The exact mode of action of sweet basil oil is still
limonene known for repellent activity. No such paralytic effect
was observed in the skin in Vaseline, neem, and Kinga treated
skin. Thus sweet basil oil serves to paralyze mosquitoes and
block them on the skin surface since it acts in a vapour-phase.
Eucalyptus oil had similar effect as sweet basil whose activity
is most likely due to citronellal, citronellol and PMD (pmethane
3, 8 diol). It plays a role in potentiating its activity,
neutralizes the reported strong smell of sweet basil oil [24]
and
may prolong protection time as previously reported [38]