Here comes the sun! The rain has finally stopped here in Minnesota, however, after a spring as wet as this one we are no doubt going to be left with a summer full of bugs and flying pests! Over the years, my preference has been to OPT OUT of the chemical-filled bug sprays (DEET has always freaked me out).
Now that I have my son to think about (and as much as we love being outdoors), I felt it was time to actively repel insects, without harmful chemicals. Turns out it’s super simple to make your on concoction! Just pick a carrier oil and add essential oils based on what insects you want to repel!
I worked off of these Google search results: Natural Insect Repellent Recipe (for the recipe) Natural Repellents (to decide which oils to use). Here’s what I ended up with:
The Ingredients:
- 4oz blue glass spray bottle – $2.99 at Whole Foods
- 1/2 Cup Organic Sunflower Oil – left over from my homemade lip balm
- 30 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil – repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, flies, ants
- 30 drops Citronella Essential Oil – repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, flies, ants
Simply measure and mix. Done! I used my handy Pyrex measuring cup with the spout so I could easily pour the potion into my jar. Just spray onto your skin and rub in.
Substitution: Replace the Carrier Oil (sunflower oil) with Vodka or Witch Hazel for better “spray action” and a try bug spray that can be used on clothes, etc.
You need a dark bottle and/or store in a dark place. Use or replace within a few months.
Thanks for reading,
Kristin
Hi, I'm Stephanie. I'm the best selling author of Can It & Ferment It, WECK Small-Batch Preserving and WECK Home Preserving. My fourth book, Small-Scale Homesteading, is now available for pre-order! I'm a certified master food preserver, food preservation instructor, organic gardener, chicken keeper and nature lover. I specialize in creating easy to follow recipes and directions to help other homesteaders meet their goals.
I want to try this! My current insect repellent smells horrible from all the chemicals! thank you for sharing 🙂
Oh I need to try this. One thing I noticed when using brand name (toxic) insect repellents is that when I sprayed them on my kids on the lawn, our lawn turned brown. Imagine what it does to our bodies. Ick!
Wow! That’s disgusting. I definitely would not want that on my skin!
Wow! I didn’t even know you could make your own!
Must try this, we live in the woods and have a pond the mosquitoes are horrible.
I could not even imagine living close to a body of water! I hope this works for you. I have read about lemon grass lately. You can plant it in pots and put it around your patio or where ever you are outside. That is supposed to be a natural repellent too. They sell it at our local farmer’s market but they were all sold out last weekend so I have not tried it out first hand.
We don’t have too many issues with insects here in southern California but when I go home to Wisconsin to visit we do. I will have to share this post with my family and friends from back in the midwest. Thanks!
You are welcome!
thanks for this citronella plain is effective against mosquitos
How did it work out?? Was it as effective?
Well I have been putting it on my daughter almost daily but not on myself as often. She loves to play in the backyard which is ultra buggy. She has only gotten two bites in the last week and a half since this was made and I have about 10 and I’m out less than her! So, I’d say it works.
I must try this, my insect repellent smells awful!.. Thanks for sharing.. 🙂
I am so going to try this. We live near the river and we get absolutely bombarded with bugs.