Mosquito repellent made from geranium oil is not as effective as others.
Most mosquito repellents contain DEET or other chemicals, so many have tried to find a natural replacement for them. While some believe that geranium oil can work as a mosquito repellent, its effectiveness is questionable. Does this Spark an idea?
Uses
Many claims have been associated with geranium oil over the years. Organic health proponents have maintained the oil can help cure depression, relieve stress, fight dry skin and kill lice. Most of these claims have not been proved in scientific studies.
Warning
A study done by Donald R. Barnard and Rui-De Xue for the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Florida, found that the effectiveness of geranium oil as a mosquito repellent is rather limited. While it was able to repel mosquitoes for a couple of hours, its longevity was eclipsed by chemical repellents, which can work for up to eight hours in some cases.
Function
Studies have shown that the best "natural" mosquito repellents usually contain more than just one type of oil. According to the Mississippi Department of Health, Bite Blocker, a repellent that contains geranium, soybean and coconut oil, can repel mosquitoes for up to 3 1/2 hours, longer than any repellent that contains only geranium oil.
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