Fresh aromatic herbs infused into witch hazel to make a wonderful herbal bug repellent for the spring and summer months. The aromatic oils found in plants help to deter insects.

Whenever I venture out into the bush, rainforests, or to the mountains that span the Great Dividing Range near where I live, I inevitably come away with mosquito bites or bug bites from ants and insects that I come across on my hikes, or when out taking photos for my photography.

This bug bite relief balm helps to soothe any bites that develop after my outings, but to help reduce and minimise the amount of bites I receive from pesky insects while I’m outside enjoying nature, I make a homemade bug spray. The insect repellent I often use contains essential oils (which is a little stronger in potency), but as an alternative insect repellent that is essential oil-free and made with fresh herbs that help to deter insects, this is a great recipe to use.

The Problem with DEET

Most commercial bug sprays contain a chemical called N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, commonly known as DEET. Heavy exposure to DEET can have various health implications, which pharmacologist Dr. Abou Donia found when treating rats with an average human dose of DEET. The rats that were exposed to DEET performed far worse than control rats on physical tasks that required muscle control, strength, and coordination. It was also noted that neurons in parts of the brain that control muscles, learning, memory, and concentration died off.

While the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) concludes DEET to be safe for use without health concerns for most people, even kids, when you look at their long list of warnings and precautions, I’d prefer to stick with my natural bug spray.

Homemade Herbal Insect Repellent

The skin is one of the largest organs and everything that we apply onto it is absorbed and distributed within the circulatory system. This summer, instead of reaching for the commercial bug sprays, opt for this herbal natural bug spray that smells and feels amazing when applied.

Herbal bug sprays need to be applied more regularly than chemical ones, once every hour or so, as they aren’t like the Aerogard stuff that only needs to be sprayed on once and you’re good to go all afternoon. It’s important to keep reapplying while you’re out in the wilderness for effective use.

For a stronger, more potent, version of this recipe, prepare the herbs in alcohol to create a tincture and apply this directly as a spray after straining out the herbs.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup fresh lavender
• 1/4 cup fresh peppermint
• 1/4 cup fresh cloves
• 1/4 cup fresh eucalyptus
• 1/4 cup fresh rosemary
• 1/4 cup fresh rose geranium
• 1/4 cup fresh yarrow
• 1/4 cup fresh citronella
• 1/4 cup fresh calendula flowers
• 1/4 cup fresh comfrey flowers
• 3 cups witch hazel or high-proof alcohol

To Make:

1. Collect the fresh herbs from the garden, farmers market, or store. It is best to harvest them fresh, looking for herbs that have high volatile oils, meaning they are very aromatic. The more variety of herbs and flowers you include in this extraction, the broader the bug protection will be.
2. Once the herbs are collected, roughly chop or cut up the herbs, and add them to a large glass mason jar, along with the witch hazel.
3. Cap the lid on tightly, shake well, then label the jar and allow the extraction to sit and infuse for a minimum of two weeks. Shake the mix every couple of days or so, and store the jar in a warm, dark place. The longer the extraction, the stronger the spray will be.
4. Once ready, strain the herbs and pour the repellent into a dark amber spray bottle for easy application.
5. To use this insect repellent, shake the bottle well before each use, then apply the spray liberally onto exposed skin, clothing, and shoes every hour or so while outdoors. Spraying this repellent onto bare skin is my personal preference.

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Have you made homemade bug spray or insect repellent before? Did you find it effective? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

Vanessa