In the countryside and in the cities, the first insects, such as flies, appear. A few lemon zests help keep them away. But will it be true?
In the house, when temperatures rise, the first insects appear. Flies start to appear, followed closely by mosquitoes. An old Amalfi tradition recommends using lemon peels to cover windows.
It is a type of lemon with a large appearance and thick skin. The flavor is not spicy and in fact it can be eaten in slices with a little salt or sugar, including the skin. Once engraved, it gives off a very pleasant scent and is used both to flavor coffee and to make limoncello. These lemon peels were placed on the windowsill to perfume the rooms and keep insects away. However, the intense scent of these lemon peels is not found in regular lemons.
Lemon peels against flies and mosquitoes on the window
It is therefore believed that the lemony scent of lemon is perceived as undesirable by certain insects, such as mosquitoes or flies, and can therefore act as a natural repellent. Currently, there is no scientific guarantee that lemon peels safely repel insects .
Putting lemon peels on the window could make sense to scent the air in the room. In fact, they give off a fresh citrus scent and could help purify the air. However, lemon peels are not capable of filtering or eliminating pollutants present in the air of large cities . Additionally, lemon peels can rot and attract insects instead of repelling them. It is therefore important to change them often.
If you want to keep insects away, it is best to use preventative measures. An effective solution is mosquito netting or frequent cleaning of the house, to prevent insects from finding a suitable environment to lay their eggs.
An effective smell against mosquitoes
In addition to lemon peels against flies and mosquitoes, there are several effective natural repellents to keep insects away. For example, eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium and lavender essential oils. They are suitable for diffusion in the air or application to the skin.
Some studies support the effectiveness of natural insect repellents. For example, lemongrass oil is effective as a mosquito repellent, as is using lavender products.
However, for citronella candles, often sold as natural mosquito repellents, there is no scientific evidence actually proving their effectiveness in repelling insects.
Very often it is a question of carefully calibrating the concentrations of oil in the different products, so that the remedy becomes effective against insects.