DIY Natural Insect Repellent
With summer fast approaching, we are looking at all the ways we can spend a lot of time outdoors without having to deal with the repercussions of all the annoying and even potentially dangerous insects that we will inevitably encounter.
Mosquito bites may happen due to any combination of scent, light, heat, and even humidity. Some are even more prone to mosquito bites than others. Many are attracted to bacteria and sweat while others are attracted to carbon monoxide. So, if you are going to be spending any time outdoors, it is important to make sure you have the right protection in place to ward off these insects.
DEET Based Chemical Repellents
Many commercial insect repellents contain harmful ingredients that can cause both health and environmental problems. DEET is one of the more common active ingredients that can be found in most commercial insect repellents. While some believe that it is safe to use on the skin, others are choosing more natural alternatives that are safe and effective without the possibility of any harsh side effects.
Natural insect repellents can easily be made at home yourself using natural ingredients like essential oil. The following are just a few of these very simple DIYs that you can try before spending any more time outdoors with the bugs.
Lemon and Eucalyptus
This combination is one of the more well-known insect repellents. Eucalyptus essential oil has been used as an insect repellent since the 1940s and has even been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as being an effective ingredient in mosquito repellent.
Lemon Eucalyptus can help repel both mosquitoes and ticks. It can even be used in and around the home for pest control. Mosquitoes hate the smell of lemon, and really any other citrus smells there are.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil is a good insect repellent for both humans and animals outdoors. A mist can be made by combining the lavender essential oil with lemon and witch hazel. The mist can then be sprayed on your body and your animals before going outdoors.
Insects don’t like lavender because it is a very fragrant oil so they will stay away. An added benefit to lavender oil for insect repellent is the fact that it is also soothing for the skin and can help with any mosquito bites you may have already gotten.
Citronella Essential Oil
This is one of the most common and effective ways to repel insects naturally. It is also an ingredient that can be found in several traditional insect repellents you can purchase. It has been said to be as effective as DEET and can protect a person while outdoors for up to two hours. However, if the formula isn’t right, the citronella oil can evaporate very quickly and will leave your skin unprotected. To keep your home free of pesky insects add 15-20 drops of citronella essential oil to your nebulizing diffuser.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
This oil is very well known for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. It is used for a variety of different ailments or conditions and has also been suggested as a proper alternative to commercial repellents.
Tea tree oil has been found to be effective against a variety of insects, including mosquitoes, bush flies, and biting midges. While it is good at preventing bites, it can also treat bites you may already have. It is a natural insecticide that has been proven effective.
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium oil is another common ingredient found in many insect repellents. It is lemon scented and reminiscent of citronella grass. Its strong fragrance is effective at keeping the bugs at bay. It has also been found to be an effective tick repellent. It is potent and should only be applied in small drops or dots.
Making Your Own Insect Repellent Recipe
To make your own homemade bug spray, you will need:
• 30 drops Geranium essential oil
• 30 drops Citronella essential oil
• 20 drops Lemon eucalyptus oil
• 20 drops Lavender essential oil
• 10 drops Rosemary essential oil
• 100ml Rubbing alcohol
• Witch hazel
• A ½ cup of vinegar
You will place the essential oil drops in a glass spray bottle, and you can then add the alcohol. Shake the mixture well. Next, pour in half a cup of witch hazel and shake the mixture to combine.
You want to shake every time something is added to the mixture. You will also want to shake before each use because the oils and other ingredients will naturally begin to separate.
You can also combine six drops of any of the above essential oils to an unscented lotion. For example, add six drops of lemongrass essential oil to two ounces of unscented lotion. You can also add in three drops of lavender and two drops of geranium for an even better topical mosquito repellent.
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A repellent that looks good too
Thanks for sharing. I’m going to try your recipe. I’d much rather you something natural then do you something like DEET that is harmful.
Great suggestion. I never really thought about it before. Thanks.
I love using this.. especially for my daughter she’s sensitive to chemicals and I prefer natural.. she also must have the sweetest blood because the bugs just love her.. poor baby.
Excited to try this dog-safe product!
I love DIY bug sprays! They seem to not only work even better than the store bought versions, but also smell great! I’ll certainly try some of the oils mentioned that I’ve yet to use. Thank you!
I’m going to try this up at the cottage. That’s where bugs are the worst.
I would rather smell good and deter pests naturally, so kudos to this site.
Mosquitoes like to munch on me…I’ll be trying some of the suggestions here to see if this helps!
Perfect timing for my trip to the UP later this month!!
I think it works great
Wow! This came just in time…exactly what I’m looking to make! Thank you!!!
Thanks for the great, informative reference. I plan to start experimenting seeing my deodorant detox went so well.
looks great!
Thanks for the article. I can’t wait to try this out!
This was very interesting an I learned a lot.
I discovered a lot of useful information! I hope this all work so well as I’m sure gonna try this in my house, and on my pets specially for all those ticks problem. Thank you so much 🙂
This will be great for the summer
I don’t remember if we even used a spray when I was little! I think it was some concoction with vinegar – it smelled bad! I remember using the all natural OFF on my kids and the OFF disks. I did pin this and shared on Twitter. I am also sharing this information to my kids to use on their kids. Keeping our loved ones protected is so important!! These 🦟 pests bites not only make you scratch yourself, some of them also carry diseases! Thank you for sharing!
I’m wondering if lavender essential oil with coconut oil would do the trick as well. I don’t use diffusers at this point.
Oh boy, I could have used these last week. I will be making these right away.
i’ll be making this repellent recipe ASAP and ty for the tip/chance!
I’m going to try the spray for my cat; I wish the post included the amounts needed. He is inside-only and never had fleas, until he learned to run outside when i open the door. He doesn’t go far, but it’s far enough to attract fleas. UGH Before this I didn’t use flea protection, because I didn’t need it.
Wow! Great info. Its great because i hate being in my garden and getting eating up. This recipe will come in Handy 😀
I needed this. I can’t work in my garden without being eaten up.
I definitely want to try using more natural products, and really appreciate all the information in your article.
I would like to try the lemon and eucalyptus! 🙂
Lemon and Eucalyptus looks good
What timely and helpful information! We are headed out for a week of camping next week, and luckily I have some of these essential oils on hand to use. Yay! Thank you especially for the recipe. These are wonderful alternatives to commercial insect repellents.
Very informative and i appreciate the info on a combination safe for dogs! I get eaten alive by mosquitoes and worry about ticks these days too.
going to try the Lemon and Eucalyptus
These are great ideas. I’ve tried some of these combinations in the past and they didn’t work for me. I’m truly a piece of prime rib when it comes to mosquitoes-maybe something to do with my hormones?
wow great tips, i need to try this, i been getting bit up and its only the beginning of summer
I need these!
Thanks for the recipe. This is very useful!
Great article!
if it works I am all in.
Just what I need, got rid of over 10 mosquitoes in the past few days..
I can use this to deter them
This is a very timely article with great information. I’ve always been prone to mosquito bites but never knew why. Love the recipe for bug repellent. Thank you!