Overview

• Recent guides recommend planting lavender, basil, rosemary, thyme and other fragrant herbs near windows and seating areas to naturally discourage mosquitoes.
• Essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree and peppermint can be diluted with water or carrier oils for use in sprays, diffusers or on cotton pads placed beside doorways and windows.
• Kitchen-based hacks such as inserting bay leaves into lemon halves, brewing bay-leaf decoctions with vinegar or smoking coffee grounds serve as quick, low-cost deterrents and room fresheners.
• Articles stress correct dilution and application of oils to avoid skin or eye irritation and advise refreshing homemade treatments every few days for consistent effect.
• Reports emphasize that these natural measures provide nuisance relief but do not match the proven efficacy of DEET or Icaridin repellents or substitute habitat management for serious mosquito control.