I grow piles of catnip in my garden, so when I read new research suggesting that the plant’s oil is as effective at repelling mosquitoes as DEET, I didn’t hesitate to make my own skidaddle-you-skeeters spray. It was quick, easy, and once I tried it, I had to agree with these scientists. Catnip does seems to keep the mozzies away.
In the 2025 study, her findings were published this year in the Scientific Reports magazine, the scientists tested how mosquitoes responded to several substances: a hand lotion with 6% catnip oil, the same lotion with 2% catnip oil, a commercially available repellent containing 15% DEET, and plain lotion for control. In field tests with real-life humans, lotion with 6% catnip oil proved to be just as effective as DEET repellent. The 2% lotion did a little less to repel the litter, but the scientists still rated it as “highly effective.”
I much prefer natural pest solutions to chemicals, and already do make an effective skitter trap with baking soda and vinegar. So, as I’m already growing catstone (Nepeta cataria) – one of three plants I grow for my cats in my garden – using the leaves to make my own natural mosquito repellent was a no-brainer.
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It makes sense that catnip could repel litter since it contains high levels of a compound called nepetalactone, which the plant is thought to have evolved to repel pests. My cats seem to subscribe to the theory, anyway, as they like to roll over the plants as if they’ve read the online presentation that this might offer some natural flea protection. And what do you know, with a little digging, I discovered that catnip is listed as an insect repellent with the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Time to whip up a batch of catnip leaf mozzie repellent spray and test its properties for myself.
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How to Make Natural Catnip Mozzie Repellent
1. Pick a cup of fresh catnip leaves. It is important that the plants have not been treated with pesticides. Crush the leaves with the back of a tablespoon.
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2. Scrape the crushed leaves into a small heatproof bowl and pour in 1 cup of just-boiled water. Place a plate over the bowl to prevent the steam from escaping and let it boil for an hour.
(Image credit: Future/Emma Kendell)
3. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve, muslin cloth or coffee filter, pressing or squeezing the leaves to extract as much moisture as possible.
(Image credit: Future/Emma Kendell)
4. Discard the plant matter and pour the strained liquid into a clean spray bottle. Store in the refrigerator where it will keep for 1-2 weeks. Adding a tablespoon of straight vodka to the strained liquid will extend its shelf life.
(Image credit: Future/Emma Kendell)
As with any new topical skin product, test the spray on a small area of your skin before use to make sure it doesn’t cause irritation. Shake the bottle well before each use. Apply to the skin, being careful to keep away from the eyes. Reapply often and see for yourself how effective the spray is at repelling mosquitoes.
If you have cats, expect company as felines love the scent of catnip.
Does Catnip Mozzie Repellent Spray Work?
While poaching catnip leaves doesn’t extract nepetalactone as effectively as distillation, I found that while sprayed with my homemade spray, I wasn’t bothered by mosquitoes. Knowing that natural repellants don’t last as long as chemical alternatives, I reapplied every couple of hours.
I test the DIY spray in my garden while gardening and relaxing on the patio. If you are headed to an area heavily infested with mosquitoes, or the mosquitoes in your area are known to carry a pathogen like West Nile virus, this is not the time to try a homemade spray – use a commercial repellent that has been proven to work.
I found the spray to have a faint earthy scent, which I found neither pleasant nor unpleasant. Thanks to the scent, my cats especially loved me!
Other natural ways to deal with mosquitoes in your garden include using a potted patio plants with odors that repel mojiand the regulation of one mosquito bucket of disaster.
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Is Catnip Safe to Put on Your Skin?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency confirmed Nepeta cataria The essential oil is safe for human use. Studies show that even when applied to the skin at a concentration of 25%, it does not cause irritation.
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How to Grow Catnip
while catnip (Nepeta cataria) is never going to win any awards for its flowers, with the regular trimming of its stems, it grows in quite a pretty pot with leaves on the patio. Don’t confuse catnip with peppermintalthough both are closely related. Catnip has much higher concentrations of nepetalactone, although peppermint still contains this compound.
A durable one perennial in zones 3-9, catnip cultivation it’s easy. It is quick to grow from seed or economical to buy as seedlings, both catnip seeds and Catnip plants are available from Lowes. It is important to grow this member of the mint family in a container set in a hardscape, as, like many of its cousins, it is too vigorous to grow in the ground in most gardens. It needs well-draining conditions, so mix in a handful of sand, gravel or gardening like this one from Amazon in any multiple use potting soilor use a moisture control compost like this one, also from Amazon.
Nepeta cataria it is enthusiastic enough to thrive in partial shade as well as sun and is drought tolerant, so be careful not to overwater. It grows to 2 ½ feet tall and has white or pale pink flowers, sometimes speckled with purple. It tends to have crooked stems, but tip pinching encourages it to grow into a dense, bushy mound of foliage.
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What the Research Report Said
The report (Evaluation of repellent properties of a mosquito repellent based on catnip essential oil using the human landing method in eastern Uganda by Charles Batume et al) reported that lotions containing both 2% and 6% catnip oil were highly effective in preventing mosquito landings and recommended their use as a natural alternative to synthetic mosquito repellents. With the research carried out in 2025, the The findings were published in March 2026 journal Scientific Reports.
The catnip oil used in the research consisted of 92% nepetalactone and was derived from ripe Nepeta cataria plants grown outside with 12 hours of sunlight per day. The plant material was dried before distillation to extract pure essential oil.
The report cited previous studies that found nepetalactone repelled several species of mosquitoes, ticks, red poultry mites and bed bugs.
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