Summer is all about long, golden evenings perfect for barbecues and al fresco dinners with family and friends, but unfortunately, we’re not the only ones who love the warm weather. Mosquitoes are eager to crash the party too, and they start to come out in droves once the temperature reaches about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Luckily, you don’t have to rely on chemical bug sprays to keep them at bay this summer. There is fragrant flowering herb that helps repel mosquitoes and just as effectively: salvia rosmarinus, more commonly known as rosemary.

Unlike the plant group bromeliads, a mosquito-attracting flowering plant you might not want to grow in your yard, the rosemary leaf can naturally repel these pesky insects. In fact, one study published in the Journal of Physics found that applying rosemary essential oils can offer a 92.15% protection against mosquitoes for up to four hours — just enough time to enjoy your summer evening plans bite-free.

Rosemary is a tough little herb that thrives in climates above 20 degrees Fahrenheit, making it perfect for USDA Plant Hardiness zones 6 and up. That’s great news for southern states, where mosquito season hits hard and rosemary can grow in abundance. If you live in a cooler region and want to grow your own rosemary, make sure it is planted in a pot that can be brought indoors or cover the plant with fleece during winter.

To amplify its pest-repelling power, plant rosemary next to thyme, another aromatic herb that will help rosemary thrive in your garden. Alternatively, keep a pot outside your doors and windows to stop mosquitoes from coming inside while keeping the summer breeze filtering through your home. As a bonus, rosemary’s fresh, piney fragrance will make a charming and welcoming scent for visiting guests.

However, just having a rosemary plant nearby won’t cut it when it comes to really fending off mosquito swarms. The easiest and most budget-friendly way to use rosemary as a natural mosquito repellent is to snip a few fresh sprigs straight from your garden. To really tap into its bug-repelling powers, you’ve got two easy options: toss a few fresh sprigs onto the grill and let the smoky fragrance do the work, or transform fresh rosemary into a natural mosquito repellent. For the latter, simply boil rosemary in water for about half an hour, let it cool, pour it into a spray bottle, and mist yourself with a fragrant, all-natural mosquito shield.