Description
Essential Oils for the Home & Garden
If you are trying to limit your exposure to toxic and synthetic chemicals in your garden and home essential oils can be valuable tools. They are well-known for their wellness virtues for humans, and can also be precious allies to protect your plants naturally and ecologically.
These oils have been used for thousands of years for their medicinal and cosmetic benefits, and their power lies in the hundreds of chemical constituents they contain. Whether you are trying to chase away garden pests from your vegetable or flower garden, protect your plants against diseases, or simply to improve their overall health, we can use these natural defences to our advantage in both our home and garden, using products you can store in your medicine chest. How cool is that!
Rose Blend Essential Oil
Elegant, timeless, and emotionally soothing, Rose Essential Oil (Rosa damascena), is made from the petals of the Damask Rose, known as one of the most prized and fragrant rose species. Our essential oil is standardized using a natural extract processed to guarantee a consistent chemical profile and aroma from batch to batch.
In the Garden
The chemical constituents of Rose essential oil: citronellol, geraniol, and nerol have natural bio-deterrent and protective properties, and are currently being researched and implemented as a sustainable, non-toxic alternative to synthetic chemical pesticides, and particularly for organic agriculture.
Rose essential oil is increasingly recognized for use in environmentally friendly pesticides, and especially as a natural deterrent against common agricultural pests like the Two-spotted Spider Mite, and for its ability to attract beneficial predatory insects while activating plant defence genes.
Repellent and Insecticidal Properties
Two-spotted Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Research indicates that the high concentrations of geraniol and citronellol in Rosa damascena essential oil offer significant contact, ovicidal (egg-killing), and repellent properties against pests like spider mites.
Tetranychus urticae, the red spider mite or two-spotted spider mite is a species of plant-feeding mite that is one of the most economically important pests in a wide range of outdoor and protected crops worldwide.
The mite uses its mouthparts to penetrate plant cells, notably on the undersides of leaves, and ingests their contents. Each minute 1-2 dozen plant cells can be destroyed this way. The first visible symptoms are small whitish speckles, mainly around the midrib and larger veins. When these spots merge, the empty cells give areas of the leaf a whitish or silvery-transparent appearance.
Due to its short life cycle and abundant progeny this spider mite is able to develop resistance to acaricides very rapidly. As a result it is considered one of the most resistant species in terms of the total number of pesticides to which populations have become resistant, and its control has become problematic in many areas worldwide.
Essential oils are potential alternatives to the use of synthetic pesticides for two-spotted spider mite control. Studies done on the contact and repellency effects of Rose essential oil and its two major constituents, geraniol and citronellol, on two-spotted spider mites suggest that the essential oil can potentially be used for the management of Tetranychus urticae.
Plant Defence
Following injury, plants release terpenoids to enhance their defences. Researchers studying terpenoid-enriched essential oils have found that Rose essential oil can stimulate defence genes in tomato leaves, and also attract herbivore predators that protect the plants.
Overall, the study highlights the role of β-citronellol-enriched essential oils in activating defence genes in tomato leaves, and provides evidence that Rose essential oil is an effective biostimulant for enhancing plant defences against pests. Rather than just acting as a direct killer of bugs, applying rose essential oils on crops like tomatoes could be a sustainable approach to pest management in organic farming.
It is also safe as it does not lead to phytotoxicity or leave any toxic residues behind.
Antibacterial Control:
Research has shown the Rose essential oil is also effective against certain plant pathogens, acting as an antibacterial control agent.
Garden Spray
Mix 10-20 drops of the essential oil in 1 Litre of water with an emulsifier. Shake well, and regularly while spraying down the foliage of plants and surfaces.
For red spider control regular spraying will be required to break their cycle.
In the Home
Elegant, timeless, and emotionally soothing, Rose Essential Oil (Rosa damascena), is made from the petals of the Damask rose, known as one of the most prized and fragrant rose species, and commonly cultivated in Bulgaria, Turkey and India.
Known as one of the most prized and fragrant Rose species, this pale yellow to amber oil has a medium consistency and offers a rich, classic floral aroma with sweet and slightly spicy undertones. Our essential oil is standardized using a natural extract processed to guarantee a consistent chemical profile and aroma from batch to batch.
Steam distilled in small quantities, Rosa damascena oil is a favourite in natural perfumery and holistic skincare. Its luxurious scent and therapeutic profile make it ideal for use in emotional support blends, beauty rituals, and heart-centred aromatherapy.
- Add a few drops to a diffuser to create a peaceful, meditative atmosphere.
- Dilute with carrier oil for use in massages or skincare applications.
- Combine with Epsom salts and other relaxing oils for a deeply calming bath soak.
How to Use Essential Oils for Pest Control
When it comes to organic gardening, prevention is better than cure, and spraying crops regularly with essential oils to prevent insect infestation and disease is the most effective method. This will not only chase pests away, but also make your garden smell great!
Always use pure essential oils, and because they are so potent, always dilute them first.
How to dilute essential oils
One of the drawbacks of using essential oils in the garden is that the levels of terpenes and other constituents can vary greatly depending on the region where the plants are grown, genetics, climate and other seasonal factors. Therefore, maintaining consistency in the chemical profile of the oils is hard.
For example, Rosemary oil extracted from plants growing in two different regions of Italy will contain varying levels of α-pinene, ranging from 11% to 36%. Another study showed that essential oils extracted from different chemotypes of garden thyme did not have the same toxicity against the bean weevil.
This is the reason why, if you look for exact recipes for the oil you wish to use in the garden, you will find many different quantities of oil versus water used.
Another factor to take into account is the actual number of drops in a milliliter can vary greatly depending on the thickness of the liquid: Thicker liquids like essential oils produce larger drops, meaning it takes fewer drops to make 1mL. Different dropper bottles or droppers also have varying nozzle sizes, which changes the volume of a single drop.
In standard pharmaceutical measurements, 1 mL is equal to approximately 20 drops (meaning 1 drop is about 0.05 mL). Therefore, 10 drops are typically equal to about 0.5 mL.
This is why physicians do not rely on counting drops, as this can lead to incorrect dosing. Instead they use an oral syringe, a graduated measuring cup, or the specific dropper provided with the medicine.
CAUTION:
Because the actual number of drops in a millilitre can vary greatly depending on the thickness of the liquid and varying nozzle sizes, which changes the volume of a single drop, I recommend starting with the lowest recommended dosage. You can always increase it later.
Preventative Spraying
A general guideline when mixing sprays to deter insects, and for anti-fungus protection is to mix 4–8 drops of Essential Oil in 1 Litre of water with an emulsifier.
Garden Sprays
At certain times of the year various pests and diseases will be more prevalent, so for stronger protection dosages can be increased.
Generally you will find recommended dosages are between 10-20 drops per Litre of water.
Always Test Sprays First
Unless you apply very high doses of essential oils, they are perfectly safe to use in the garden. However, because the strengths of essential oils vary, to ensure they do not cause leaf burn, it’s important to always test your spray on a small, isolated area of the plant first. Wait at least 24 hours to check for damage before applying it everywhere.
A good method of remembering which leaves you tested your spray on is to tie string or ribbon onto the stems that have been sprayed.
Take Notes
Taking note of which plants were tested and the dosages used, will soon give you a good indication of the strengths your plants need for protection.
Mixing your spray
The Emulsifier:
Soap is essential as an emulsifier as essential oils do not mix with water and will float to the top, potentially burning your plants. A gentle liquid dish soap, pure liquid Castile or Black soap can be used.
Approximately one teaspoon of liquid soap emulsifier is used in one litre of water. Witch hazel, Vodka, or apple cider vinegar also emulsifies oil and water.
The Method:
In a small glass container, mix your essential oils with your emulsifier, then add some of the water and stir well. Warming the water helps with emulsification. Add the oil mix to the spray bottle with the rest of the warm water. Agitate well and also regularly whilst spraying.
Applying your Oils
Spraying in the middle of a hot, sunny day can cause leaf burn, so always apply the mixture in the cool of early morning or late afternoon. Remember to agitate the spray bottle well before use, and regularly while spraying. Ensure that you spray underneath the leaves where insects commonly hide.
During the cooler times of the day beneficial daytime pollinators are not that active. Never spray plants if you can see beneficial pollinators like bees around the plants. Even organic sprays can be abused in the garden, so as they say “everything in moderation”.
NOTE: The strength of the oils will evaporate, so reapply to plants after rain, every 2 weeks, or as needed.
Cotton Ball Method
To target specific insects in large numbers, like ant hills or rodent burrows, take some cotton balls and add a few drops of essential oils to them. Place the cotton ball right onto the ant hill, burrow or other insect grouping. This will cause them to relocate immediately. If that doesn’t work immediately you should repeat the process using a stronger solution.
You can also rub the oils onto any hard surfaces to create a long-lasting barrier.
Hanging Strips to Deter Pests
Add essential oils to a bowl of warm water and soak strips of pretty material or ribbon in the water before hanging onto the branches of fruit trees, or near edible gardens and ornamental shrubs.
Is there a waiting period before harvesting?
You should not eat vegetables and fruits immediately after spraying them with essential oils. These oils are highly concentrated and consuming them without a waiting period or proper cleaning can cause digestive upset, inflammation, or irritation of the mouth and oesophagus.
Essential oils degrade in sunlight and waiting 24 hours should be sufficient. Ensure that you always wash your food well and all will be fine.
Storing Essential Oil Mixes
Try to mix up only sufficient spray to use in a day, or within 24 hours of mixing. Once exposed to water and oxygen, oil-based garden sprays begin to separate, degrade, and lose their effectiveness.
If you do have any left-over, store it in a glass bottle in a cool, dark place, not in your plastic spray bottle, as essential oils break down quicker in plastic. Agitate well before using again.
