Make your own bug repellent with just a few simple ingredients. Homemade essential oil bug spray is perfect for summer fun and works to get rid of mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and ticks. Keep the bugs away while you enjoy your time outside! Use these homemade citronella candles for even more bug protection.
Camping, picnics, evenings on the back porch. What do these things have in common?
SUMMER!
FUN!
And…BUGS! Which means you need homemade bug repellent.
But I don’t want bugs to ruin my summer fun. So I make homemade bug spray with essential oils to keep the bugs at bay.
ESSENTIAL OIL INSECT REPELLENT
Besides having a much shorter ingredients list than store-bought chemical bug repellents, natural insect repellent spray is:
- Easy. Just combine the ingredients and go!
- Cheap. Using only a few drops of essential oils per batch, your pure essential oils will last for a long time!
- Versatile. There are two different ways you can make essential oil bug repellent depending on your preferred topical application: rub on or spray on.
The key ingredient for either natural bug repellent recipe is various essential oils. The strong aroma of essential oils will repel bugs and help prevent bug bites as well as give you added aromatic benefits!
ESSENTIAL OIL BUG REPELLENT RECIPE INGREDIENTS
Making your own essential oil bug repellent recipe is simple and effective! You only need two ingredients to make the rub-on version: a carrier oil and a mixture of essential oils.
- 10-20 drops of preferred essential oils (I like Plant Therapy essential oils)
- Carrier oils (I like sweet almond oil, avocado oil, or jojoba oil as they are light on the skin and not too greasy)
- Small bottle or old jar
For the spray-on version of natural bug spray, you’ll also want:
- Distilled water
- Vodka or witch hazel (Be sure to pick one like this brand, which only has witch hazel listed in the ingredients. We also use this in our favorite after-sun spray.)
- Small spray bottle
You can use a similar recipe for your pets as well and avoid the need for heavy chemicals for fleas and ticks. Just keep in mind that not all essential oils are safe for pets. Check out this pet-friendly adaptation of essential oil insect repellent for your four-legged friends.
HOW TO MAKE ESSENTIAL OIL BUG REPELLENT RUB-ON
Step 1. Add 2 tablespoons of carrier oil to a small bottle or reusable jar. Add 10-20 drops of your preferred essential oil.
Step 2. To apply the rub-on essential oil bug repellent, simply shake the bottle well and rub a small amount of oil on exposed skin. The bugs will stay away, and your skin will be nourished!
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE ESSENTIAL OIL BUG SPRAY
Step 1. In a 4-ounce bottle or jar, add 1 ½ Tbsp of distilled water, 1 teaspoon of carrier oil, 1 teaspoon of vodka or witch hazel, and 15-25 drops of essential oils. Shake well before spraying on your skin.
Step 2. This recipe could easily be doubled or tripled for a camping trip or frequent outdoor activity and put in a larger glass spray bottle.
Note: With both of these recipes, avoid getting the repellent in your eyes or mouth!
HOMEMADE BUG REPELLENT FOR HOME WITHOUT ESSENTIAL OILS
If you’re in a pinch and don’t have the chance to get essential oils for insect repellent, or if you’d just simply prefer not to use them, we’ve made our own plant-based homemade bug repellent for home using herbs and extracts instead with success.
The best part is that you likely already have everything you need at home, and if you don’t, you can get it all at the grocery store.
STORE-BOUGHT NATURAL BUG REPELLENTS FOR SKIN
I am so happy to keep the bugs away by using a natural product free of toxic chemicals. Plus, when you think of the money you save by making your own natural bug repellent, I don’t know why you wouldn’t do it yourself!
With that being said, I know some families aren’t DIY-ers and would prefer to buy natural bug repellents for skin ready to go. If that’s you, here are the best natural mosquito repellents that I recommend:
- Babyganics (also DEET-free and safe for babies)
- All-Terrain Herbal Armor (made with herbs and likely found locally as well)
ESSENTIAL OIL BUG REPELLENT RECIPES FAQS
What smells do mosquitoes hate?
Here are some of my favorite essential oil bug repellent recipe combinations. They seem to all work the same; it depends on what kind of scent you desire!
Campfire: 10 drops Rosemary oil, 6 drops Cedarwood oil
Floral: 8 drops Geranium oil, 5 drops Lavender oil, 5 drops Rosemary oil, 2 drops Patchouli oil
Hippie: 10 drops Lavender oil, 6 drops Cedarwood oil, 4 drops Patchouli oil
Fresh: 12 drops Lemon oil, 5 drops Peppermint oil, 3 drops Eucalyptus oil (Use caution with lemon and sun exposure. This EO is better used after the sun sets!)
Remember to experiment with some different combinations and mix it up! Your bugs may be repelled better by some essential oils than others.
What are the best essential oils for insect repellent?
I think pure essential oils make the best homemade bug repellent. You can use your favorite blends or make your own essential oil blend. These essential oils are traditionally recommended for their bug-repellent properties:
• Citronella Essential Oil
• Lemongrass Essential Oil
• Rosemary Essential Oil
• Geranium Essential Oil
• Spearmint Essential Oil
• Thyme Essential Oil
• Clove Essential Oil
• Tea Tree Essential Oil
• Lavender Essential Oil
How do you use essential oils as mosquito repellent?
You can either make a spray-on homemade natural bug repellent or a rub-on. This post will show you how to make either option step-by-step!
Will this essential oil for mosquitoes repellent cause skin irritation?
If you’re concerned about how your skin will react to this essential oil bug spray, do a patch test and wait 24 hours. If your skin doesn’t react, you can use the repellent!
Is this the best natural mosquito repellent for those with sensitive skin?
Yes! Because this essential oil insect repellent isn’t made with any of the normal chemicals found in synthetic repellents, it’s perfect for sensitive skin!
ESSENTIAL OIL FOR MOSQUITOES REPELLENT
With natural ingredients like essential oils, this essential oil bug spray recipe is perfect for protecting yourself from mosquitos and other bugs. Plus, this effective insect repellent contains no toxic chemicals, like commercial insect repellents. If you try this natural bug repellent, let us know your favorite essential oil combination in the comments!
MORE NATURAL LIVING DIYS FOR SUMMER
- Homemade Citronella Candles
- DIY Flea Collar
- DIY After Sun Spray
- Homemade Sunscreen
- DIY Bug Spray Without Essential Oils
Is it possible to leave the essential oil as is with an open cap and leave it in the bedroom? My 4 year old has bad allergic reactions to insect bites and we are getting them often.
It’s generally not recommended to leave EO’s open Noori, but you can try diffusing them if you think you’re getting bites while you sleep. Although, I believe topical application is most effective.
Hey all! I’m just starting out using essential oils for repellents. We live in deep woods on the water and have lost of biting insects in the summer.
I have Texas Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Lemongrass, and Geranium essential oils.
I have coconut oil, avocado oil, vodka, which hazel…
Anyone have any great recipes using my ingredients?? Or stories/experiences they want to share with me 🙂 🙂
I also have a year and a half old little girl 🙂 🙂
A few days back, I’ve read your post. I was actually searching for homemade bug repellent to keep the safety pad of my basketball hoop far away from the bug. Your post helped me to create a spray repellent. Many many thanks!
I was able to buy a roller bottle from my local vitamin shop. They did tell me that it should be blue or brown glass bottle.
Thank you!
What is the purpose of the vodka or witch hazel? And could you use coconut or olive oil as an carrier oil?
The vodka and witch hazel is so you can dilute the essential oils. You can use coconut or olive oil as a carrier, but they tend to be thicker and don’t work as well in spray bottles. For those, I’d recommend a roller bottle (http://amzn.to/2p6eTS8) or applying by hand.
Do I need vodka or witch hazel to make the spray
Char – you do, otherwise it’s nothing more than applying straight essential oils, which isn’t recommended.
I use Vodka … I put the drops of oil in the Vodka and then add to the water it helps blend/with the oil and water separating…have to shake before using!
Really appreciate your information – Found this web site while, once again, looking to refine my solutions of water spray and oil rub on repellants. I am 70 years old and have lost a lot of my sense of smell. Have been using similar recipes this and last year. They work Great!! Today, doused my clothes with spray and myself with the oils to work in the yard. I asked a friend if he could smell the peppermint and eucalyptus and he quickly nodded with a smile. So, not sure how good it smells, but clears my sinuses as well as keeping insects away. I have put a few drops of oil on a cloth & put it in the dryer with my outdoor working clothes. Also using peppermint soap to bath.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge about this.
Please give me a recipe for making a DIY WITCH HAZEL and also suggest a substitute for WITCH HAZEL if there is.
Mohamedi – in the tutorial we’ve given you the option to use vodka instead of witch hazel.
I have peppermint, lavender and tea tree essential oils and have bought a blend that has citronella and lemongrass. Will these work?
Hi Patricia! The peppermint will work across the board, and melaleuca is another name for tea tree, so that will help for ticks and flies. I’ve found that citronella helps with mosquitos, so I think you’re covered!
I have lavender eucalyptus and Tea Tree Essentional oils. Will these combined work for a natural tick and bug repellent? I don’t have the peppermint EO.
Just so you know Lemongrass Essential Oil attracts bees. I know from experience.
I just recently purchased thyme oil, that’s the only one I have that’s supposed to repel mosquitos. Do I need more than one essential oil or can I just mix on one?
Hey Kristina! Using a variety of oils may act as a better repellant. However, if you have only one of the oils, you can use that one alone and it will work too. Thanks for asking!
You add the carrier oil because water and witch hazel won’t properly dilute the essential oils.
What’s the purpose of adding in the carrier oil? I’ve been making it with only witch hazel and water, and the repellent works well. Just wondering why one would want to include the oil. I’ve heard that the oil actually clogs up the atomizer (spray pump).
I make bathroom room sprays all the time. I do not add a carrier oil as I don’t want the bottle to clog. I use 2 parts distilled water to 1 part vodka or witch hazel, a few drops of glycerin as a preservative, and a pinch or two of himilayan sea salt for the essential oils to bond with. The solution must be shaken well before each use. I plan on trying this with a bug spray. I would use regular carrier oil for a rub on method.
For a room spray no carrier is needed. The carrier is needed for spray bug spray though. Otherwise the oils are not properly diluted .
Carrier oils are added to dilute essential oils so they’re safe for use on skin. Some oils, and a lot of insecticidal/insect repellent oils especially, are potentially skin sensitizing or irritating due to their naturally occurring chemical makeup.
Yes. Many oils are HOT oils and will burn you at full strength. Peppermint, cinnamon, are a couple I have had the pleasure deal with. And oregano. But diluted with a carrier oil, they are fabulous.
I agree. My 20 something daughter found out the hard way a few years ago with cinnamon oil in bath water. I was not home at the time. When she told me I was laughing hysterically. I learned the hard way with oregano oil. I used it to unstop my nose and put a few drops under my tongue (no carrier oil). Boy did it burn. It did unstop my nose but I got some on my taste buds and couldn’t taste for 3 days.
I want to make the Fresh blend recipe but I do not have Eucalyptus. Would tea tree work in its place? Or do you have another recommendation? I’m new to oils.
Thanks!
Decent recipes, but the dilution rate is awfully high, and these recipes arent exactly kid safe. Cinnamon is a “hot” oil and very high skin irritant. Eucalyptus is unsafe for kids under 10, peppermint is unsafe for kids under 6, and depending on the chemotype of the rosemary, it may also be unsafe for kids under 6. Lemon (unless steam distilled) is phototoxic. I make my own as well, but I use citronella, lemon eucalyptus ( which should be used with caution on childrens skin. Not exactly unsafe, but can be a skin irritant) catnip, geranium, and vetiver. Works AMAZING!!! I go camping a lot, and now everyone we go with asks for my spray instead of using the deep woods off.
Danielle,
Would you mind sharing your recipe, please?
Thanks!
I don’t have an exact recipe because I make it in different size batches. Sometimes I make small spray bottles, and sometimes I make large ones. I keep the essential oils at a 3 to 5% dilution depending on if it will be used with children or not. A 3% dilution for kids, 5% if only adults will be using it.
My basic recipe for a small batch 5% is:
1/2 oz witch hazel
1/2 oz cheap vodka
1/2 oz neem carrier oil
1/4 oz vegetable glycerin
5 drops catnip eo
4 drops lemon eucalyptus
3 drops geranium
2 drops vetiver
1 drop citronella
Mix it all together in a spritz bottle, give it a good shake, and spray. If it’s too thick for your liking you can add more witch hazel to thin it out. Catnip and neem are not the prettiest smells, so you can back off a little with the neem oil. The recipe is really customizable. The vetiver and citronella can also be replaced with kunzea if you have it. You can even eliminate the vegetable glycerin if you really want to. Some people don’t like the way it feels, or you can just lower the amount until it’s a more desirable feel for you.
Thank you so much. I am really looking forward to mixing up a batch and testing it out during our camping trip over Memorial Day. Thanks for sharing!
Hello,
Do you sell yours by chance?
Thanks,
Rebeca
I’m allergic to witch hazel. Can I leave it out? Thanks!
Hi Danielle! The witch hazel helps to spread the oils around on your skin. You could use vodka or leave it out. Just know that the oils will be thick.
Very helpfully. Thanks for sharing the recipe. We camp a lot too. Flies are biting really bad right now. Store ought stuff was not working so my daughter and I busted out the oils. We used 4 drops of citronella Java and 4 drops of cloves. Mixed together in hands and put on exposed areas. I have sensitive skin and this does not make me break out. Others were getting bit but us ,not a one!:-)
Yay!!
YOU are a gem! Thank you for your contribution ..
I love the natural means of not sharing my blood with .. nature ..
I would sit in your campfire any nite .. maybe even share my hot dog .. lol
What is the recipe for peppermint ant spray for in the house?
Tracy, mix 15-20 peppermint drops with 2 cups of water, then spray your baseboards and let it dry.
Thank you! This is great! Could Fractionated Coconut Oil work as a carrier oil? Eager to hear from you!
That will work great!
I’m trying this. Thanks so much!
You’re most welcome!
The recipes look good, but I would hesitate to use any citrus oils if you will be in the sun! They are photosensitive and could make you burn.
Thanks Cayla!
Peppermint works great for ants in your house too.
Thanks for the tip Rebecca!
I have found tea tree oil to work for long periods of time and actually watch the ants not cross where it has been sprayed. I see where they are coming in put the oils on the area and bam gone for a long time like weeks
I ran out of bug spray and remembered reading about peppermint oil as a natural alternative. The kids wanted to go out and catch lightning bugs and put them in a jar overnight in their room. I put a little peppermint oil on my finger and dabbed on each ankle and wrist and sent them out. Pretty soon they came running back in all upset. I asked “What’s wrong?” thinking somebody had got hurt or something. Well, it turns out that they had not one bite BUT they could not catch any lightning bugs because the lightning bugs would come no where near them because of the peppermint oil! LOL! They have never let me forget that. They talk about it every year!!
LOL, that’s so funny Donna! A lesson learned through experience 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Lol! That’s too funny. I will try the peppermint oil though. After this hurricane that just passed it has mosquito everywhere.
Oh no! I wouldn’t have thought about that! Lol.
That’s a riot! Thanks for sharing! 🙂