Lice repellents found in clove essential oil

A new study has revealed that eugenol, a major component of clove essential oil, has strong repellent effect on body lice.

The study by Iwamatsu et al., published in the February 2016 Journal of Parasitology Research evaluated the avoidance behavior of body lice to specific odorants.

The study revealed that eugenol, a component of the essential oil, has a strong repellent effect on body lice. This effect was enhanced by combining it with the other major component of clove essential oil, β-caryophyllene.

This finding will be of use in the continuing study and development of lice repellents.