Cedarwood oil
Oils, cedarwood
Does cedarwood oil repel bugs?
Against mosquitoes, the evidence is minimal. Against ticks, there's a genuine signal: cedrol, a cedarwood component, measurably repels ticks for short windows. Treat cedarwood products as brief, tick-leaning helpers, not mosquito protection.
When to choose it: A supporting ingredient in botanical blends. Don't rely on it solo for mosquitoes.
Better known for closets than skin. Its mosquito evidence is thin, but its cedrol component has a real, short-lived effect against ticks, which is where cedarwood products earn their keep.
How it works
The active parts are cedrol and related sesquiterpenes, which repel by contact and, against ticks, act as a direct toxicant. The moth-deterring reputation of cedar chests is a separate effect from protecting skin from biting insects.
Safety around dogs & cats
Cedar oil appears in some natural flea products for dogs, which tolerate it reasonably well, but in cats it has caused drooling, tremors, and skin irritation and it should not be applied to them. Keep it off cats and prevent grooming of treated skin.
Moderate confidence. Ratings from ASPCA Animal Poison Control, the Pet Poison Helpline, and published veterinary toxicology. This is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is exposed, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
The evidence
A 2014 bioassay found cedrol killed blacklegged-tick nymphs in a dose-dependent way, while a 1999 skin study ranked cedarwood among the weaker oils against mosquitoes. On-skin mosquito data stay sparse; the tick result is the firmer part.
- Toxicoses from essential oils in animalsReview
The Merck Veterinary Manual's reference on essential-oil poisoning in animals, explaining how pets are exposed (skin contact, grooming, inhalation) and why cats are the most vulnerable species.
- Bioactivity of cedarwood oil and cedrol against arthropod pests2014LabLimited evidence
A pest-control screen of cedarwood oil (from eastern redcedar) as an ant repellent and its component cedrol as a tick toxicant. It did not test mosquitoes or human skin at all, so its relevance to a skin repellent is indirect.
- Repellency of essential oils to mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)1999LabWell-supported evidence
A controlled study measuring how long five essential oils, alone and in blends, keep mosquitoes from biting treated skin across a wide range of concentrations. It sets a clear hierarchy and shows these oils do nothing at low doses.
Products using it
Natrapel
Natrapel Essential Oil Insect Repellent
Soybean oil 72.75% · Rosemary oil 3.00%
Complete protection
Badger
Anti-Bug Shake & Spray
Soybean oil 23% · Castor oil 10%
Complete protection
All Terrain
Herbal Armor DEET-Free Natural Insect Repellent Pump Spray
Peppermint oil 2% · Cedarwood oil 1.5%
Complete protection
California Baby
California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent Spray
Citronella oil 5% · Lemongrass oil 0.5%
Complete protection
Badger
Bug Repellent Balm Tin
Castor oil 10% · Citronella oil 5%
Complete protection
Quantum Health
Buzz Away Insect Repellent
Citronella oil 5%
Complete protection
Murphy's Naturals
Mosquito Repellent Balm Stick
Castor oil 10.5% · Lemongrass oil 3.25%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Potentially not EPA compliant
The Superbloc
The Superbloc Bloc & Chill Mosquito Repellent Spray
p-Menthane-3,8-diol 8% · Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus 1%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Potentially not EPA compliant
Lovett Sundries
Lovett Sundries Insect Repellent
Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Lemon eucalyptus oil) 1.18% · Cedarwood oil 1.17%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Potentially not EPA compliant
The Superbloc
The Superbloc Bloc Off Mosquito Repellent Spray
p-Menthane-3,8-diol 8% · Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus 1%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Kate McLeod
The Bug Balm
Geranium oil 0.2% · Cedarwood oil 0.12%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Lemongrass Farms
TREK Insect Repellent for Kids
Geranium oil 0.50% · Lemongrass oil 0.50%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Babyganics
Babyganics Mosquito Repellent Lotion – Fragrance Free
Rosemary oil 1.50% · Citronella oil 0.95%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Lemongrass Farms
TREK Natural Insect Repellent
Geranium oil 1.30% · Lemongrass oil 0.75%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Potentially not EPA compliant
The Superbloc
The Superbloc Bloc & Chill Mosquito Repellent Wipes
p-Menthane-3,8-diol 8% · Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus 1%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed
Greenerways Organic
Greenerways Organic Bug Repellent
Citronella oil 7.5% · Lemongrass oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Murphy's Naturals
Mosquito Repellent Wipes
Lemongrass oil 2.3% · Rosemary oil 2.1%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No demonstrated efficacy
Cedarcide
Cedarcide PCO Choice Cedar Oil Concentrate
Cedarwood oil 84.7%
Larval control
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Quitch
Geraniol Bug Repellent Balm
Geraniol · Castor oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Buzzie
Insect Repellent Spray
Rosemary oil · Lemongrass oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Wondercide
Wondercide Lemongrass Insect Repellent for Family
Cedarwood oil 4.2% · Lemongrass oil 1.5%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
No Mosquitoz
No Mosquitoz Botanical Insect Repellent Spray
Cedarwood oil · Citronella oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Heretic Parfum
The Entomologist Insect Repellent Spray
Cedarwood oil · Geranium oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Skeeter Screen
Skeeter Screen 4 oz. Personal Spray
Geraniol · Geranium oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Bugvaya
Bugvaya Lemongrass Insect Repellent
Lemongrass oil · Clove oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Meow Meow Tweet
Meow Meow Tweet Insect Repellent
Lemongrass oil · Cedarwood oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Cliganic
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Stick
Citronella oil · Lemongrass oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Sidebalm
Outside Balm
Clove oil · Geraniol
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Bugvaya
Bugvaya Cinnamon Sensitive Skin Insect Repellent
Cinnamon oil · Clove oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Bugvaya
Bugvaya Lemongrass Sensitive Skin Insect Repellent
Lemongrass oil · Clove oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
SallyeAnder
SallyeAnder No-Bite-Me Bug Repellent Cream
Cedarwood oil · Lemongrass oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Bugvaya
Bugvaya Cinnamon Insect Repellent
Cinnamon oil · Clove oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Primally Pure
Primally Pure Nature Spray
Citronella oil · Cedarwood oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +2 more
My July
My July Woods Nature Spray Tick & Mosquito Repellent
Citronella oil · Cedarwood oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +2 more
Erbaviva
Erbaviva Buzz Spray
Citronella oil · Lemongrass oil
Complete protection
Common misconceptions
Myth: “Cedar chests repel everything, so cedar oil repels mosquitoes.”
Reality: Cedar's reputation comes from moths and fabric pests. The published mosquito data for cedarwood oil on skin is minimal; the tick data is the genuinely interesting part.
Regulatory notes
EPA minimum risk (FIFRA 25(b)) approved active ingredient; matched to SRS registry entry.
Safety notes
A 25(b) ingredient common in fragrance. The concentrated oil can irritate skin, so dilute and patch-test before direct use.
Frequently asked questions
Does cedarwood oil repel ticks?
Briefly, yes. Its cedrol component shows real but short tick repellency (under an hour) in EPA-recommended skin bioassays.