Essential oils are liquid extracts derived from plants that have a strong scent and retain some of the distilled “essence” of the plants that they come from. Some people use essential oils to deter bed bugs from being able to live and lay eggs in bedding, carpets, clothing, and upholstery. They claim that the botanical elements of certain essential oils have a toxic effect on the bedbugs themselves, overwhelming the nervous systems of the tiny insects. Here are some essential oils that bed bugs hate:

• Peppermint oil: According to some studies, peppermint oil is an effective bed bug repellent. You can use it in many ways, such as in a spray bottle mixed with water, or by adding a few drops to a diffuser.

• Tea tree oil: This essential oil is known to fight bacteria and acne yet can also be a good solution for bed bugs. Tea tree oil helps in repelling bed bugs successfully as the smell encourages the pest to leave the area. Once they smell it, they will instantly run away. The essential oil not only makes an annoying odor for them, but it can also affect their exoskeleton.

• Lavender oil: Lavender oil is a known insect repellent that effectively destroys all bed bugs and their eggs. It is one of the best natural remedies for these persistent pests as they hate its taste, smell, and aroma. You can spray it around your home to keep bed bugs away.

• Cinnamon oil: The smell of cinnamon is an enemy of bed bugs. The smell can keep bed bugs away as they cannot handle it. You can spread the powder onto your bed to get rid of bed bugs and prevent them from coming back.

• Thymol: Thymol is a compound found in thyme oil that has been shown to be effective against bed bugs. When tested as fumigants, thymol, carvacrol, linalool (common in basil), and camphor (camphor tree) were most effective.

It is important to note that essential oils need to be diluted with a carrier oil (such as coconut oil) before being used on your skin. Due to their potency and fumes, you shouldn’t be applying large amounts of essential oils to your skin as a way to repel bed bugs while you sleep. Some essential oils have also been shown to have healing properties when it comes to skin rashes and irritation. Many have antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, which gives some reason to believe that essential oils are an effective treatment for all different kinds of insect bites, including the ones that you get from bed bugs.