Published May 18, 2026 01:00AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Key Takeaways:<\/strong> A recent study found that adding patchouli oil to unscented cream to make an essential-oil-based lotion for the skin protects against mosquitoes just as effectively as DEET. This offers a natural alternative to chemical bug repellents. Entomologists and dermatologists explain why patchouli wards off mosquitoes and offer tips on how to make your own bug-repelling lotion at home.<\/p>\n A mosquito bite or being surrounded by a swarm of mosquitoes makes any outdoor activity unpleasant. Many people, one-third of the United States\u2019 population,\u00a0turn to insect repellents to keep bugs away. Common choices include products containing DEET, a chemical that helps protect against mosquitoes and ticks. When it\u2019s applied to the skin, DEET doesn\u2019t kill insects; instead, it acts like an invisibility shield, making it tougher for bugs to detect people, according to the Environmental Protection Agency<\/a> (EPA).<\/p>\n Even though DEET-based sprays and lotions are both safe and effective, according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>, some people might be put off by the odor, find it irritates their skin, or are just on the hunt for something natural.<\/p>\n Recent research, published in the journal ACS Omega<\/i><\/a>, suggests an alternative to traditional mosquito repellents\u2014and you may already have it at home. It\u2019s patchouli oil. The study concluded that this essential oil may be just as effective at keeping mosquitoes away as DEET when used properly.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how patchouli oil repels bugs, and how it holds up against DEET, plus what entomologists and dermatologists have to say about it.<\/p>\n Patchouli oil is an essential oil used in aromatherapy practices<\/a> to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. Some traditional medicine methods use the oil to treat colds, fevers, and digestive issues.<\/p>\n The one drawback: patchouli oil breaks down when exposed to air, making it ineffective as a bug repellent for extended periods. As a solution, the researchers combined it with an unscented cream (a lotion they formulated themselves in the lab) to create a mosquito-repellent lotion.<\/p>\n The study participants,* who were between the ages of 20 and 35, were asked to place their arms in a cage containing 50 Aedes aegypti <\/i>mosquitoes, which is a species<\/a> that\u00a0can carry diseases such as the Zika virus and yellow fever, for three hours (broken into 30-minute segments) after the oil-based lotion was applied to their forearms. They were asked not to use any other lotion or skin products for 12 hours before testing, and they were able to protect their hands with gloves. The researchers also conducted an experiment using a commercial DEET-based repellent for comparison. The control group did not use DEET or patchouli-infused lotion.<\/p>\n The result? There were no bites on the arms treated with the patchouli-infused lotion and DEET formulations, whereas the bare, untreated arms had many bites. The patchouli lotion and DEET protected the participants for three hours.<\/p>\n \u201cThese findings suggest that patchouli-based formulations may represent a promising natural alternative for topical mosquito repellents,\u201d the researchers wrote in the study.\u00a0 It\u2019s not clear if adding patchouli oil to over-the-counter unscented lotion or cream sunscreen would have similar results.<\/p>\n The study didn\u2019t specifically look at why<\/i> patchouli oil prevented the mosquito bites\u2014it simply discovered that the essential oil was effective at keeping hungry mosquitoes away. However, experts have some theories on why the oil warded off bugs.<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible mosquitoes just don\u2019t like patchouli\u2019s signature strong scent. \u201cIt\u2019s an odiferous material that could repel mosquitoes,\u201d says Elmer Gray<\/a>, an entomologist, mosquito control researcher, and public health extension specialist for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.<\/p>\n According to the researchers, in a press release<\/a>, patchouli may block a mosquito\u2019s sense of smell, preventing the insect from detecting people.<\/p>\n Like many essential oils, there is a risk of irritation when you apply patchouli oil to your skin, says Dr. Gary Goldenberg<\/a>, a dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. However, diluted, lower concentrations of patchouli are likely fine for most, he says. He suggests adding patchouli to an unscented lotion such as Vanicream<\/a> or CeraVe<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to the University of Minnesota\u2019s essential oils guide<\/a>, it\u2019s best to make a one-percent solution for an oil-and-lotion mixture you plan to massage on the skin.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say you have eight ounces of lotion; one percent of those eight ounces should be patchouli oil. You\u2019ll need to do some quick math to find out how much oil equals one percent; you can do that by dividing eight by 100, which equals 0.08 ounces or 2.4 milliliters of patchouli oil. You would then use a dropper to measure out 2.4 mL of patchouli to add to eight ounces of your lotion, and then shake it up and apply it to your skin.<\/p>\n \u201cLow concentration products used in this study for short-term topical use on intact skin appear to have low risk of skin irritation,\u201d Goldenberg says. Higher concentrations of patchouli or using the essential oil on people with sensitive skin may lead to irritation, though, he says.<\/p>\n Because the patchouli lotion was tested only on forearms, Goldenberg says it\u2019s unclear whether it can be used on the face. But if you\u2019re ever unsure of how your skin may react to a substance, you can always do a patch test.<\/p>\n According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, here\u2019s the best way to do a patch test at home<\/a>:<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t notice any irritation or rash, you\u2019re likely safe to use the product on larger areas of skin.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile some plant-based ingredients show early promise in lab settings, only a few have met the EPA\u2019s efficacy and safety standards for registration as a repellent,\u201d says Jim Fredericks, an entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association<\/a>. Patchouli oil isn\u2019t one of them. A few of those approved include catnip oil, citronella oil, and eucalyptus oil. (You can view the full list here<\/a>.) However, the study cited other research showing that combining multiple essential oils could protect against bug bites even more effectively than a single oil.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven that mosquitoes can carry numerous diseases, including West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, and western equine encephalitis, people should continue to use insect repellent containing DEET or another EPA-registered ingredient,\u201d Fredericks says.<\/p>\n However, if you happen to like the scent of patchouli, there\u2019s no harm in wearing it outdoors, provided it doesn\u2019t irritate your skin. But for now, Gray calls DEET the \u201cgold standard\u201d for mosquito-bite protection. That may change in the future, though. From here, the research team plans to conduct toxicological and clinical studies to assess the patchouli cream\u2019s long-term safety.<\/p>\n *The study did not clearly specify the number of participants involved in the repellency testing. Outside contacted the study authors and ACS publications for clarification, but did not receive a response prior to publication. This article will be updated if additional information is provided.<\/em><\/p>\n Want more\u00a0Outside<\/i>\u00a0health stories?\u00a0Sign up for the Bodywork newsletter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\nHow Does Patchouli Oil Compare to DEET?<\/h2>\n
Why Does Patchouli Oil Repel Mosquitoes?<\/h2>\n
Can You Make Your Own Patchouli-Infused Lotion at Home?<\/h2>\n
How to Dilute an Essential Oil in Lotion<\/h3>\n
Will Patchouli Oil Irritate Your Skin?<\/h3>\n
How Do You Perform a Patch Test at Home?<\/h4>\n
\n
What to Consider Before Creating Your Own Patchouli Bug Repellant<\/h2>\n