Latest news with #essentialoils
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Are Essential Oils Enough to Keep Mosquitoes Away? Pest Pros Share What Works—and What Doesn't
Essential oils like lemon eucalyptus, citronella, lavender, and peppermint can repel mosquitoes, but their effects tend to be short-lived unless reapplied frequently. The effectiveness of these oils varies by brand and formulation, so look for high-quality, pure options and always test for skin sensitivity before use. Experts recommend using essential oils as a supplementary measure rather than your only line of defense, especially in areas with heavy mosquito presence or disease heading outdoors this summer, layer on the insect repellent to keep yourself protected from pesky mosquitoes. Many commercial sprays contain DEET or Picaridin, two effective repellents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you're wondering about natural solutions, studies show that several plant oils can help deter mosquitoes. How do they stack up? We asked the experts. Some essential oils can keep mosquitoes at bay, but the effectiveness and duration of time you're protected can vary, explains Trent Frazer, lead entomologist and senior director of quality assurance at Aptive, a pest control company. 'Essential oils work by masking the scents that attract mosquitoes, such as carbon dioxide and body odors,' Frazer says. 'However, because natural oils are volatile and break down quickly, they tend to offer shorter-term protection unless combined with stabilizers or applied more frequently.' The best essential oils to use include: This is one of the more effective oils, according to Shannon Harlow-Ellis, Associate Certified Entomologist and Technical Services Manager, Mosquito Joe, a pest control company. They can repel mosquitoes for up to six hours, she says. According to Frazer, oil of lemon eucalyptus has been shown to provide protection comparable to low concentrations of DEET. 'Citronella oil is a classic option that will also last around an hour, unless formulated in a candle or lotion,' says Harlow-Ellis. 'This is a milder repellent effect, often lasting about 30 minutes to an hour,' says Frazer. Similar to lavender, peppermint won't deter mosquitoes for more than 30 minutes, according to Frazer. Quality can vary greatly, our experts say. 'The efficacy of essential oils can indeed vary significantly by brand,' Frazer says. 'Factors like the source of the plant, how the oil is extracted, the concentration and whether the oil is pure or diluted all impact how well it works." And oils can evaporate quickly, meaning you'll need to reapply often, so essential oils aren't practical for extended periods of time—unless you're very diligent with reapplication! When buying oils, Frazer recommends scanning the labels to look for the botanical name of the plant used. 'For example, oil of lemon eucalyptus should list Corymbia citriodora or Eucalyptus citriodora,' he says. 'This helps confirm you're getting the correct species, as common names can be misleading.' Be sure to check that there are no synthetic additives. And before slathering them on your body, you'll want to test for skin sensitivity, as some oils can cause irritation or allergic reactions, Frazer advises. When applying, start from your head down, dabbing oil on your neck, elbows, wrists, behind the knees, and ankles, says Harlow-Ellis. For extra protection, Frazer says you can eve apply oils to the edges of your clothing, hats, shoes, outdoor gear, and screens. Although essential oils can be a natural tool in repelling mosquitoes, they aren't enough to keep you fully protected, our experts say. 'Essential oils are best used as part of a broader pest management strategy, not as a standalone solution, particularly in areas with high mosquito activity or risk of mosquito-borne diseases,' Frazer says. Read the original article on Real Simple
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Changing climate affecting Hampshire lavender crops
The changing climate is having an impact on vibrant fields of lavender that have been a popular summer sight in the Hampshire countryside, a grower has Butler's family introduced lavender to Hartley Park Farm near Alton 26 years the Mediterranean shrub, with purple flowers and a distinctive fragrance, loves hot summers, Mr Butler said this year's warm spring brought flowering forward by up to two Royal Horticultural Society has said "high spring light levels" had particularly affected lavender growth cycles. It produces essential lavender and rosemary oils and the family has developed a range of hand, body and home fragrance Butler's parents began growing lavender in 1999, aiming to diversify their farming with his wife Lyndsay, he took over the running of the farm in is now about seven acres of lavender and an acre of wildflowers grown on the year about 15,000 people visit the farm during the nine-week flowering period, many after a photo opportunity among the swathes of purple lavender. Mr Butler said the effects of a changing climate were becoming 2025 broke historical climate records, marking an unprecedented season of warmth and sunshine across the winter of 2024/25 was marked by unusually wet Met Office reported the eighth wettest winter since records began, with rainfall exceeding the 1991-2020 average."Although the lavender loves the hot summers, it absolutely hates sustained wet conditions like last winter," Mr Butler said."Wet conditions like this are the leading cause of the loss of lavender." 'Accelerated the flowering' He said, although not a significant impact on the crop as a whole, it was "more than we would usually lose over a winter"."Hot spring conditions this year have accelerated the flowering, which we would estimate this year to be two weeks earlier than normal," he elsewhere in England have also felt the effects. Hitchin Lavender in Hertfordshire announced it would open to the public a week earlier than usual because of the impact of the warm Barter, Royal Horticultural Society chief horticulturist, said: "Mild winter, a record warm spring, drier, and therefore warmer soils and especially the very high spring light levels have favoured this Mediterranean shrub which hails from brighter, warmer drier climes." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The 20p kitchen staple that mosquito-proofs your body & stops you getting bitten
A MOSQUITO expert has revealed a 20p hack to ensure the pesky critters stay away from you this summer. Now that summer is finally upon us, and with temperatures set to ramp up again next week, many of us are likely making plans for camping trips or visits to countryside cottages. But there's nothing worse than sitting outside on a warm summer 's night, only to be attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes. Although thankfully, mosquitoes in the UK do not carry malaria, they are still prone to biting humans, which can be itchy and cause swelling. Shop-bought repellants can be an effective method of keeping mozzies at bay, but these contain harsh chemicals, and can be expensive. Thankfully, Shannon Harlow-Ellis of Mosquito Joe has revealed that you can banish the beasts with the help of a 20p kitchen staple. The mosquito-busting expert revealed that a simple trick is to use vinegar mixed with essential oils. Vinegar is something most of us will have lying in the back of the cupboard, but if you don't have any you can pick it up from the supermarket for as little as 20p. The expert recommends mixing your vinegar with essential oils such as lavender or cinnamon. These are also a budget-friendly buy, and can be picked up from Amazon for just £3.95. To try out the hack, all you need to do is mix the two ingredients together in a spray bottle and then spritz your body before going outside. And if you're worried about smelling like a fish and chip shop, don't worry, as the essential oils will mask the vinegar's scent. 'These miracle bags should be in every home,' says mum who created a cheap hack to prevent flies from entering your home The purse-friendly hack works by masking your natural odour, which mosquitoes look for when hunting. "These essential oils are found to be a mask for the odours that female mosquitoes are attuned to when searching for a blood meal," Shannon told Martha Stewart. "Sweat, body odor, CO2, and sometimes even your blood type can emit smells that attract these bloodsuckers." Mosquitos also hate the smell of vinegar, so will be sure to keep well away if they get a whiff of the kitchen essential. Keep pests out all summer IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass. The pesky insects are most active in the early morning and at night, so make sure to be vigilant with spraying yourself at these times of day. They tend to stay away in the middle of the day, as warmer weather can dehydrate them. Make sure to regularly reapply to avoid being bitten, as once the fragrance is gone, the repellent won't work anymore. It is also a good idea to avoid wearing bright coloured clothing as this can attract mosquitoes. Many pest control experts also claim that coffee grounds are the key to keeping them away. Experts at WW Gardening recommend drying the coffee grounds out and then placing them on a fire-resistant container like a metal tray. You can then light the grounds with a match like you would incense to keep the pests at bay.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Aldi launches new NEOM and White Company candle dupes for up to £55 cheaper – exact date they're hitting stores
ALDI is launching a luxurious selection of home fragrances this week - including versions of NEOM and White Company candles, for a fraction of the price. Life can be incredibly stressful at times, so it's important to take some time to yourself to relax and unwind. 5 Wellness has become a growing trend in recent years, with influencers and celebrities making large amounts of cash for flogging candles and incense. Many wellness products can have hefty price tags, so for those who want to feel good without breaking the bank, Aldi has the perfect solution. Landing in stores on June 5th, the budget supermarket is launching a selection of "wellbeing inspired" fragrances, with prices starting at as little as £3.99. The collection includes premium candles, reed diffusers and essential oils, "with each scent crafted to help boost well-being". The three scents are 'Joyful', a combination of Neroli, Mimosa and Lemon, 'Peace', which features notes of lavender and jasmine, and 'Balance', which features a blend of rose, lime and black pepper. Aldi's Spa Candle is priced at £3.99, and has been compared to NEOM's Happiness Candle, which is priced at £38, making the budget offering £34 cheaper. The supermarket is also selling a pack of three essential oils for £3.39, a fraction of the price of NEOM's Happiness Essential Oil Blend, which is priced at £23. The bargain retailer is also selling a more premium selection of home fragrances, including a Premium Glass Candle for £9.99. This invigorating candle has been compared to The White Company Tuscan Grove Large Candle, which is priced at £65, making the Aldi candle £55 cheaper. The premium Aldi candles come in either Bergamot and Vanilla, Lemon & Neroli or Mint & White Tea. A closer look at Aldi's new Hotel Collection candles and diffusers The luxurious candles are part of Aldi's Specialbuys range, and can be found in the middle aisle of stores. Aldi launches new Specialbuys every Thursday and Sunday, and feature everything from beauty dupes to garden bargains. However, you'll have to be quick if you want to snap the lavish candles up, since as with all Specialbuys, once they're gone, they're gone. More Aldi Specialbuys And the candles aren't the only bargains landing at the German discounter this week. When's the best time to shop at Aldi? WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy. For reduced items - when shops open Red sticker items are rare at Aldi's 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found - if you're quick. A spokesman for the supermarket said: "All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates." That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens. Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store's times by using the supermarket's online shop finder tool. For Specialbuys - Thursdays and Sundays Specialbuys are Aldi's weekly collection of items that it doesn't normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools. New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals. For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store's opening time. Remember: once they're gone, they're gone, so if there's something you really want, visit as early as possible Aldi has revealed 36 garden essential products, including Crocs dupes. Prices start at just £1.99 and go up to £19.99, with several top-shelf items for a fraction of the cost you'd pay at big-name stores. That includes Mini Pruning Shears, scanning at Aldi for just £3.99 — a whopping 65 per cent cheaper than Tesco's price. Shoppers can also snap up more luxurious items from the bargain chain, like Solar Marrakesh Crook Lanterns for £12.99 — around £17 less than similar ones at Scotts of Stow. Garden lovers after comfy outdoor footwear might find Aldi's Crocs dupe the perfect fit. The discount supermarket's Summer Clogs will be flying off the shelves for a mere £3.99.
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Pestly Is a Better Essential Oil Bug Repellent (But We Still Don't Recommend It)
There is no question that Pestly represents a significant step forward for essential oil repellents. But does it go far enough to replace a picaridin- or DEET-based spray? We asked repellency researcher Laurence Zwiebel, a professor of biological science and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University, and he told us that, even with Pestly's advancements in mind, essential oil repellents 'to me, have not shown the level of robust, prolonged, durable repellency, full stop.' Another significant difference holding this newcomer back: Although Pestly has shown decent repellency against mosquitoes, it makes no claims against ticks. Considering the prevalence of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, we believe that this is a serious issue, and one we can't ignore. Both picaridin and DEET have proven repellency against those harmful little bugs. 'What I tell people is, if you want to go for a walk in the woods, you should bring some serious stuff,' Zwiebel told us when we asked him to share his general advice on using repellents. 'If you wanna just sit on your back deck, I would not put anything on and just stick a big-ass fan on the deck to blow at you, and you'll be more comfortable, and you won't have any insects bothering you.' If you don't like the idea of spraying picaridin or DEET on your skin, he suggests spraying it just on your clothing. He also likes permethrin-treated clothing: 'A barrier is always a better thing than a chemical, and a barrier treated with a chemical is the best,' he explained. When you talk to an expert like Zwiebel, or the many other researchers we've spoken to over our several years of reporting on this topic, you get the impression that taking any unnecessary risk, while knowing what is at stake, doesn't make sense. That's especially true considering that more effective repellents, like those containing picaridin and DEET, are so readily available. So although we appreciate what Pestly is doing and admire its willingness to set a new standard for essential oil repellents, we stand by our recommendation to use a repellent with a 20% concentration of picaridin or a 25% concentration of DEET. It will provide all-day protection against mosquitoes and ticks. But still, Pestly has provided a glimmer of hope for folks seeking an alternative, and it represents a solid step forward toward a repellent that we might someday recommend for general use. This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Harry Sawyers. We don't recommend using any essential-oil bug repellents. There's no way to know what kind of protection you're getting (if any) or how long it will last. Our repellent recommendations are EPA approved, backed by experts, and tested by us. Bug zappers kill the wrong bugs—to control bugs without a spray repellent, use a spatial repellent or a fan instead. These products create a bug-free barrier, and the best ones are long-lasting, effective, and easy to refill or recharge.
