Our family loves to go camping and spend as much time outside as we can during the summer months! With the weather warming up, we’re looking forward to hikes and days in the water. Do you know what we’re not looking forward to? Bug bites! While we’re out enjoying nature, we want to make sure our family doesn’t get eaten up by mosquitoes! On the other hand, we also don’t want to use all those harsh chemicals. Enter this DIY bug repellent spray!
What we put on our skin matters.
Skin is a very important organ that can have a huge impact on our overall health. It is highly absorbent, and toxic ingredients can wreak havoc on our systems. You may not be eating bug spray, but it is still ending up in your body. We don’t want that for our family! It’s worth the time and effort to try more natural solutions.
Natural Bug Repellents
There are several ways to repel bugs naturally. Some of them work better than others, and it is worth trying different ones out to see which ones work for you.
- Using citronella candles or natural barriers like long clothing can be helpful.
- Some swear by remedies such as spraying a garlic solution over the yard and foliage, or rubbing lemon verbena leaves on your skin.
- Essential oils and homemade bug sprays are also a great solution because so many have insecticidal properties.
There are several oils that provide bug protection. Here are a few popular choices. Combine 3 or more of these to find the scent and repellent strength you are looking for. Do be sure to check each oil for safety with children and pregnant or nursing mothers.
- Rosemary
- Eucalyptus
- Clove
- Patchouli
- Cinnamon
- Thyme
- Peppermint
- Lemongrass
- Geranium
- Tea Tree
- Citronella
- Orange
- Lavender
You can also check with essential oil companies for bug repellent blends specifically designed to keep mosquitoes, fleas, lice, ticks and other insects away. most are comprised of citronella, cedar wood, lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, thyme, and lemongrass.
DIY Bug Repellent Spray
DIY Bug Repellent Spray
Ingredients
- 50 drops your favorite bug blend
- 10 drops Tea Tree
- 1/2 cup Witch Hazel or a light carrier oil or water for a room spray
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a dark glass spray bottle and shake to combine.
- To use: Spray on exposed skin (be very careful to avoid eyes, nose, and mouth) and cuffs of sleeves and shirt.
Notes
- This blend has a very strong scent, so be prepared for that!
- You can also apply by adding 8 drops to 1/2 tsp carrier oil and applying to ankles, elbows, etc. and even applying to windowsills to help keep mosquitoes out.
- Different oils can vary in effect on different people. Due to this, you may have to apply every two hours or every 8. Just try it out and see how it goes.
- Due to the hot oils eucalyptus and peppermint, do not use blends containing those oils on children 3 and under, and even then be sure to test for reaction.
Kid-Safe Bug Spray
Kid-Safe Bug Spray
Ingredients
- 8 drops lavender
- 8 drops geranium
- 8 drops lemongrass
- 1/2 cup Witch Hazel or a light carrier or water for a room spray
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a dark glass spray bottle and shake to combine.
- To use: As previous recipe, spray on exposed skin and cuffs of clothing, being careful to avoid eyes/mouth/etc.
Notes
Enjoy your all of your summer excursions this year!
Free Download: Mom’s Essential Oil Cheat Sheet
Would you like a resource to help you learn to use essential oils with your family? Download this free 3-page printable:
- Basic guidelines for using essential oils around kids
- A list of safe, kid-friendly oils essential oils
- Helpful essential oil recipes
Click the link or image below to download the 3-page Mom’s Essential Oil Cheat Sheet. I’ll follow it up with more resources and free printables to help you on your essential oil journey. Grab your copy now!
Bug season is in full swing on our homestead and I will be making a summer supply of this! Thanks for sharing.
Please share it on our Hop this week, I am sure many of our readers would love to make it as well.
http://oursimplelife-sc.com/our-simple-homestead-blog-hop-2/
I know these DIY bug sprays are suppose to go in a glass spray bottle, and I finally have one! Thanks for the recipe so I can make some for my kids!
Does this have to be in a glass spray bottle?
Honestly, I don’t keep mine in a glass bottle because I haven’t ordered one yet, although it’s in my shopping cart at NAN. 🙂 It still seems to work just fine for me, but I do wonder if it will last longer with the glass bottle based on what I’ve read elsewhere.
Thanks for this. Can you tell me how much the recipe for bug spray (50 drops oil, etc.) makes? Is it enough for more than one application?
Also, when you say a light carrier, can you use olive oil?
Thanks very much!
This will make numerous applications, but it all depends on how much you use each time. For bug spray, I’d use a carrier like witch hazel instead of using an oil. Just make sure to shake the spray bottle up each time.