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!
Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood Essential Oil is richly aromatic and steam-distilled from the heartwood of the sandalwood tree, traditionally grown in India and other parts of Southeast Asia. Our essential oil is sourced from responsibly harvested or cultivated sandalwood to support long-term ecological balance.
Prized for centuries in both perfumery and spiritual practices, Sandalwood is known for its warm, woody, and creamy aroma that promotes deep calm and emotional grounding.
In the Garden
The essential oil of Sandalwood, also called East Indian Sandalwood is utilized specifically as a natural Insect Repellent, Acaricide (for mites), and Larvicide. Its primary active compounds—α-santalol and β-santalol are scientifically proven to deter pests.
Because it is highly concentrated and expensive, it must be carefully diluted and correctly applied to protect plants.
As a Strengthening Agent for Plants.
If your plants are facing environmental stress, spray them with a sandalwood solution. The terpene, santalol, act as a strengthening agent for plants and makes them hardier.
As an Insecticide and Deterrent
The active compounds in sandalwood work specifically against Aphids, Mites and Weevils, but can deter many common garden insects like Caterpillars, Beetles, Ants, Slugs, Ticks, Gnats and Mosquitoes.
Gnats, Ticks, and Mosquitoes
The compounds in Sandalwood oil help safely disrupt the host-finding abilities of insects like Gnats, Ticks, and Mosquitoes. Research shows that aqueous nano-emulsions of sandalwood oil yield high mortality rates against mosquito larvae (such as Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens)
As a Mite and Aphid Repellent
The oil is recognized for its toxicity and repellent effects against the Two-spotted Spider Mite, Cotton Aphids (Aphis gossypii), and Honeybee Mites (Varroa destructor).
Red Spider Mite, Two-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)
Studies have shown that sandalwood essential oil is effective in treating the two-spotted spider mite, reducing the total number of eggs found on the infested plant’s leaves by 89.3%.
The Red Spider Mite is highly prevalent in South Africa. It is considered one of the most destructive and common plant pests in the country, frequently attacking over a thousand different host species, including Vegetables, Ornamentals, and Fruit Crops.
Their colours of the aphids can shift between green, brown, and red depending on the environment. These pests thrive in hot, dry conditions and are particularly active during the South African summer months, causing damage by sucking chlorophyll from plant leaves.
Cotton Aphids
The cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) occurs widely in South Africa. It is a highly polyphagous species that feeds on over 700 plant species. It is a widespread agricultural pest found across various regions.
The aphids vary in colour from light yellow to dark green but are easily identified by their black siphunculi (the two small “tailpipes” on their rear).They cause damage by stunting plant growth, curling leaves, and secreting sticky “honeydew” that promotes the growth of black sooty mould. Beyond physical damage, they are a significant concern for spreading various plant viruses.
Besides Cotton, they frequently attack agricultural crops in South Africa, including Citrus, Barley, Coffee, and Cucurbits like Melons, Cucumbers and Eggplants.
Antifungal Properties
Sandalwood also has mild antifungal properties that can help mitigate surface mould like Powdery Mildew on plant leaves.
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 or surfaces.
In the Home
Sandalwood Essential Oil is richly aromatic and steam-distilled from the heartwood of the sandalwood tree, traditionally grown in India and other parts of Southeast Asia. Our essential oil is sourced from responsibly harvested or cultivated sandalwood to support long-term ecological balance.
Prized for centuries in both perfumery and spiritual practice, Sandalwood is known for its warm, woody, and creamy aroma that promotes deep calm and emotional grounding. Its thick consistency and long-lasting scent make it a revered base note in aromatic blends.
In skincare and wellness, it is favoured for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and mood-balancing properties and is commonly used for meditation and in relaxation blends, perfumery, and in skincare for dry or inflamed skin.
When diffused indoors essential oil with keep many household pests away.
- 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.
