These days many of the bug repellants on the market are almost as harmful as the viruses that we’re trying to prevent! There have been many articles citing the dangers of DEET and metofluthrin and other questionable ingredients. The scary thing is we’re spraying these chemicals on our skin, (the largest organ of your body) then rubbing them in! Well here’s my DIY Insect repellant recipe, that you can spray on your skin safely, smell good and repel bugs at the same time.
DIY Insect Repellant
Ingredients
- 15 drops citronella essential oil
- 15 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil*
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops cedarwood essential oil
- 10 drops cinnamon essential oil
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil
- 4 oz witch hazel (drugstore strength)
- 4 oz aloe vera juice (not gel)
- 1 oz distilled or purified water
- 1 tbsp glycerin
- 10-12oz spray bottle
*DO NOT USE EUCALYPTUS ON INFANTS
Directions
I know I know. It seems like a lot, but it’s simple really. Pour the witch hazel, aloe vera juice, water and glycerin in the bottle with a funnel and shake well. Then add the essential oils and shake again. Let sit in a cool dark place overnight before using.
The must have oils are citronella, lemongrass, eucalyptus and cinnamon for their mosquito repelling properties. If you want you can just add those oils and stop there. However cedarwood oil repels fleas, lavender oil repels ticks and mosquitoes and tea tree oil is a natural preservative and also a flea repellant. I also like the glycerin because it leaves my skin feeling smooth. (I’ve also read that lemon eucalyptus is an excellent mosquito repellant, so I’m going to experiment with that one too!)
To Use:
Spray on skin 10-15 minutes BEFORE you go outside and rub in like a lotion. If it’s really hot out and I’m sweating, I’ll reapply this spray every 60 minutes or so. But if it’s cooler out, once every 90 minutes is sufficient. Also, If you can sit near a citronella candle, or outdoor incense sticks, you’ll need to apply it even less! Shake before each use.
header image credit: maridav / 123RF Stock Photo
• Do you make your own insect repellant? What do you use?
