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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
While they are closely related to butterflies, moths are incredibly annoying—and often destructive—when they get into your home. We spent hours researching the top moth repellants on the market, evaluating formulation, effectiveness, and ease of use.
Our best overall pick, the Household Essentials CEDAR FRESH Cedar Closet Variety Pack, contains an assortment of pleasantly-scented cedarwood accessories for drawers, hanging rods, and doorknobs.
Here are the best moth repellents available online.
Best Overall
Household Essentials CEDAR FRESH Cedar Closet Variety Pack
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Courtesy of Amazon
Easy to use
Pleasant scent
Effective
Doesn't kill existing moths
Our number one pick is this variety pack from Household Essentials. It comes in sets of 36, 56, 71, or 96 and includes an assortment of kiln-dried eastern red cedar deterrents to place around your home. You'll get rings, cubes, sachets, and hang-ups with metal hooks, all of which have a pleasant yet not overbearing wood scent.
This gives you lots of options. You can attach the hang-ups to your closet rod or on doorknobs, hook the rings to your clothes hangers, put the sachets in drawers, and place the blocks in any other enclosed space that needs protection. Bear in mind, this set won't actually kill moths, but it is an effective solution for repelling them.
Price at time of publish: $17
Type: Cedar pieces | Intended Use: Closets/dressers
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The Spruce / Sarah Vanbuskirk
Best Budget
Enoz Para Moth Balls
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Courtesy of Amazon
Budget-friendly
Effective
Kills moths, eggs, and larvae
Strong odor
For households on a budget, we recommend Enoz Para Moth Balls. They contain paradichlorobenzene, which kills the most destructive species, plus their eggs and larvae.
You can place them in nearly any confined space, like your closet, dresser, or storage bins. Though the active ingredient has a somewhat strong odor, it won't linger on your clothes or linens.
Price at time of publish: $14
Type: Mothballs | Intended Use: Closets/dressers/storage
Best Natural
Armour Shell Lavender Sachet and Cedar Bags
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Courtesy of Amazon
Pleasant smell
Long-lasting
Lavender bags sometimes leak
If you're partial to chemical-free pest solutions, you'll appreciate this set from Armour Shell. It comes with 20 pre-filled sachets, half containing dried lavender flowers and half containing premium cedar chips. When you place a few in your closet and dresser drawers, you'll have peace of mind knowing moths will stay away for months.
Price at time of publish: $26
Type: Sachets | Intended Use: Closet/dresser
Best Spray
Reefer-Galler SLA Cedar Scented Spray
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Courtesy of Amazon
Budget-friendly
Kills and prevents
Multi-surface solution
Long-lasting
Harmful if inhaled
When it comes to battling moths, SLA Cedar Scented Spray isn't messing around. This aerosol can contains pyrethrins and other pesticides that kill not only moths and their larvae but also ants, cockroaches, bed bugs, spiders, and other pests on contact.
You can spray it all around your home, including in your closet, on carpets and rugs, and upholstered furniture. Besides stopping them in their tracks, it leaves a cedar scent behind to keep the flyers away for up to three months.
Price at time of publish: $32
Type: Spray | Intended Use: Closet/carpet/upholstery
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The Spruce / Sarah Vanbuskirk
Best Mothballs
Honey-Can-Do Cedar Moth Balls
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Courtesy of Amazon
Budget-friendly
Long-lasting
Pleasant smell
Naturally absorbent
Requires periodic sanding to remain effective
Sometimes the simplest solutions offer the best results. That's why we love Honey-Can-Do Moth Balls. You'll get a pack of 24 balls, each made of premium cedar wood and measuring just under an inch in circumference.
You can place them in your closet, dresser drawers, pantry, luggage, or storage containers. The cedar repels moths and can even kill larvae. Plus, you can sand them to freshen up the scent every few months.
Price at time of publish: $11
Type: Mothballs | Intended Use: Closet/dresser/pantry/luggage
Best for Clothing
MothPrevention Powerful Clothes Moth Traps for Closets
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Courtesy of Amazon
Odor-free
User-friendly
Prevents mating
Expensive
Traps instead of repels
To stop moths from nibbling their way through your wardrobe, reach for these traps from MothPrevention. The no-nonsense sheets are coated with odorless pheromones that attract the creepy creatures before trapping them in a sticky residue. You can hang them in your closet, on the outside of your dresser, and in any other areas where moths are creating problems.
Price at time of publish: $39
Type: Traps | Intended Use: Closet/dresser
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The Spruce / Sarah Vanbuskirk
Best Lavender
Richards Moth Away Sachets
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Courtesy of Amazon
Pleasant smell
Natural
Long-lasting
Must be used before expiration date
For lavender lovers, we recommend Richards Moth Away Sachets. One box contains either 24 or 72 little packets, each filled with lovely-smelling dried lavender flowers. Place a few in your closet, on your shoe rack, and in your dresser drawers to prevent pesky moths from eating your favorite garments. While you can expect months of protection, bear in mind that the sachets need to be used before their expiration date.
Price at time of publish: $22
Type: Lavender sachets | Intended Use: Closet/dresser
Best Cedar
Cedar Sense Cedar Rings
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Courtesy of Amazon
Natural
Pleasant smell
Absorbs moisture
May not be effective for larger infestations
Cedar rings like this 30-pack from Cedar Sense are great because the versatile shape gives you lots of options. You can attach them to clothes hangers, put a few in your dresser, or place a couple in your shoes to repel moths. And since cedar is naturally absorbent, you can also toss some in your gym bag, suitcase, or storage containers to absorb moisture, prevent mildew, and keep odors at a minimum.
Price at time of publish: $27
Type: Cedar rings | Intended Use: Closet/drawers/luggage/storage
Best for Pantry Moths
Dr. Killigan's Premium Pantry Moth Traps
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Courtesy of Amazon
Prevents mating by entrapment
Odor-free
Traps instead of repels
If you're dealing with pantry moths, call on Dr. Killigan to take care of the problem. These structured paper traps contain a potent pheromone that attracts Indian meal moths and other species that go for your food.
An ultra-sticky glue then imprisons the pests and stops more infestations from forming. Place them on your pantry shelves, kitchen counters, or wherever you want to expel moths.
Price at time of publish: $17
Type: Traps | Intended Use: Pantry/Cupboards
The best moth repellent solution overall is the Household Essentials CEDAR FRESH Cedar Closet Variety Pack. It comes with an assortment of solid cedar wood pieces and sachets, which you can place throughout your home to keep pests away. However, if you're dealing with pantry moths, your best bet is Dr. Killigan's Premium Pantry Moth Traps (view at Amazon), which use a pheromone to attract the pests and a sticky glue to trap them.
What to Look for in Moth Repellent
Moth Species
You may be surprised to learn that not all moths are the same. Clothing moths and pantry moths are two different species and therefore require different treatment methods. So don’t think that any moth repellent is a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, make sure to pay attention to what type of moth you're dealing with and buy a repellent for that type.
Application Method
You can treat the infested area in a variety of ways. Some sprays kill moths (or their larva) on contact and create a protective barrier on surfaces like carpets and rugs. Mothballs and cedar blocks are very hassle-free—just place them in the affected drawer or corners, and let them do their job. There are also traps, which kill moths using a sticky substance—but you’ll need to dispose of them as they become full and replace them until the infestation is eradicated.
Scent
While you’re probably familiar with the "classic" scent of mothballs, you’re likely not a big fan of the odor that originates from naphthalene. Fortunately, there are a variety of other scents available in moth repellent products, including cedar, lavender, and other herbal blends.
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What is a natural moth repellent?
To get rid of moths without moth balls, try a natural moth repellent. These solutions are usually comprised of various spices and/or essential oils that keep moths at bay by distracting them with smells they dislike and avoid. These natural solutions work the same way as moth balls, but without any chemicals. Many people favor a more natural solution since the naphthalene found in common moth balls can be toxic to both humans and pets, according to the National Pesticide Information Center.
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How do you make moth repellent?
The easiest way to make a moth repellent is to fill a small bag or sachet with a few dried herbs and spices. Some effective choices are cloves, thyme, and rosemary, dried lavender, or mint leaves. To make these DIY options even more effective, add a few drops of essential oil to the mix. These smells ward off moths while keeping your clothes smelling fresh.
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What is moth repellent?
Moth repellent is anything that keeps moths from finding or returning to their food source. The insects love to eat at clothing since they get their nutrients from keratin found in many animal-based fabrics (like cashmere, wool, or silk) as well as dead skin cells and debris found on our clothes. Moth repellent keeps moths from nesting and destroying your clothing items by keeping them away from smelling or ingesting these materials.
Why Trust The Spruce?
The Spruce contributor Theresa Holland is a commerce writer specializing in home improvement, cleaning, and pest control. Over the years, she's tried her fair share of pesticides and insect-prevention products to keep pests out of her home. For this story, she combed through user reviews, researched repellent ingredients and moth species, and evaluated products from a range of brands and retailers before making her selections. Additional reporting was done by Mackenzie Dunn, a writer and editor with expertise in the fashion, beauty, home, and lifestyle spaces. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, HelloGiggles, Real Simple, MyDomaine, and more.