I tried the whole cedar and lavender routine. Cedar rings for clothes hangers, cedar blocks, lavendar sachets, both cedar and lavendar oil. It smells great when you open the closet. But does it make a difference for your clothes moth problem?
What the evidence says
- Cedar has limits. Aromatic eastern red cedar oil can kill small larvae, but not large ones, and the effect drops as the wood ages. A tight container often matters more than the wood itself. A big issue is that in a space like a closet, cedar is seldom effective because vapor levels are too low in typical, unsealed spaces.
- Lavender and similar sachets are adult clothing moth repellents at best. These can help in enclosed spaces and must be replaced often. They do not touch larvae already inside textiles.
How I use cedar now
- I focus on sealed volume, not "cedar everywhere." Garment bags and lidded bins concentrate the scent.
- I refresh blocks by sanding lightly once a month and I add a little cedar oil to the block surface, then let it dry before it goes in with clothes. That perks up the smell.
- I treat cedar as a deterrent layer after I have already done hot wash, dry cleaning, or freezing. It is not my front line.
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What did not earn its keep
Lavender sachets in an open closet. I tried many and could not see a difference in trap counts or damage. In sealed bags they smelled nice and might help, but I could not prove impact.
Where this leaves me
Cedar and lavender make a treated, sealed container a little less inviting for adults. They do not solve an active problem. If you have visible damage or trap captures, go straight to laundering, dry cleaning, or freezing, then seal.
Cedar smells great and I still use it, but I stopped expecting it to work alone. It's a deterrent layer after I've already treated and sealed everything.
What I'd do instead
- Use cedar in sealed containers or garment bags where vapor can concentrate
- Refresh cedar blocks by sanding or adding a few drops of cedar oil to the surface
- Treat textiles with heat or freezing first, then add cedar as a backup deterrent
- Skip lavender sachets in open closets, they need enclosed space to have any effect
If you're deciding what to try next
— Notes from testing this in a small NYC apartment