Citronella is an essential oil famous for its use in bug repellents. This oil has a naturally occurring scent that masks both carbon dioxide and lactic acid scents from humans that the bugs are looking for, deterring them away from your skin.

If you would like to use citronella oil as a bug repellent, you can make a spray with it. Simply add about 10 drops of citronella oil to every one ounce of water in a spray bottle, shake well, and then apply to your skin. It helps to reapply every few hours to make sure you get maximum efficiency out of the repellent.

Alternatively, you can diffuse citronella oil around your home to deter bugs from ever entering it. Add three to six drops to a small amount of distilled water and diffuse until the scent fills the room; you can also diffuse outdoors on a patio or near your doors to stop bugs from entering your home.