Study summary
Repellent efficacy of 20 essential oils on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and Ixodes scapularis ticks in contact-repellency assays
Luker HA, Salas KR, Esmaeili D, Holguin FO, Bendzus-Mendoza H, Hansen IA
- Study type
- Lab
- Year
- 2023
- Published in
- Scientific Reports 13:1705
- Evidence strength
- Well-supported evidence
Summary
Arm-in-cage complete-protection-time assays of 20 EPA minimum-risk (25(b)) essential oils formulated as 10% v/v lotion emulsions against Aedes aegypti, plus tick-crossing assays against Ixodes scapularis.
Key findings
Of the 20 oils tested, 10% clove oil and 10% cinnamon oil provided the longest protection from both mosquito bites and tick crossings (over one hour); most other oils, including rosemary and castor, gave shorter protection.
Limitations
Single fixed 10% concentration; laboratory assays; durations generally short versus synthetic actives.