Simply Natural Nessa

Homemade Natural Insect Repellent with Essential Oils

natural insect repellent that works

How to stop insects biting when you’re living it up in the great outdoors using Mother Nature’s natural bug repellents. This insect repellent will help repel insects and bugs, and is toxin-free and all-natural.

I started looking into making my own homemade bug spray when I began working out in the garden more (you see some seriously giant mosquitos out there!). I wanted something natural, that wasn’t chock-a-block full of toxic chemicals.

Commercial bug sprays and insect repellents tend to contain chemicals like DEET or Picaridin which are active ingredients that help repel mosquitos and other insects. But, there are mixed results about them when it comes to how safe they are for our bodies.

Heather of Mommypotamus points out that N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) is an incredibly controversial ingredient, found to affect muscle control, strength and coordination. 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 were found to die off in regions of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory and concentration.

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.

The skin is an organ so whatever we spray/rub/apply/use on our skin will ultimately be absorbed into the body and bloodstream.

Below is a natural potent bug spray recipe that uses a range of essential oils to target and deter an array of biting insects.

Please note, there are some concerns about putting these essential oils directly on the skin, particularly on children, so another option is to apply this spray onto clothing or gear instead of directly onto skin. While essential oils are effective bug repellents, they should be diluted in a carrier oil or grain alcohol if you desire to use them on your skin or in a spray.

Now, this is no guarantee that you’ll never be bitten again wearing this stuff, but in my personal experience, I have noticed it has helped reduce the amount of bites I receive on hikes from different insects.The key here is to apply this spray liberally and reapply it frequently. Like every 1-2 hours. This isn’t like the Aerogard stuff that only needs to be sprayed on once then you’re good to go all afternoon. It’s important to keep reapplying while you’re out in the wilderness.

Using a combination of any of the following essential oils works really well: Citronella, clove, lemongrass, rosemary, tea tree, cajeput, eucalyptus, cedar, catnip, geranium, lavender, or mint. All of these oils have mosquito- and insect-repelling properties.

Before we get started in learning how to make this natural insect repellent, if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!

Homemade Insect Repellent with Essential Oils

I use 460 to 480 drops of essential oils (it’s very potent) so if you do choose to apply it onto the skin, always test a small amount on a tiny part of the skin first, to ensure you do not have any adverse reaction(s) to it. For children, it is best to do the same, and only use kid-safe essential oil blends in the spray to use on them (or apply it onto clothing). Avoid spraying near the eyes and mouth.

Ingredients:

To make:

  1. Place witch hazel, apple cider vinegar and essential oils in a glass spray bottle, and shake well to combine.
  2. To use this insect repellent, shake the bottle well before each use, then apply the spray liberally onto exposed skin, clothing, and shoes every 1-2 hours while outdoors. Spraying this repellent onto bare skin is my personal preference, as some of the essential oils in this blend can irritate skin, so use with caution and test before use. Please note this DIY bug spray should only be used on adults and children older than 2 years of age.
  3. Store this spray in a cool, dark place away from light.

For a natural tick repellent recipe, see here.

Homemade potent insect repellent tutorial

As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.

What are some of your tricks for keeping bugs away naturally? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

Vanessa

Sources:

Wells, Katie. (updated: July 30, 2019). All-Natural Homemade Bug Spray Recipes That Work!. Wellness Mama. Retrieved from https://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-bug-spray/

Wells, Katie. (updated March 21, 2020). Risks and Dangers of Essential Oils. Wellness Mama. Retrieved from https://wellnessmama.com/26519/essential-oils-risks/

DEET. (June 14, 2017). EPA. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/deet#safety

Dessinger, Heather. Natural Tick Repellent Recipe. mommypotamus. Retrieved from https://mommypotamus.com/natural-tick-repellent-recipe/

Jabs, Betsy. Natural Homemade Mosquito/Insect/Bug Repellent. DIY Natural. Retrieved from https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-insect-mosquito-repellent/

Swale DR, Sun B, Tong F, Bloomquist JR. (August 7, 2014). Neurotoxicity and mode of action of N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). NCBI. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25101788

Tiffany. (Updated: June 19, 2018). Homemade Bug Spray – No Essential Oils. Don’t Waste the Crumbs. Retrieved from https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/homemade-bug-spray-no-essential-oils/

Homemade Rosemary Mosquito Repellent Recipe. (Updated: July 20, 2021). SF Gate. Retrieved from https://homeguides.sfgate.com/homemade-rosemary-mosquito-repellent-recipe-73124.html

Axe, Josh, Dr, DC, DNM, CN. (September 8, 2021). Homemade Bug Spray (and All-Natural!). Dr. Axe. Retrieved from https://draxe.com/beauty/homemade-bug-spray/

Johnston, Cassie. (Accessed: September 21. 2021). Homemade All-Natural Tick and Bug Spray (That Actually Works!). Wholefully. Retrieved from https://wholefully.com/homemade-natural-tick-bug-spray/

Vance, Katie. (Accessed: September 21, 2021). A Natural Homemade Tick Repellent That Works!. DIY Natural. Retrieved from https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-tick-repellent-diy/

Kelly from Primally Inspired. (June 3, 2015). Homemade Tick Spray. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Xq5eajHo6No

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