What essential oils should I use to repel hornets?

While it's great to enjoy summer meals on your terrace or in your garden, the pleasure is short-lived when certain insects, such as hornets, invite themselves to the party. So that you can enjoy your outdoor spaces with complete peace of mind, we suggest you discover which essential oils you can use to repel hornets.

Why use essential oils to repel hornets?

Useful insects

While the Asian hornet is a predator of bees, this is not at all the case for the European species - quite the contrary. Admittedly, its impressive size - up to 28 mm - is likely to make you want to kill it with a blast of insecticide. However, this is not an aggressive species. All you need to do is apply sufficiently effective repellents to keep them away from you. What's more, since the European hornet feeds on the wax moth, an insect that damages beehives by attacking wax combs, the European hornet is very useful for the survival of bees. That's why keeping them alive is essential for the ecosystem.

Risks to human health

Even if the European Hornet is a useful insect, that's no reason to let it invade your dining and picnic areas. Not only can a single insect sting you several times, but its sting is also very painful. Depending on the sensitivity of the person affected, the swelling may be more or less severe. What's more, although fortunately very rare, some individuals are liable to develop an allergic reaction, which can be quite severe. In all cases, a good solution is touse essential oils to repel hornets.

Which essential oils are effective in repelling hornets?

True lavender essential oil

If you had to use just one essential oil to repel hornets, it would be true lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia). Not only will it enable you to enjoy your meals al fresco, but its pleasant scent will give you the impression of being in Provence, a region where lavender fields sublimate the landscape with their beautiful violet color. What's more, its soothing and restorative properties will do wonders to soothe insect bites. Finally, it's one of the few essential oils that can be used on young children and pregnant women.

Java citronella essential oil

Renowned for repelling mosquitoes, essential oil of Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) is also effective for repelling hornets. In fact, its repellent effect results from the combined action of the geraniol, citronellal and citronellol molecules it contains. What's more, if, despite your best efforts, you are stung by one of these insects, you can rub a drop of lemongrass essential oil on the site of the sting to benefit from its soothing power.

Clove essential oil

If you like the distinctive scent of clove (Eugenia caryophyllus) essential oil, hornets don't! So you can use it to repel them. If you use it as a vapour, we recommend mixing it with other milder essential oils, such as lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), for example.

Geranium bourbon essential oil (also known as rose geranium)

When it comes to repelling insects in general, and hornets in particular, Geranium bourbon (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil, also known as rose geranium essential oil because of its rose-like scent, is often the preferred choice, as its fresh, flowery scent is generally unanimously appreciated, unlike others considered sickening or nauseating. You can use it for diffusion, either pure or in combination with true lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia).

How to use essential oils to repel hornets?

The easiest way touse essential oils to repel hornets is to diffuse them, either pure or in a blend, using an appropriate diffuser.

You can also create a synergy of essential oils to apply to the skin by diluting them in a vegetable oil:

• 3 ml essential oil of Bourbon geranium (Pelargonium graveolens),
• 1 ml essential oil of Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus),
• 2 ml lemon eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus citriodora),
• 30 ml vegetable oil, such as hazelnut oil, appreciated for its silky feel and penetration without leaving a greasy film on the skin.

Apply this mixture to the skin regularly throughout the day.

Always test on a small area of skin before applying a larger amount, and follow the instructions and precautions for use.

You now have a certain amount of information on how touse essential oils to repel hornets. Not only do they have repellent properties, but a number of them are also an effective remedy for soothing insect stings. Thanks to essential oils, available from Landema, a leading producer and supplier of natural extracts, you'll be able to enjoy your outdoor meals to the full!