I never use bug spray, but after being bitten by what I am sure was 1,000 mosquitoes, I was super determined to find a great insect repellent for the summer. I didn't want to buy any sprays that contained DEET (read about DEET here and why it's not good) and after doing some light research I determined there aren't many products you can buy on the market, that are natural repellents. So, in my usual fashion, I decided to make my own. Homemade repellents will repel mosquitoes, but they require more frequent reapplication (at least every 2 hours). Because of the differences between types of mosquitoes, recipes that contain multiple essential oils tend to be more effective than those containing a single ingredient. See a list below of essential oils that can be used as insect repellents.
- Citronella Oil
- Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
- Cinnamon Oil
- Castor Oil
- Rosemary Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
- Cedar Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Clove Oil
- Geranium Oil
The key is you need a base to mix all of your oils with. Like, witch hazel, alcohol, or oil. To make the repellent strong enough to keep away the bugs, but gentle enough for kids and animals, a 10:1 ratio works best. Mix 10 parts base with 1 part essential oils. You can choose a variety of oils to mix, but if you don't want to experiment at home, or you hate math like me, here is a fool proof recipe- just combine the following ingredients and pour into a small spray bottle: