Natural Insect Repellent Recipe with Essential Oils
Why make your own bug spray?
Natural bug sprays and insect repellents are the preferred option if you want to minimize the amount of chemicals you and your family are exposed to. There is an array of essential oils available that have innate mosquito, flea, tick and fly repelling properties. Most essential oils used in natural insect repellent recipes can be found online or in natural markets. You will find that the cost of purchasing the ingredients for a natural insect repellent recipe is very affordable, and the recipe is easy to follow. More importantly, it is nice knowing exactly what you are putting on your skin.
Bug Spray Base Ingredient
Choose your preferred mixing base for your insect repellent. Grain alcohol (190 proof), which can be found in liquor stores, makes an ideal bug spray base. However, if you would prefer a moisturizing base ingredient for your repellent, use a carrier oil such as almond oil, coconut oil or safflower oil. You can also use a combination of grain alcohol and oil. Do not use rubbing alcohol in place of the grain alcohol because it will dry out your skin.
Effective Essential Oils
There is an array of essential oils that have insect repellent properties. When choosing essential oils be cognizant of the characteristics of each oil. Some essential oils are a skin irritant for people with sensitive skin. Additionally, pennyroyal should be avoided by pregnant women. The list of essential oils that you can use in a natural insect repellent recipe is rather lengthy, so try different essential oils to see what works best on the insects you are trying to ward off in your area. You can also add your favorite smelling essential oils to create a pleasing fragrance.
Essential Oils and the Bugs They Repel
Essential Oils
| Mosquitoes
| Ticks
| Fleas
| Flies
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Basil
| x
| |||
Cedarwood
| x
| |||
Citronella
| x
| |||
Eucalyptus
| x
| x
| ||
Fennel
| x
| |||
Geranium
| x
| |||
Juniper
| x
| |||
Lavender
| x
| x
| x
| |
Lemon
| x
| x
| x
| |
Lemongrass
| x
| x
| x
| |
Palmarosa
| x
| |||
Penny royal
| x
| |||
Peppermint
| x
| x
| ||
Pine
| x
| |||
Rosemary
| x
| |||
Sage
| x
| |||
Spearmint
| x
| |||
Thyme
| x
|
Insect Repellent Recipe
Use 2 1/2 teaspoons of essential oil per cup of grain alcohol and/or oil. You can use a single essential oil in your natural insect repellent recipe, or use a blend of several essential oils. Pour your mixture into a spray bottle and spritz your skin to repel the bugs. You may need to reapply your natural insect repellent more frequently than a concentrates, chemically based bug spray. If you are not satisfied with your initial bug spray concoction, try a different blend of essential oils until you find an insect repellent that is effective against the bugs in your area.
