Holistic Health Herbal Medicine The Health Benefits of Lemon Eucalyptus Oil This oil can be used as an insect repellent By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Lana Butner, ND, LAc on December 21, 2020 facebook linkedin Lana Butner, ND, LAc, is a board-certified naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in private practice in New York City. Learn about our Medical Review Board Lana Butner, ND, LAc on December 21, 2020 Print Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Health Benefits Possible Side Effects Dosage and Preparation What to Look For Other Questions Lemon eucalyptus oil is extracted from the leaves of a tree native to Australia (Eucalyptus citriodora). It is used as a natural insect repellant because it contains para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), a compound that makes it harder for mosquitoes and other bugs to pick up on your skin odor. Most commercially available insect repellents contain a processed lemon eucalyptus oil that intensifies its concentration of PMD and, in turn, increase its power and duration as a repellent. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies synthetic PMD as a biochemical pesticide, which is a type of naturally occurring substance that controls pests by non-toxic mechanisms. Health Benefits Mosquitoes can carry diseases like Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Used as an insect repellent, lemon eucalyptus oil can protect against bites that can lead to disease. Lemon eucalyptus oil is sometimes used as an alternative to DEET, which is the active ingredient in many popular insect repellent products. While DEET is highly effective when it comes to warding off disease-carrying insects, some individuals are concerned about its possible side effects, such as irritation of the eyes and skin. According to the CDC, EPA-registered products made from synthesized lemon eucalyptus oil appear to provide reasonably long-lasting repellent activity. Furthermore, the agency includes such products in its list of repellents that can help reduce the bites of disease-carrying mosquitoes. (Products containing DEET, picaridin, and IR3535 are also included on the CDC’s list.) Beyond Zika: What to Know About Mosquito-Borne Diseases Other Uses Although lemon eucalyptus oil is most commonly used as a mosquito repellent, it’s also said to stave off Lyme disease by preventing deer tick bites. In addition, lemon eucalyptus oil has long been used to soothe muscle spasms and alleviate osteoarthritis pain. However, there is a lack of scientific support for these uses of lemon eucalyptus oil. Possible Side Effects Due to a lack of studies testing lemon eucalyptus oil’s effects on children, the CDC warns against using the oil on those under the age of 3 years. Pregnant or nursing women and children should consult their primary care provider before using lemon eucalyptus oil. Pure lemon eucalyptus oil shouldn't be applied directly to the skin or used in larger amounts than recommended (the oils are absorbed through the skin and using too much can be toxic). What’s more, certain ingredients in lemon eucalyptus oil products may trigger allergic reactions. For that reason, it’s crucial to perform a patch test prior to using any type of product containing lemon eucalyptus oil. Lemon eucalyptus oil should never be ingested, as it may cause seizures and death. Contact poison control if you or someone you are with have swallowed products containing lemon eucalyptus oil. Dosage and Preparation There is no standard dosage recommended for lemon eucalyptus oil. Products containing this oil dilute it with other ingredients, such as a carrier oil. The suggested dilution ranges from a 30% to 75% lemon eucalyptus oil solution applied twice a day. Commercially available natural bug repellants tend to contain 10% to 30% lemon eucalyptus oil. Apply your repellent whenever you’re outside in areas with known mosquito populations (especially during the hours between dusk and dawn). Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying the oil and avoid getting oil in the eyes, on the lips or mouth, or near other mucous membranes as it may burn. Make sure to re-apply your lemon eucalyptus oil product as directed, and especially if you start getting bitten. What to Look For Lemon eucalyptus oil found in many commercially available mosquito repellents is not the same as lemon eucalyptus essential oil. It’s important to note the difference between the two and to read labels carefully so you know exactly what you are buying. A class of oils used in aromatherapy, essential oils are said to offer a broad range of health benefits—such as reduced stress and anxiety, improvements in sleep, and pain relief—when used appropriately. Unlike the specially formulated and PMD-rich lemon eucalyptus oil found in many insect repellents, essential oil of lemon eucalyptus rapidly evaporates from your skin. In fact, essential oil of lemon eucalyptus only provides protection from bug bites for about an hour, according to a report published in Malaria Journal in 2011. The CDC doesn't recommend pure essential oil of lemon eucalyptus due to the lack of testing for safety and efficacy. Essential Information About Essential Oils Other Questions Are there other natural insect repellants?A number of other plant-based products—including geranium oil and citronella—show promise as natural mosquito repellents. However, given that none of these is known to deliver long-lasting and effective protection, people in high-risk areas for mosquito-borne diseases should opt for CDC-recommended repellents. I'm going on vacation. How do I know if lemon eucalyptus oil will be sufficient as an insect repellant while I'm away?While there are parts of the world that tend to always be considered mosquito-borne illness hot spots, you can confirm the general level of risk in your destination by visiting the CDC's Travelers' Health page. Natural Mosquito Repellent: Which Works Best? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Maia MF, Moore SJ. Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing. Malar J. 2011;10 Suppl 1:S11. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-10-S1-S11 Müller GC, Junnila A, Kravchenko VD, et al. Ability of essential oil candles to repel biting insects in high and low biting pressure environments. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2008;24(1):154-60. doi:10.2987/8756-971X(2008)24[154:AOEOCT]2.0.CO;2 Nerio LS, Olivero-Verbel J, Stashenko E. Repellent activity of essential oils: a review. Bioresour Technol. 2010;101(1):372-8. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2009.07.048. Nguyen QD, Vu MN, Hebert AA. Insect Repellents: An Updated Review for the Clinician. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018. pii: S0190-9622(18)32824-X. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.10.053. Tawatsin A, Wratten SD, Scott RR, Thavara U, Techadamrongsin Y. Repellency of volatile oils from plants against three mosquito vectors. J Vector Ecol. 2001;26(1):76-82. Trongtokit Y, Rongsriyam Y, Komalamisra N, Apiwathnasorn C. Comparative repellency of 38 essential oils against mosquito bites. Phytother Res. 2005;19(4):303-9. doi:10.1002/ptr.1637