Camping, picnics, evenings on the back porch. What do these things have in common? SUMMER! FUN! BUGS! And the fact that you need homemade bug repellent.
You know, but there’s no summer without summer bugs, and really, I could do without the bugs. That’s one reason why we make this homemade bug repellent AND homemade citronella candles.
Our last canoe trip was almost ruined by horseflies. Dealing with the mosquitoes and flies can make a fun outdoor activity lose its appeal. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
If you’re like me, you aren’t going to run out and buy the first bug spray you see on the shelf at Walmart. Personally, I like to avoid pretty much all store bought body products and make my own instead. I don’t care for applying many chemicals to my body and bug sprays are full of harmful and unpleasant ingredients. Plus they just don’t smell good.
What we need is a chemical free homemade bug repellent!
It’s very easy and very cheap to make your own homemade bug repellent. There are two different ways you can make some depending on your preferred application: rub on or spray on.
The key ingredient for either recipe is essential oils. The strong scent of essential oils will repel bugs away as well as give you added aromatic benefits!
The best essential oils for bugs are as follows:
- Mosquitoes: Peppermint, Lemon, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Thyme, Geranium, Clove, Sage, Cinnamon, Rosemary
- Flies/Gnats: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Melaleuca, Rosemary
- Ticks: Peppermint, Geranium, Thyme, Melaleuca, Cedarwood
Note: I prefer to buy Young Living essential oils, but I’ve heard good things about Rocky Mountain Oils and Plant Therapy as well.
DIY Homemade Bug Repellent: Rub On
This is a crazy simple recipe. You only need two ingredients: a carrier oil and a mix of essential oils.
Rub On Homemade Bug Repellent Supplies
- carrier oil (I like sweet almond oil or avocado oil they are light on the skin and not too greasy)
- 10-20 drops of preferred essential oils (see above or below for some great combos)
Note: You can find avocado oil for a great price on Amazon, but also consider Vitacost which saves you $10 off a $30 order when you click through this link… AND/OR, you can take advantage of my partnership with Thrive Market, who has graciously offered Crumbs readers a FREE jar of coconut oil! Get a free 15 oz jar of coconut oil AND a 30-day free trial to Thrive Market when you spend $29 or more (free shipping on orders $49+).
Rub On Homemade Bug Repellent Method
In a small bottle or re-use an old jar add 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Add in 10-20 drops of your preferred essential oil.
To apply, 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!
DIY Homemade Bug Repellent with Essential Oils: Spray On
If you prefer a spray on repellent this works great although it uses a few more ingredients.
Spray On Homemade Bug Repellent Supplies
- carrier oil (I like sweet almond oil or avocado oil they are light on the skin and not too greasy)
- 10-20 drops of preferred essential oils (see above or below for some great combos)
- distilled water
- vodka or witch hazel
Spray On Homemade Bug Repellent Method
In a 2 ounce bottle or jar add in 1 1/2 Tbsp of distilled water, 1 tsp of carrier oil, 1 tsp of vodka or witch hazel, and 15-25 drops of essential oils. Shake well before spraying on your skin.
This recipe could easily be doubled or tripled for a camping trip or frequent outdoor activity and put in a larger glass spray bottle.
With both of these recipes, avoid getting the repellent in your eyes or mouth!
Here are some of my favorite essential oil combos for repelling bugs. They seem to all work the same; it depends on what kind of scent you desire!
- Campfire: 10 drops Rosemary, 6 drops Cedarwood, 4 drops Cinnamon
- Floral: 8 drops Geranium, 5 drops Lavender, 5 drops Rosemary, 2 drops Patchouli
- Hippie: 10 drops Lavender, 6 drops Cedarwood, 4 drops Patchouli
- Fresh: 12 drops Lemon, 5 drops Peppermint, 3 drops Eucalyptus
Note: I prefer to buy Young Living essential oils, but I’ve heard good things about Rocky Mountain Oils and Plant Therapy as well.
Don’t forget to experiment with some different combos and mix it up! Your bugs may be repelled better by some essential oils more than others.
Homemade Bug Repellent Without Essential Oils
If you’re in a pinch and don’t have the chance to get these essential oils, or if you’d just simply prefer not to use them, we’ve made our own homemade bug spray using herbs and extracts instead with good 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 Bug Repellent
I know some families aren’t the DIY-ers and would prefer to buy it ready to go. If that’s you, here are the top bug repellents I recommend:
- The Yellow Bird (DEET-free and made in the US)
- Babyganics (also DEET-free and safe for baby)
- All-terain Herbal Armor (made with herbs and likely found locally as well)
I am so happy to keep the bugs away by using a natural product that is free of nasty chemicals. Plus when you think of the money you save by making your own bug repellent, I don’t know why you wouldn’t do it yourself!
What do you use to naturally keep the bugs at bay? Have you tried making your own homemade bug repellent?
This post was written by Heather Robertson at Neverlackingzeal.com
Original article and pictures take dontwastethecrumbs.com site
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