Plant-Based Repellent: How Lemongrass Molecules Influence Insect Behavior

Lemongrass extracts—whether in the form of a hydrosol or essential oil—are widely used as repellents because they effectively reduce the activity of mosquitoes and other pesky insects. At the same time, however, this very aroma can actively attract bees.

Let’s break down why this happens

Lemongrass essential oil and hydrosol contain a complex of volatile molecules, among which citral (a mixture of geranial and neral) and geraniol play a key role. In the essential oil, these molecules are present in high concentrations, while in the hydrosol they exist in much lower amounts, making its action gentler. Still, the principle remains the same: these molecules determine how different insects perceive the scent.

For mosquitoes and many other insects, lemongrass essential oil or hydrosol does not act as a poison but rather as a disorienting factor. Their behavior heavily depends on the ability to accurately detect scents, as they rely on signals like carbon dioxide, body heat, and lactic acid. When high concentrations of citral and geraniol appear in the air, these signals become “masked.” The insect’s olfactory system gets overloaded, it loses its sense of direction, and can no longer locate what attracts it. In such an environment, it is simply not advantageous for the insect to stay—so it flies away.

But for bees, the scent of lemongrass works in a completely different way — it attracts them

The reason lies in the so-called Nasonov pheromone, a chemical marker bees use to coordinate behavior. It contains the same molecules, including geraniol and compounds similar to citral. Thanks to this pheromone, bees find their way back to the hive, mark sources of water or nectar, and gather swarms in one place.

When a bee detects the scent of lemongrass, it cannot distinguish whether it’s an essential oil or the pheromone. Its nervous system recognizes a familiar chemical pattern and interprets it as a safe, even attractive signal. That’s why beekeepers use lemongrass as a natural swarm attractant—it acts like a kind of beacon that bees easily recognize.

As a result, we get the same aroma producing two completely different effects

For mosquitoes and other insects, it causes disorientation; for bees, it serves as a clear and familiar signal. The difference lies not in the scent itself, but in how the nervous system of each insect interprets it.

This is exactly what makes lemongrass essential oil and hydrosol unique. They don’t just repel insects—they change the chemical environment around a person. And depending on who enters that environment, the effect will be entirely different: from the urge to leave immediately to the sense that it’s a safe place to stay.

How to Avoid Attracting Bees While Still Repelling Mosquitoes

As a repellent, we recommend using lemongrass hydrosol. To avoid attracting bees, it’s best to combine lemongrass with hydrosols that repel insects but do not mimic pheromones. Peppermint hydrosol is a great option for this. It enhances the repellent effect while adding a fresh aromatic note.

Mix 50 ml of lemongrass hydrosol with 50 ml of peppermint hydrosol. This will give you a plant-based, safe repellent suitable for the whole family.

P.S. If you plan to use lemongrass essential oil as a repellent, make sure to properly dilute it in water with a solubilizer at a concentration no higher than 1%. Otherwise, it may cause skin irritation.