- New research suggests a natural alternative may be as effective as DEET at repelling mosquitoes.
- Lotion containing 6% catnip oil worked as well as DEET in lab and field tests.
- There are pros and cons to using catnip oil, according to experts.
DEET is widely considered the gold standard for mosquito repellents, but not everyone is a fan. Some don’t like its strong chemical smell or greasy texture; others worry about health and safety, although research doesn’t back up these concerns.
Now, there’s good news for people who’d rather avoid DEET. A study has found an alternative that could be just as effective: catnip oil.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, tested a hand lotion containing catnip oil in both lab and field trials, analyzing how mosquitoes responded to 15% DEET, two different concentrations of catnip oil, and plain lotion.
In the lab, the researchers used a Y-tube olfactometer, which gave mosquitoes two choices of odors; this test allowed them to determine if the bugs were attracted to or repelled by any of the scents. In the field trials, the researchers used something called a “human landing catch assay” to measure how many mosquitoes landed on human skin when treated with various lotions.
The researchers discovered that lotion containing 6% catnip oil performed just as well as DEET at repelling mosquitoes. Lotion with 2% catnip oil also performed well, but was slightly less effective.
Catnip oil isn’t commonly used, but data suggests it’s effective—and it’s already registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an insect repellent. Here’s what experts want you to know.
Meet the experts: Elmer W. Gray, entomologist and public health extension specialist at the University of Georgia; Jamie K. Alan, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University; Jim
Fredericks, Ph.D., entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs
at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).
What is catnip oil?
Catnip oil is an essential oil extracted from the nepeta cataria plant, also known as catmint. Dried catnip is used to give cats a “high” feeling, but catnip oil is different—it’s more concentrated than dried catnip, and should not be given to cats.
How does catnip oil repel mosquitoes?
Catnip oil contains an active compound called nepetalactone, which is a powerful insect repellent. Nepetalactone can cause pain and irritation when mosquitoes encounter it, causing them to avoid it.
It’s worth noting that research suggests that nepetalactone doesn’t just work on mosquitoes—it’s also an effective repellent against ticks, mites, bed bugs, dust mites, and stable flies.
How to use catnip oil
In this particular study, catnip oil was mixed into a lotion and then applied to the skin. A 2024 study examining the mosquito-repelling effects of catnip oil also used a lotion-based formula.
This is likely because catnip oil should not be applied directly to your skin. According to Jamie K. Alan, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, it can cause severe irritation when used this way. Instead, “dilute it with a carrier oil,” she says. That could be an unscented lotion or plant-based oil like jojoba or argan oil.
She recommends doing a spot test to see how your skin responds to the catnip oil mixture first. If you don’t have any skin irritation, you can go ahead and spread it on areas of exposed skin.
While you can technically make this mixture at home, it’s best to use commercial products, according to Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). “I advise against using home remedies and do-it-yourself repellents for something as important as your family’s health,” he says.
Pros and cons of using catnip oil as a mosquito repellent
“This is a plant-based material, so it may encourage people who want to go that route
to use it,” says Elmer W. Gray, entomologist and public health extension specialist at the University of Georgia. “The EPA testing and approval tells us that it works and is safe.”
But Gray says that catnip oil still “wouldn’t be my first choice,” given that DEET
has consistently been proven to be the best way to protect against mosquito bites.
“Many of the plant-based extracts like this don’t last as long [as DEET],” Gray says. “As a result, they have to be reapplied more often.”
How to find the right mosquito repellent for you
The EPA has a long list of approved insect repellent ingredients to choose from. To choose the right product for you, Gray recommends considering what you’re planning to do while using it.
“If you’re going to a Friday night football game, you’re only going to be out for a few hours—a plant-based repellent that doesn’t last as long would be fine,” he says. But if you’re going fishing in a swampy area or taking a hike—and don’t want to reapply your repellent regularly—he suggests using a repellent with a more powerful, long-lasting ingredient like DEET or IR 3535.
Gray also suggests paying attention to public health alerts in your area. “If West Nile virus has been detected in the mosquitoes in your area, you don’t want to play games,” he says.
“It’s really about how bad the mosquitoes are,” Gray says. “The worse they are, the
stronger repellent you’ll need.”
Read the full article here