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Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Cinnamon Beats DEET Against Mosquitoes

By , About.com GuideJuly 17, 2004

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A study published in the July 14th issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reports that the compounds in cinnamon oil are more potent in killing mosquitoes than DEET (usually used as a repellent, but also poisonous). The researchers tested eleven compounds found in cinnamon leaf oil for their capacity to kill the larvae of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that carries yellow fever. Four of the compounds had LC50 values (concentration required to kill 50% of the larvae within 24 hours) of less than 50 parts per million (ppm). Is is expected that the cinnamon oil will prove similarly lethal against larvae of other types of mosquitoes, providing a safe, natural, pleasant-smelling alternative to other pesticides. Read the American Chemical Society press release to learn more.
DEET Chemistry | Natural Mosquito Repellents

Comments

July 31, 2008 at 12:14 pm
(1) Susan says:

This summary is inaccurate and confused. The study did not suggest that DEET is used as a poison against larvae (the writer might be confusing DEET with DDT, a completely different substance that has been used for poisoning mosquito larvae). The authors examined how extracts from cinnamon killed mosquito larvae. They did not compare the cinnamon chemicals with DEET in their assays. The insecticides tested will not provide a “pleasant smelling” alternative to DEET because they are used in a totally different context!

August 4, 2008 at 3:38 am
(2) Jill Rickerson says:

Thank you Susan!! Though I have not done any research on this subject, I was wondering what “killing mosquito larvae” had to do with mosquito “repellent”.

August 27, 2008 at 12:16 am
(3) Kay says:

While this may claim to help keep the mosquitos away…my son would be in hospital. He’s allergic to cinnamon. “Natural” isn’t always better.

August 31, 2008 at 5:08 pm
(4) tony says:

This article says absolutely nothing about mosquito repelling, it just tells how to kill mosquito larvae. Why try to mislead the public??

November 5, 2008 at 2:25 pm
(5) jay says:

you suck

March 17, 2009 at 10:13 am
(6) Rei says:

Actually Susan is wrong…and although the article might be misleading, it’s probably correct. The article CLAIMS that DEET was used to try to kill larvae, when it’s usually used as a repellent. In this context, cinnamon oil was more effective…but then again it was compared against a product NOT intended to control larvae. Therefore the article is NOT wrong…although the basis for the research is skewed. Kind of like comparing green tea and kool-aid in making the best kind of tea.

IF they actually wanted this ‘study’ to be valid they would have compared cinnamon oil against the usual chemicals used in controlling mosquito larvae population.

June 1, 2009 at 1:25 pm
(7) abe says:

u rock no matter what they say. u have made me become interested in learning again thanks

June 29, 2009 at 10:22 pm
(8) KM says:

The article has since been corrected to indicate that DEET is more typically a repellant, not a larvicide. See link:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/11053.php

November 22, 2010 at 7:08 pm
(9) Catherine S says:

I am very much interested in knowing whether cinnamon leaf oil is effective in repelling mosquitos. I am looking in particular for an effective repellent that will not antidote homeopathic remedys.

July 8, 2011 at 12:54 pm
(10) JJ says:

1…always double check your information when you find it on the net,
2 be grateful when you get information that is good
this is a great artical..man you guys are negative.

January 6, 2012 at 12:03 pm
(11) christamus chile says:

They are developing a Natural repellant in Ecuador RIGHT NOW ………..

10XCSN
10XCSN
10XCSN

April 23, 2012 at 7:16 pm
(12) cc says:

great smelling repellant

1/3 ounce distilled water
2/3 ounce vodka/alcohol
1 drop lavender essential oil
1 drop peppermint essential oil
1 drop tea tree essential oil
2 drops lemongrass essential oil

mix the oils
add all together
shake and spray on skin
works, smells really nice

June 22, 2012 at 1:42 am
(13) Janet says:

Who cares about the technicalities of what the article said and how it’s wrong to compare DEET to cinnamon as a larvaecide! Why does everyone say dumb sh&* just to debunk hope for the masses when it comes to mosquitoes?! Yay Susan and cinnamon!! Isn’t anything worth a shot?

February 25, 2013 at 5:10 am
(14) Jimmy Beans says:

Well it’s like this, in terms of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, we are not affected by mosquitoes.

It’s the non christians that get bitten.

June 12, 2013 at 7:52 pm
(15) brian says:

what does transgender gay lesbian bisexual or spirituality got to do with mosquitos? they cant read the bible and rumors say they may be able to change their gender, no such thing as a lesbian mosquito i have heard of. and are you suggesting that all christians are gay, lesbian, bi or trans?

June 14, 2013 at 10:37 am
(16) Jack says:

OMG!! REALLY! I would just like to know it cinnamon DOES repell the lil critters!? I like cinnamon and would rather smell that then citrus! can someone help me out with a straight up answer? Thanks!

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