This affordable hack deters mosquitoes with a citrus summer scent – here's how to try it in your own home

With summer still in full swing, we're not eager to wish the warmer months away. But, if there's one thing we are happy to see the back of, it's mosquitoes, which are currently peaking across the US with the high humidity.

If you're not keen on using strong chemicals to deter mosquitoes, keeping your home and skin free of them can feel like an ongoing battle. That's why pest pros are turning to a non-toxic, natural lemon-ice alternative that costs less than a few dollars to recreate at home, and utilizes fresh citrus fruits and herbs.

Here, our pest expert explains this simple yet effective hack to get rid of mosquitoes inside the house naturally.

What is the frozen lemon and essential oil ice cube trick?

The hack is simple. All you need to do is freeze water, natural citrus essential oils, available at Walmart, and herbs (specifically the scents that deter mosquitoes) in a large jar, and light a small candle on top.

As Tony King, founder of The Pied Piper Pest Control, explains, 'It's one of the more creative hacks that's gained popularity.

'When lit, the candle gently warms the herbs and water, slowly releasing the essential oils into the air, which creates some kind of scent "barrier" repulsive to mosquitoes.

'It does so primarily because the essential ingredients of herbs and citrus fruits, such as limonene, citronella, linalool, and menthol, to name a few, when heated, release their volatile oils into the air.

'Mosquitoes have a keen sense of smell, and the specific odor gets in the way of that. Citronella and lemon eucalyptus oil, in particular, are known to the CDC as effective mosquito repellents, so a few drops in your layout can go a long way.'

Additionally, it also doubles up as a beautiful centrepiece when hosting al fresco dinners and keeping mosquitoes away from your windows, and is effortlessly easy and affordable to try yourself.

How to try the frozen lemon and essential oil ice cube trick

This hack couldn't be easier to recreate in your own home. The first thing you'll need is a wide-mouth glass jar, such as the Kilner Universal Push Top Storage Jar available at Walmart, 'which should ideally be clear so the ingredients can be seen and used as decoration,' says Tony.

Begin by cutting one or two fresh lemons and limes, and layering them in the jar. You can also use orange peel to deter pests, or essential oils, too. Then, add a few sprigs of fresh herbs, like rosemary, mint, or lavender.

'These all work well,' advises Tony. 'Not only do they have a pleasant scent, but they contain essential oils that mosquitoes do not appreciate.'

'Others take it a step further by adding a few drops of essential oils – citronella, lemon eucalyptus, peppermint, or tea tree oil all work well when added to the blend for a more robust, longer-lasting diffusion of fragrance.' We recommend the Lagunamoon Essential Oils Set available at Amazon for this, which includes a mixed assortment of six different scents. Vanilla extract also repels mosquitoes, if you prefer sweeter scents.

Then, all that's left to do is to top off the jar with water, leaving space at the top for the water to expand when frozen, and pop it in your freezer.

Once frozen, place it on your table with a tealight candle or pillar candle on top, depending on the size of your jar, and light it. As the ice melts, the scent will float through the air, deterring any surrounding mosquitoes and filling your space with beautiful aromas at the same time.

The drawbacks of this method

While there aren't any significant 'drawbacks' of this method as such, Tony does warn that it's important to 'be realistic about how much this trick can do.'

'It's best used in compact, contained outdoor areas with little wind,' he explains. 'In bigger spaces or with even a slight breeze, [like when trying to keep mosquitoes away from the front door, for example] it's not as effective because the scent diffuses too quickly to form a protective cloud.

'It's a decent solution for adding to the ambiance and mixing in some passive repellent, but it shouldn't be your only defense if you're in a space with high mosquito presence.'

As Tony adds, you'll also need to continually replace the candle as it burns out, as most tealights burn for between two to four hours only, although, if you're trying to keep the scent going for an evening, you can always opt for a larger candle, such as the Stonebriar Unscented White Tall Pillar Candles available at Amazon, which offer an impressive 65-hour burn time.

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Meet our expert

Tony King

Tony founded The Pied Piper Pest Control in 1992, mainly dealing with rodent control, bedbugs, insect control, and bird control, handling diverse pest control challenges in both commercial buildings and residential properties.

Another super simple yet effective tip is to eliminate standing water for mosquito control. In fact, our pros say it's the 'single most effective mosquito prevention strategy.'