Homemade Natural Bug Spray Recipe; an easy essential oil spray to keep bugs and mosquitos away using witch hazel, citronella, eucalyptus, cedarwood, rosemary, geranium and lavender.
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Summer time is the best but the bugs can really put you down. Nothing is worse than being outdoors and having bugs bite you. Luckily, this natural bug spray recipe uses essential oils to repel insects like mosquitoes and flies.
One of my all time favorite DIY recipes using essential oils is this homemade natural bug spray recipe. It uses all natural ingredients to create a scent that bugs HATE. All warm weather bugs will run from you with this spray on (mosuitos, ticks, gnats & flies)! We use this mostly as a black fly and mosquito repellent when we are camping!
If you are worried about this homemade bug repellent irritating your skin, you can always spray directly on your clothes, hats, shoes etc. It will not ruin your clothes with oil stains!
So with that being said, lets jump into this natural bug repellent recipe!
This Homemade Natural Bug Spray Recipe uses essential oils to Repel Bugs
Essential oils are a natural, chemical-free way to repel bugs. Their scent is strong enough that it can be smelled by the insects, and they don't like it! This makes them safe for use around your house and on yourself, as they won't be affected by the oils' strong scents.
- Essential oils are safe for human use. In fact, there's even an essential oil called “citronella” which has traditionally been used as an insect repellent! Many different kinds of essential oils have been shown to have antimicrobial properties (which means they can kill bacteria), including cedarwood and tea tree oil which you'll find in this homemade bug spray recipe below.
- Using these types of substances around children or pets should be done with caution—you should never ingest or inhale these types of chemicals without first consulting a doctor or professional on their effects on people other than us mammals! However there isn't much evidence that says using these substances around kids or animals causes any harm at all (except maybe allergies). I will include a recipe for kids and a recipe for adults in this post.
- Do not use the adult recipe on children. Eucalyptus essential oil should not be used by children under the age of 10. Peppermint essential oils should not be used on children under the age of 6. I have made an alteration to the recipe for kids found in the recipe card below.
Homemade Bug Repellant Ingredients:
- witch hazel - Witch hazel is a plant that has been used for centuries to treat wounds, burns and skin irritations. This is the base of the bug repellent.
- citronella oil (not oil from citronella candles, use an essential oil option) - Citronella essential oil is a carrier oil that is derived from the grassy-scented plant, Citronella. Citronella is known for its ability to repel mosquitos, but it's also thought to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help relieve pain or itching due to bug bites.
- eucalyptus essential oil - Eucalyptus essential oil is a distilled oil from the leaves of Eucalyptus trees. The oil is extracted from the leaves through steam distillation, and it has a strong and pungent camphorous scent that makes it great for cleaning, purifying, and calming. This essential oil can be used in aromatherapy to treat colds and flus, headaches, muscle pain, skin infections like acne or rashes, sinus infections and congestion. Because of its antibacterial properties, eucalyptus oil can also be used as an insect repellent. You can also use lemon eucalyptus oil in this recipe instead.
- rose geranium essential oil - Rose geranium essential oil is made from the leaves of the rose geranium plant. It has a sweet, floral scent that's perfect for aromatherapy or adding to bath water for a relaxing soak. Reduces pain, including menstrual cramps, calms coughs and colds and relieves stress and anxiety.
- lavender essential oil - Lavender essential oil is one of the most commonly used oils in aromatherapy. It is known for its calming, relaxing properties, as well as its ability to promote clear thinking. The oil is extracted from the flowers of the lavender plant. Lavender is thought to have been used by humans since prehistoric times.
- rosemary essential oil - Rosemary essential oil is extracted from the leaves and stems of the rosemary plant. It's a common ingredient in many perfumes and beauty products, because it has a strong, woody aroma that's often described as "medicinal." Rosemary essential oil is often used to help treat acne, eczema, and dry skin. It can also be used as an insect repellant or as an additive to homemade cleaning products.
- cedarwood essential oil - Cedarwood essential oil is an essential oil made from the wood of cedar trees. Its medicinal properties are many, including its ability to reduce inflammation and fight bacteria. It also has a calming effect on the body and mind, which makes it useful as a sleep aid.
- apple cider vinegar, white vinegar or vodka
- vegetable glycerin - Vegetable glycerin is a natural by-product of the distillation process for making palm oil. It's also used to make soap, and it's been used as a medicine since ancient times. This recipe only take a tsp!
This recipe basically just uses an essential oil blend that works magic as a homemade insect repellent. You can make a big batch and store it in a mason jar or pour it all right into a spray bottle. You do not need to use any real herbs and no boil/strain needed. Just a simple mixture of ingredients!
Home to make this Homemade Natural Bug Spray Recipe:
The first thing you are going to do it pour the witch hazel extract into a small spray bottle and add the essential oils one by one right into the bottle as well. Next add the apple cider vinegar and vegetable glycerin. Shake the bottle well before using and apply as often as needed. Just keep out of your eyes and mouth!
SAFETY NOTE: Eucalyptus and rosemary should not be used on kids under the age of 10. If you are making this for young children, you can just opt those two essential oils out and double up on citronella and cedarwood.
You can use this homemade bug repellant on yourself and in the house safely!
This is a safe alternative to commercial bug sprays. It's non-toxic, so it's safer then the store bought bug repellant. It can be used in the home safely—not just outside on your skin, but also in the house on clothing, furniture and plants (just not within reach of pets). Plus it can be applied to outdoor areas such as patios and decks without leaving any toxic residues behind when it rains or gets washed off by rainwater and sprinklers!
More Essential Oil Recipes:
- NATURAL VAPOR RUB RECIPE FOR ADULTS
- TREATING JET LAG WITH ESSENTIAL OILS
- DIY Lavender Pre-Vacuum Rug Cleaner
- Homemade Citrus All-Purpose Cleaner
I hope you found this guide to be helpful. There are many types of bug sprays out there, but most of them contain harmful chemicals that can be dangerous for your health. This homemade natural bug spray recipe uses essential oils, which are safe and effective at repelling bugs! I know some people who have tried all sorts of other products with no luck, so this recipe may be just what they need. If you’re looking for a more natural alternative than commercial sprays then give it a try! Say goodbye to mosquito bites forever!
Until next time,
Homemade Natural Bug Spray Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup witch hazel
- 20 drops citronella oil
- 20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 20 drops rose geranium essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops cedarwood essential oil
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar,
- ½ teaspoon vegetable glycerin
Instructions
- The first thing you are going to do it pour the witch hazel extract into a spray bottle and add the essential oils one by one right into the bottle as well. Next add the apple cider vinegar and vegetable glycerin. Shake the bottle well before using and apply as often as needed. Just keep out of your eyes and mouth!
Notes
Homemade Natural Bug Spray Recipe; an easy essential oil spray to keep bugs and mosquitos away using witch hazel, citronella, eucalyptus, cedarwood, rosemary, geranium and lavender.
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