Use Pine Needles To Naturally Repel Mosquitoes While Camping Or Hiking

Pine needles have many uses for those spending time outdoors. They can be used as tinder to help build the perfect campfire or they can also be used to brew an herbal tea that is surprisingly high in Vitamin C. Additionally, pine needles are also renowned for making excellent bedding that adds comfort and insulation when you are sleeping on the ground. What may be less known is you can also use pine needles to naturally repel mosquitoes while camping or hiking.

There are actually a number of scents that repel mosquitoes and pine oil is one of them. Researchers have shown pine oil to be effective because it contains a natural element that is very similar to DEET, which is a synthetic chemical compound commonly used in mosquito repellents. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pine oil is as effective as DEET in deterring not just mosquitoes, but ticks as well. Best of all, pine needles are found in abundance in a number of the best places to camp across the United States. So, with just a little know-how and a handful of pine needles, you can have a free and effective way to naturally repel mosquitoes.

There are a variety of ways you can use pine needles to repel mosquitoes. The version that takes the most preparation is to mix pine oil and water and place in a mister bottle. While you can buy pine oil, such as Kukka Pine Essential Oil, you can also make your own by boiling pine needles and/or pine cones in a small amount of olive or vegetable oil. This can be done at home or in the field. Simply strain the needles and mix the oil with water to create a repellent spray.

If you are in the field and don't have any means to boil the oil, nor any prepared mosquito spray, you can also get by with putting the oil from pine needles directly on your skin. To do this, simply crush handfuls of green pine needles and rub the oil that oozes out onto your skin. You can reapply oil as necessary throughout the day. If your route for the day will take you away from pine trees, you can always carry some pine needles in your pack or pockets for later applications. 

You can also use pine needles to keep your entire campsite clear of mosquitoes. Similar to the campsite coffee TikTok hack for keeping mosquitoes away from campsites, this involves using smoke to keep the mosquitoes away. To do this, just pile pine needles on the campfire to create a mosquito-repelling smoke. This is perhaps the most effective way to use pine needles for a mosquito-free camping experience. Do keep in mind, however, pine needles smolder and create an inordinate amount of smoke, so add needles in small batches. You can also create small satellite fires around the campsite for this purpose. Placing these smoldering pine needle fires in a large metal can adds an extra layer of safety.