be the bane of your existence - there are natural solutions that work.

If you have any questions about using essential oils for mosquito bites don’t hesitate to contact us at support@volantaroma.com. We’ll gladly assist you!

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