Ticks are tiny bugs in the arachnid (spider) family. There are hundreds of varieties. Many carry bacteria and viruses that can cause serious illnesses, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

If you love being outside in nature, ticks may be hard to avoid. However, tick repellent can help significantly for those who enjoy beaches, hiking, and parks.

Many manufactured tick repellents contain chemicals. If you prefer a natural alternative, there’s a wide range of essential oils you can use to avoid tick bites.

Keep reading to learn which essential oils may help repel ticks.

Essential oil safety

While research suggests there may be health benefits, the FDA doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils and to research the quality of a brand’s products.

Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil, and never use an undiluted essential oil directly on your skin.

While anecdotal evidence suggests that some essential oils may help repel ticks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only recommends oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD (chemical name: para-menthane-3,8-diol, the synthesized version of OLE) to help repel insects. The CDC cautions against using OLE on children younger than 3 years old.

Some people report success repelling ticks using other essential oils, and some studies may also offer some support.

To compile this list of the most effective tick repellent essential oils, we reviewed studies that investigated their effectiveness in repelling ticks.

Since different studies compared different sets of oils, we can’t definitively verify which oil is the number one most effective. However, we’ve ranked these oils for tick repellent strength, based upon the data available, and collaborating studies wherever possible.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is a common ingredient in many insecticides. You can purchase a ready-made OLE insect repellent or make your own by adding. Some people who use OLE recommend 15 to 20 drops of oil into 4 ounces of water. You may also want to use a product called an emulsifier to help the oil mix with water. One common emulsifier brand often used with essential oils is Solubol.

Use a 4:1 ratio — 4 drops of carrier oil to every 1 drop of essential oil.

OLE may be irritating to some people’s skin, so it’s important to dilute it in a carrier oil before applying it to your skin. Be sure to do a patch test on a small area of skin before applying more widely.

Some studies have suggested that oregano essential oil may be effective in repelling ticks. It contains cedrol, which, in one older 2014 study, killed 100% of the ticks it came into contact with when used at a high dosage. Cedarwood oil also contains cedrol and may be beneficial for warding off ticks.

Another study found that carvacrol, a component of oregano oil, was highly effective at killing Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. This may make it doubly beneficial should a tick bite occur.

Dangers of Lyme disease

The nymphal tick is the tick most likely to cause Lyme disease. Most experts believe that a tick needs to be embedded in the skin for at least 24 hours before Lyme disease is transmitted from ticks to humans.

Lyme disease can cause many debilitating symptoms, including:

  • joint pain
  • swelling of the large joints, such as knees and elbows
  • extreme fatigue
  • fever
  • short-term memory deficits
  • speech problems
  • muscle pain

Contact a healthcare professional immediately if you have any of these symptoms.

For some people, oregano oil can be irritating to the skin. Like all essential oils, oregano oil should be diluted in a carrier oil. Be sure to do a patch test before using it on a large area.

Never apply full-strength oregano oil to skin – yours, a child’s, or a pet’s.

How to use oregano oil as a tick repellent

People who use oregano oil as a tick repellent recommend mixing 5 to 6 drops for every ounce of carrier oil and applying the mixture to exposed skin with a cotton ball.

You can also spray the oregano oil mixture directly onto clothing such as trousers, socks, jackets, and hats. Ticks often drop down from trees, so protecting your head is imperative.

Don’t use oregano oil on delicate fabrics that may stain.

Never use undiluted oregano oil directly on skin. It must be diluted first.

Citronella oil is a widely used biopesticide that was registered as an insect repellent with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1997.

A 2017 study that analyzed 11 essential oils found that a combination of thyme and citronella essential oil was the most effective against ticks.

How to use citronella oil as a tick repellent

Some people recommend adding 10 to 15 drops of citronella oil plus 5 drops of thyme oil to water and spraying it on skin or clothing.

Since oil and water don’t mix effectively, adding an emulsifier may help. People who mix essential oils with water and use an emulsifier suggest following a ratio of 4:1 — 4 drops of emulsifier for every 1 drop of essential oil — and blending well. You can also dilute the oil in a carrier oil and apply it to the skin.

Be sure to do a patch test on a small area of skin before applying more widely, as some people react to citronella and other essential oils.

Geraniol, an active ingredient in citronella, is also found in commercially manufactured products.

One older 2017 study suggests clove bud oil is effective at warding off ticks, a finding substantiated by a 2018 study.

How to use clove oil as a tick repellent

You can make your own tick repellent by adding 10 to 15 drops of clove bud essential oil to 1 ounce of water. You may wish to add an emulsifier to help the oil mix with the water. Use a 4:1 ratio — 4 drops of emulsifier for every 1 drop of essential oil.

Using the same ratio, you can also make a topical oil by mixing clove oil with a carrier oil such as coconut oil. Rub liberally onto exposed areas of skin when moist, or apply with a cotton ball.

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Red thyme oil contains carvacrol and has been found effective at repelling ticks when used on skin or on clothing. It’s a highly concentrated, potent oil that’s a natural antiseptic. It’s derived from the first distillation of white thyme oil.

Red thyme oil may be irritating to some people’s skin. Never use it at full strength, and don’t use it on pets.

How to use red thyme oil as a tick repellent

To make tick repellent, add 3 to 5 drops of red thyme oil to 2 cups of a carrier oil such as jojoba and apply to skin. You may also mix a few drops of red thyme oil with an emulsifier and water to make a spray.

An older study from 2008 suggests that Neem seed oil kills tick larvae in cattle. Strong anecdotal evidence indicates that it repels ticks and, when applied to ticks, can also help dislodge them from skin.

How to use neem oil as a tick repellent

To use as a tick repellent, add equal parts neem oil to a carrier oil and apply to your skin.

The lists of essential oils that may have some benefit for repelling ticks and insects such as mosquitoes are almost endless. Most are substantiated primarily via anecdotal evidence. Some, such as lily of the valley, have some older evidence to support this claim.

Other essential oils you may wish to try, either alone or in combination with those mentioned above, include:

Dangers of Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial infection spread by a bite from an infected tick. Symptoms include vomiting and high fever, as well as muscle aches and abdominal pain.

If you contract RMSF, you may see a rash with small red spots on your hands and feet within 5 days. You may also see a second, purple-red rash, which indicates that the disease is progressing.

RMSF is a serious illness that can cause serious damage to the internal organs or death when left untreated. Contact a healthcare professional immediately if you suspect you have RMSF.

If you see a tick on your skin and it hasn’t bitten you, remove it quickly with a tweezer or a gloved hand. If it’s on your clothing, shake it off.

If the tick is already embedded in your skin, use a fine-tipped tweezer to grab the tick, as close to your skin’s surface as possible.

Aim to extract the tick by its head rather than by its body, so that its mouthparts are removed. Pull it upward in a swift motion with steady, even pressure.

Use an antibacterial ointment on the area of the bite.

If you suspect that the tick has been in your skin for several hours or longer, see a doctor after the tick is removed for a blood test. This is especially important if you notice redness, swelling, or a rash, such as the bull’s-eye rash associated with Lyme disease.

If you wish to keep the tick to show to a medical professional, place it in a lidded jar.

Ticks can be found in wooded or grassy areas or on beaches. They live in leaf piles, tall grass, trees, and shrubs. Their active season varies from location to location, but in general, it’s possible to get a tick bite whenever the ground isn’t frozen or covered with snow.

In some areas, young ticks are most active from May to August. Adult ticks are most active from March to May and from August to November.

In addition to wearing repellent, there are a few strategies to help you avoid ticks and the illnesses they carry:

  • Cover as much of your skin and head as possible. Tuck your pants into socks, wear a brimmed hat, and fasten a long-sleeved shirt or jacket at the wrist with buttons or elastic.
  • Treat exposed skin with the repellent of your choice.
  • Check your skin and scalp for ticks when you return home from your outing, as ticks can be as tiny as sesame seeds and are dark in color. Have a friend look at areas of skin you can’t readily see, such as your back. Make sure to check between your toes, fingers, and behind your ears.
  • Wash your clothing in hot water and dry on a hot setting.

Pets can get tick bites, just like humans. The best way to avoid ticks on your pet is by using a tick medication recommended by your veterinarian. Some of these are applied topically, and others are given orally.

In addition to using tick repellent, always check your dog’s coat thoroughly for ticks after being outside.

Don’t use essential oils on pets

Veterinarians recommend against using essential oils on cats. Many essential oils are also not recommended for dogs. Always check with your veterinarian before using an essential oil, no matter which type, on any animal.

Essential oils have been found in studies to be effective for repelling ticks. Many essential oils may provide some degree of protection. However, the CDC only recommends oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), the synthesized version of OLE, but not for use on children younger than 3 years old.

Some studies suggest that oregano oil, thyme, citronella, and clove bud oils may help repel ticks, but none are as effective as OLE or products containing the chemical DEET.

If you want to use a more natural approach to repelling ticks, essential oils may help. It’s important to dilute any essential oil before using it on your skin. Never use undiluted essential oils directly on your skin.