Rosemary oil
Oils, rosemary
Rosemary oil is a fragrant blend of 1,8-cineole and camphor that products lean on more for scent and label appeal than for proven protection. The controlled evidence that it repels mosquitoes is weak.
How it works
Its aromatic constituents, mainly 1,8-cineole and camphor, can mask host odors at close range, the general mode of most essential oils. Any effect is brief and depends heavily on concentration.
Safety around dogs & cats
The culinary herb is harmless (the ASPCA lists rosemary as non-toxic), but the concentrated essential oil is a different thing: it contains camphor and 1,8-cineole, which can provoke stomach upset and, in seizure-prone dogs and cats, may lower the seizure threshold. Keep the oil off pets, and be especially careful around any animal with a history of seizures.
Low 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
The best-controlled test, a 2020 olfactometer screen of minimum-risk oils, found no significant drop in Aedes aegypti attraction from rosemary, and a 2023 contact-repellency screen did not rank it among the stronger oils. One arm-in-cage study reported good protection from a 24% gel, but at a strength far above anything on a shelf and in a low-tier journal. At the sub-1% doses products like EcoSMART and Badger use, expect little standalone protection.
- Repellent efficacy of 20 essential oils on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and Ixodes scapularis ticks in contact-repellency assays2023LabWell-supported evidence
A New Mexico State University lab put 20 minimum-risk repellent ingredients through the same test at the same 10% strength, so the oils could be compared head to head instead of across studies that each used different doses and methods. The point was a like-for-like ranking of how long each one keeps Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and blacklegged ticks off skin.
Products using it
Natrapel
Natrapel Essential Oil Insect Repellent
Cedarwood oil 1.50% · Clove oil 0.25%
Complete protection
Badger
Anti-Bug Shake & Spray
Castor oil 10% · Cedarwood oil 2%
Complete protection
Badger
Bug Repellent Balm Tin
Castor oil 10% · Cedarwood oil 2%
Complete protection
Murphy's Naturals
Mosquito Repellent Balm Stick
Castor oil 10.5% · Cedarwood oil 2.0%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Potentially not EPA compliant
Lovett Sundries
Lovett Sundries Insect Repellent
Cedarwood oil 1.17% · Rosemary oil 1.16%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Kate McLeod
The Bug Balm
Cedarwood oil 0.12% · Citronella oil 0.03%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Venture Wipes
Venture Wipes Natural Mosquito Repellent Wipes
Citronella oil 0.5% · Rosemary oil 0.05%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Babyganics
Babyganics Mosquito Repellent Lotion – Fragrance Free
Cedarwood oil 0.70% · Citronella oil 0.95%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
Murphy's Naturals
Mosquito Repellent Wipes
Cedarwood oil 1.4% · Citronella oil 0.2%
Complete protection
Not recommended
No proven mosquito protection
EcoSMART
EcoSMART Organic Insect Repellent
Rosemary oil 0.5% · Lemongrass oil 0.5%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Quitch
Geraniol Bug Repellent Balm
Castor oil · Cedarwood oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Buzzie
Insect Repellent Spray
Cedarwood oil · Rosemary oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
No Natz
No Natz Botanical Insect Repellent Spray
Citronella oil · Rosemary oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Heretic Parfum
The Entomologist Insect Repellent Spray
Cedarwood oil · Clove oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Skeeter Screen
Skeeter Screen 4 oz. Personal Spray
Cedarwood oil · Clove oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Cliganic
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Stick
Castor oil · Cedarwood oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Sidebalm
Outside Balm
Cedarwood oil · Clove oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
SallyeAnder
SallyeAnder No-Bite-Me Bug Repellent Cream
Cedarwood oil · Clove oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +1 more
Primally Pure
Primally Pure Nature Spray
Cedarwood oil · Citronella oil
Complete protection
Not recommended
Potentially not EPA compliant
Para'Kito
Para'Kito Mosquito Repellent Roll-On Gel
Citronella oil 2.475% · Clove oil 0.21%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Potentially not EPA compliant +1 more
Lo & Behold Naturals
Lo & Behold Naturals Lemon & Eucalyptus Bug Spray
Citronella oil 0.53% · Rosemary oil 0.36%
Complete protection
Not recommended
Formula not fully disclosed +2 more
My July
My July Woods Nature Spray Tick & Mosquito Repellent
Cedarwood oil · Citronella oil
Complete protection
Regulatory notes
EPA minimum risk (FIFRA 25(b)) approved active ingredient; matched to SRS registry entry.
Safety notes
The culinary herb is harmless; the concentrated oil is a different thing. It is generally low-irritation at cosmetic levels, though contact dermatitis is on record. Its camphor and 1,8-cineole can lower the seizure threshold in vulnerable pets, so keep the oil away from cats and from seizure-prone dogs.