Lemongrass oil
Oils, lemongrass
Does lemongrass oil repel mosquitoes?
Yes. Lemongrass is among the stronger essential-oil repellents, with complete protection around an hour to ninety minutes at well-formulated concentrations. That's the top of the botanical class, and still a fraction of any synthetic.
When to choose it: The backbone active of better botanical sprays. Check for a disclosed concentration of 5%+ and plan hourly reapplication.
Distilled from Cymbopogon citratus and dominated by citral, the aldehyde behind both its lemon scent and most of its bite. Among essential oils it is one of the stronger mosquito performers, giving roughly an hour to ninety minutes when well formulated.
How it works
Citral, a mix of geranial and neral, masks the odor cues mosquitoes track. That chemistry gives lemongrass an edge over its relative citronella in side-by-side tests.
Safety around dogs & cats
The ASPCA lists lemongrass essential oil as toxic to dogs and cats; its high citral content is the concern. Do not apply it to either species, and keep cats away from treated skin, since they clear these compounds slowly and react at lower exposures than dogs.
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.
Mosquito protection by concentration: Lemongrass oil
Complete protection time (dark = lower bound, light = upper bound) on the same 12 h scale used across the site. Modeled from published dose-response data in our research library.
The evidence
A 2002 study formulated lemongrass oil into ointment, cream, and paraffin bases and got the longest mosquito protection from the greasier bases that slow evaporation. Review work ranks it among the better botanicals, while CDC records only short tick protection.
- Efficacy of Unregulated Minimum Risk Products to Kill and Repel Ticks2024ReviewDefinitive evidence
A CDC review in Emerging Infectious Diseases asking whether the unregulated minimum-risk botanical products sold to kill and repel ticks actually work, against EPA-registered products. Its verdict: efficacy is wide-ranging, often poor, and unpredictable, and real skin-repellency data for them barely existed.
- Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing2011ReviewWell-supported evidence
Review of plant-based repellent efficacy, development, and testing.
- Formulation of an effective mosquito-repellent topical product from lemongrass oil2002LabLimited evidence
Laboratory formulation and repellency test of lemongrass oil against Aedes aegypti.
Products using it
Badger
Anti-Bug Shake & Spray
Soybean oil 23% · Castor oil 10%
Complete protection
Maggie's Farm
Maggie's Farm Natural Insect Repellent
Corn oil 20.00% · Soybean oil 12.00%
Complete protection
All Terrain
Herbal Armor DEET-Free Natural Insect Repellent Pump Spray
Peppermint oil 2% · Cedarwood oil 1.5%
Complete protection
Kinfield
Golden Hour DEET-Free Mosquito Repellent
Citronella oil 10.00% · Lemongrass oil 1.00%
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
Skeeter Screen
Skeeter Screen Patio Egg
Geraniol · Lemongrass oil
Coverage & effectiveness
Murphy's Naturals
Mosquito Repellent Balm Stick
Castor oil 10.5% · Lemongrass oil 3.25%
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
Summary
Summary Botanical Bug Spray
Lemongrass oil 0.07% · Peppermint oil 0.02%
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
No proven mosquito protection
BUGGINS
BUGGINS Original Insect Repellent
Peppermint oil 0.5% · Geraniol 1.5%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Natrapel
Natrapel Essential Oil Insect Repellent – Pets & People
Thyme oil 1.90% · Geraniol 0.05%
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
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Quitch
Geraniol Bug Repellent Balm
Geraniol · Castor oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
EcoSMART
EcoSMART Organic Insect Repellent
Geraniol 1.0% · Rosemary oil 0.5%
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
No Natz
No Natz Botanical Insect Repellent Spray
Citronella oil · Lemongrass oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Skeem Design
Skeem Verbena Aura Citronella Body Spray
Lemongrass oil · Citronella oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Bug Soother
Bug Soother Insect Repellent
Lemongrass oil 0.8%
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
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
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 +1 more
Grandpa Gus
Grandpa Gus Mosquito Repellent Spray
Geraniol · Lemongrass oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Potentially not EPA compliant +1 more
Lo & Behold Naturals
Lo & Behold Naturals Lemon & Eucalyptus Bug Spray
Lemongrass oil 0.89% · Citronella oil 0.53%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +2 more
Erbaviva
Erbaviva Buzz Spray
Citronella oil · Lemongrass oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +2 more
H. Honeycup
H. Honeycup Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Spray
Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil (Lemon eucalyptus oil) · Citronella oil
Complete protection
Common misconceptions
Myth: “Lemongrass is just citronella.”
Reality: They're related Cymbopogon species, but lemongrass oil's citral-dominant chemistry tests meaningfully better than classic citronella in comparative assays.
Regulatory notes
EPA minimum risk (FIFRA 25(b)) approved active ingredient; matched to SRS registry entry.
Safety notes
A 25(b) ingredient common in soap and cosmetics. Citral can irritate or sensitize skin at higher strengths, so patch-test concentrated products.
Frequently asked questions
How long does lemongrass oil protect?
Around 1–1.5 hours at strong (10%) concentrations in lab testing, measured against an endpoint generous to botanicals, so treat the hour as the realistic ceiling.