Whether you’re camping or enjoying a little backyard entertaining around a campfire, you can easily repel mosquitoes by throwing in a few sprigs of herbs. Burning herbs is a safe, natural way to prevent mosquitoes from turning you into their next meal. Read on to learn which fresh plants and herbs repel mosquitoes and how to use them.
Spending time outdoors is one of my favorite things to do. I can garden most of the day without being bothered by insects. Then, when night falls, the mosquitoes appear. UGH! My least favorite insect of all!
No mosquito interference, I became the meal of the dayand my lovely day turned into an evening of waving my arms and patting myself in a weird and awkward dance to prevent the rashes that were sure to follow.
As I learned more about plants over the years, one of the things I discovered a method of using plants to repel mosquitoes naturally.
This allows me to appreciate the natural benefits of plants while avoiding the potentially harmful chemicals found in commercial bug sprays.
Over time, I have developed natural insect repellent Made from essential oils and works wonders during mosquito season.
Another method I use to repel mosquitoes is to burn herbal twigs over a fire pit (or campfire). And I’ll show you how you can do it too!
History of herbal burning
Indigenous peoples, healers, herbalists, religious leaders and devotees from around the world have Burning herbs has been part of their religious and cultural tradition for centuries.
Indigenous people sustainably harvest sacred plants native to the land with respect and reverence. They dry and bundle them, and burn them in a cleansing ritual called fumigation. Fumigation sticks are used for ritual and purification purposes.
These practices are imbued with tradition and deep spiritual meaning. With all that has been taken from the Indigenous Peoples, Non-native speakers should avoid culturally adopt these rituals.
How to Burn Herbs with Gratitude for Other Cultures
In modern herbal medicine, much of what we use today is based on the practices of many cultures. There is an in-depth appreciation of the history of the use (and burning) of herbs. and allows for herbal research that encompasses both past and present.
Burning herbs over fire for their herbal properties is a respectfully different practice than using incense sticks for ceremonial or religious purposes. Smoke cleansing is the act of burning herbs without any cultural or spiritual connection, and is a fun way to experience the beneficial properties of herbs.
When I burn herbs on fire to repel mosquitoes, I do so with respect and gratitude for the ancient knowledge of herbs and the use of herbal plants (not sacred plants) to safely and effectively repel insects.
What plants repel mosquitoes?
To put it mildly, I hate mosquito bites. My immune system reacts very strongly to their saliva, which means I get big, itchy, swollen bites that leave me feeling uncomfortable for days. I used to use a lot of bug spray to protect myself from mosquito bites, but the spray also made me feel uncomfortable.
Luckily, there are natural ways to successfully keep these pesky insects at bay!
Mosquitoes hate strong-smelling herbs such as:
We can use these herbs in many ways to help repel pests so we can enjoy our evenings outdoors.
One tool for your mosquito repellent tool belt is Throw a few sprigs of herbs (fresh or dried) into the fire. Luckily, the heavenly scent you give off will keep the insects away. Let’s take a closer look at each herb to find out why.
lavender
Lavender has a pleasant and widely used scent that, fortunately, people love and mosquitoes hate. Burning lavender is highly effective in repelling flying insects.
Fun Fact: You can also rub the plant directly on your skin to release the essential oils as another way to repel pests.
mint
Members of the mint family (peppermint, etc.) all have a strong, pleasant odor that flying insects hate. Mint is also extremely satisfiedSo you can easily have a large bunch ready when planting in containers in the garden.
Lemon health
Melissa is part of the mint family with pleasant white flowers and a light lemon scent. It works well to repel mosquitoes.
HoweverThe potential downside to lemon balm is that it grows quickly and can quickly take over your garden. To avoid wild growth, it is best to grow lemon balm in a container or other enclosed space.
Sage
Burning sage gives off a pleasant aroma that makes an evening outdoors much more pleasant. Another benefit is that the scent can repel mosquitoes and other flying insects.
Citronella
A very popular and well-known ingredient in mosquito repellent candles is citronella. Its strong scent does a great job of masking the aspects that attract mosquitoes to us. Luckily for us, citronella is easy to grow.
How to burn herbs in a campfire
Burning these herbs is as easy as throwing them into a fire. Set the herb bundle aside instead of placing it directly in the middle of the flame so it doesn’t burn too quickly.
The smoke will carry the scent, so as long as it burns, the mosquitoes will leave you alone. Depending on the size of the fire, you can use a small or large bunch of herbs. Always have a few bundles ready to throw into the fire when needed.
Use fresh or dried herbs. Fresh herbs are generally more aromatic than dried herbs.
Of course, only smoke from fire can repel insects. ButBy adding some herbs that repel mosquitoes and biting insects, they help mask your body odor. So if you’re like me and seem to attract biting insects away from other people, adding herbs to your fire may be the extra step you really need to keep the bugs away.
How to repel mosquitoes without fire
You can still create insect repelling smoke even without a fire pit. Making your own citronella candles is easy and inexpensive. if you use recycled materials. See how to make these Citronella candles or these Terracotta citronella candles to decorate your garden.
For an extra layer of defense, don’t forget to spray here. All natural insect repellent it really works (and i know that because even though i don’t like mosquitoes, they LIKE me)!
I have also tried growing a few mosquito repellant gardens in containers around areas I frequent and I have to say they really work.
By burning herbal bundles and using other DIY methods, you can finally (and safely) say “shoo!” to those pesky mosquitoes and continue enjoying your evening outdoors.
Try these other pest repelling tips
