Does Lavender Oil Really Deter Moths? How to Use It

Yes, lavender oil genuinely deters moths, and it has done for centuries, long before mothballs existed. Moths dislike the strong scent of lavender oil intensely, particularly the undiluted, high-potency kind, which is exactly what makes Elgiva London's single-estate lavender oil so effective.

Why lavender works against moths

Moths are drawn to natural fibres: wool, cashmere, silk, linen, and even more so if it isn't clean, because their larvae feed on tiny particles of skin, dust and food that cling to those types of fabric. What repels them is a strong, sustained scent, and lavender essential oil is one of the most effective natural deterrents there is, provided it's potent enough. Diluted or synthetic "lavender-scented" products rarely contain enough real oil to do the job properly. An undiluted, single-estate essential oil like ours does.

How to use Elgiva London lavender oil against moths

• Spray directly onto fabric: a few spritzes onto wool, cashmere, silk or linen before storing it away for the season. Elgiva French essential lavender oil does not stain.
• Inside wardrobes and drawers: spray directly into the space, particularly corners and seams, where moths tend to lay eggs.
• A sachet tucked away: leave a lavender sachet in a drawer or wardrobe for slow, continuous protection between sprays.
• In the washing machine (this is the winner): add a few drops via a pipette to the softener compartment before washing woollens, or the final rinse if hand washing, so the scent lingers in the fabric when it dries, not just the storage space. If you are bagging up woollens for the summer, we always suggest you add a little more; it's a small price to pay for saving your expensive jumpers.

Why ours works better than most

Elgiva London lavender oil is Lavandula Hybrida, also known as Lavandin, grown, harvested and distilled on a single estate in Provence by one family to their own method, which gives it the distinctive fragrance. It isn't blended at a co-operative with other lavender oils, and it is never diluted. That distinction matters specifically here: a weaker, diluted "lavender oil" simply doesn't carry enough potency to keep moths away for long. Ours does, and it's why customers come back for more once they've tried it.

A natural alternative to mothballs

Traditional mothballs (and several other alternatives) work through naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, both of which leave a distinctly chemical smell that most people would rather not have near their clothes, let alone the rest of the house. Other potions claiming to deter moths use a diluted version of lavender oil and are not as effective. Elgiva essential lavender oil does the same protective job with a scent people actively enjoy, rather than tolerate.

A gift for the moth-averse

If there's a wardrobe-proud friend in your life who's forever complaining about moths getting into good wool, a bottle of Elgiva London lavender oil solves a major problem very pleasantly and is a much more useful gift than a box of chocolates or a candle. It doubles as a fragrance for the room, an incredibly potent and lingering bath oil, as well as a pillow spray besides.

Shop the oil

Our 100ml bottle with a spray dispenser is the easiest way to start, shop the 100ml lavender oil here.