Pediculicide/ovicide composition

1. A pediculicide composition: consisting essentially of

(a) from about 1% w/w to about 5.0% w/w farnesol;

(b) from about 1% w/w to about 10% w/w of a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of glyceryl monostearate, stearic acid, triethanolamine, ethanol, polysorbate 20, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetrimonium bromide, citric acid, cyclomethicone, dimethicone, ceteth 20, ceteareth 20, caprylic/capric triglycerides, PEG 40 polyhydroxystearate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, acetone, glyceryl stearate, xanthan gum, DEA cetyl phosphate, sodium stearate, potassium stearate, wool alcohols, octyl stearate, carnauba wax, ozokerite, carbomer, phenoxyethanol, methyl parabens, propyl parabens, and mixtures thereof;

(c) from about 0.5% w/w to about 5% w/w of oil selected from the group consisting of eucalyptus oil, olive oil, lemon oil, verbena oil, geranium oil, anise oil, patchouli oil, lavender oil, boronia oil, tea tree oil, bay oil, sandalwood oil, orange oil, citronella oil, grapefruit oil, jasmine oil, cinnamon oil, chamomile oil, clary sage oil, lime oil, mandarin oil, palma rosa oil, rosewood oil, ylang oil, hazelnut oil, nutmeg oil, and mixtures thereof;

(d) a synthetically derived excipient; and

(e) from about 80% w/w to about 95% w/w water,

wherein the oil facilitates penetration of the farnesol into the chitin outer shell of a lice or a lice egg wall such that the lice or lice egg dies within a 24 hour exposure to the pediculicide composition.

2. The pediculicide composition according to claim 1 , wherein the oil is olive oil.

3. The pediculicide composition according to claim 1 , wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of geranium oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, olive oil, and mixtures thereof.

4. The pediculicide composition of claim 3 which consists of

(a) from about 1% w/w to about 5.0% w/w farnesol;

(b) from about 0.5% to about 5% w/w of olive oil as the oil;

(c) a synthetically derived excipient;

(d) from about 1% to about 10% w/w of glyceryl monostearate as the stabilizer;

(e) triethanolamine as a pH adjuster;

(f) stearic acid as a emulsifier; and

(g) from about 80% w/w to about 95% w/w water,

wherein the oil facilitates penetration of the farnesol into the chitin outer shell of a lice or a lice egg wall such that the lice or lice egg dies within a 24 hour exposure to the pediculicide composition.