We are pretty lucky when it comes to bugs and pest in our area. Summertime is usually too hot for even the mosquitoes although we have had a lot of flies and hornets this year. Honestly after dealing with biting sand flies in New Zealand, there’s little room to complain.
Going into summer though when the ground moisture in our canyon sticks around is a whole different story. Anytime I’d like to work in the garden in the shade or we want to enjoy the occasional cooler evening on our deck – that’s when the mosquitoes are out with a vengeance!
Since beginning the transition to more natural living, I have wanted to eliminate the use of commercial bug sprays that contain chemicals like DEET or the pyrethroid class of insecticides.
The concerns about these chemicals range from their impact on our health to how they store up in fat cells to how they affect the environment. All things I would rather avoid!
Whenever possible I prefer to make my our own personal care products. That way I know exactly what goes into them and can limit our exposure to toxins. It’s cheaper in the long run as you can do a lot with a few simple ingredients and it also cuts down on packaging waste.
With a couple basic ingredients and some knowledge about essential oils, it’s very easy to make a DIY bug spray at home. In my post, Essential Oils to Naturally Repel Bugs, I go into more detail about which scents are best for what pests and further ideas for deterring them.
DIY Bug Spray
What You Will Need:
- 1.5 tbsp distilled water
- 1 tsp almond oil (any carrier oil would work)
- 1 tsp witch hazel
- 6 drops each of citronella, lemongrass, lavender, and peppermint essential oils
Why These Ingredients?
Using distilled water in your personal care products ensures that the water is free of contaminates like bacteria.
A carrier oil helps the essential oils mix into the spray and also disperse on your skin or clothes. Any carrier oil would work in this recipe. I like to use almond oil because it’s a natural insecticide and absorbs easily into skin without any greasy residue.
Witch hazel is beneficial to skin as an astringent with anti inflammatory properties. It also helps the essential oils combine in the spray. I have seen some recipes call for vodka or apple cider vinegar instead. I prefer witch hazel because it doesn’t sting if you have any scratches or cuts and while apple cider vinegar has a ton of benefits I really dislike the smell.
Citronella, lemongrass, lavender, and peppermint essential oils all contain insect repelling properties, particularly for mosquitoes and flies. Combined together they also give the spray a refreshing floral citrus scent.
How to Make DIY Bug Spray:
This recipe makes a little over 1 ounce of bug spray.
Pour 1 tsp of witch hazel into a colored glass spray bottle. I use a 2 oz size.
Count out your drops of each essential oil into the bottle.
Add 1 tsp of carrier oil.
Pour in 1.5 tbsp of distilled water.
Screw on the spray top and shake to combine.
Spray onto skin, hair, and clothes to deter mosquitoes and other bugs. Be cautious of the eyes.
Shake before each application.
Since we don’t need it often, this recipe usually lasts us the season, about 4 to 5 months.
Any carrier oil could work in this recipe.
Notes and Variations for Bug Spray:
Some people prefer using rubbing alcohol, vodka, or even apple cider vinegar instead of witch hazel.
There are many essential oils that could be substituted in this recipe depending on your scent preferences and what types of pests you are dealing with. Aim for 20 to 25 drops of essential oil. Some other choices for mosquitoes and flies are lemon eucalyptus, geranium, patchouli, or rosemary. Check out my post essential oils to naturally repel pests for more information.
This recipe could easily be doubled or even quadrupled if you require a larger amount of bug spray.
Other Recipes I Use These Ingredients For:
- I use witch hazel in combination with essential oils for my DIY linen spray and pillow spray.
- Almond oil is an ingredient in my recipes for basic homemade sunscreen, natural belly butter, and hand butter for dry skin.
- I use lemongrass in my daily shower cleaning spray and a diffuser blend to purify the air.
- Lavender is one essential oil I use all the time, from my sleep aid roller bottle to my homemade shampoo recipe to my favorite diffuser blends for stress relief.
- I love the scent of peppermint! I use it in my natural body wash, DIY air fresheners, diffuser combinations for morning energy, and in roller bottle recipes to ease headaches, help with sinus issues, and fight seasonal allergies.
Resources:
Essential Oils to Naturally Repel Bugs and Pests
Beginning with Essential Oils: A Basic Guide
6 Reasons to Make Your Own Personal Care Products
Have you made your own bug spray? What are your favorite essential oils for repelling pests?
