We are right in the thick of summer, y’all! Long hot days, followed by late nights on the patio with friends and cold drinks. Unfortunately, along with late nights on the patio comes waking up covered in itchy mosquito bites. Ew.
I’ve always been one to spray bug spray all over, but I haven’t touched the stuff since finding out about the toxic ingredients in them. And with young kids (who can’t use bug spray anyways, it can cause seizures), I decided to go ahead and make my own natural bug spray.
Now, with the kids, we aren’t usually out that late. Once it starts getting dark, it’s bedtime y’all. But unfortunately, the bugs don’t wait until dark to come out.
Those creepy-crawlies start coming out right about the time that we’ve got dinner going, and the kids want to play outside for a bit longer. Dinnertime for us is apparently also dinnertime for mosquitos. Nasty little suckers.
So this recipe is (obviously) super simple. Let’s be honest, I don’t do anything but simple. Who has the time? Or the focus? Not me!
Natural Bug Spray
Ingredients
- 4 ounce glass bottle essential oils can only be used in glass!
- 2 ounces water
- 2 ounces witch hazel
- 10 drops citronella oil
- 10 drops geranium oil
- 10 drops lavender oil
- 10 drops lemongrass oil
Instructions
- Pour it all into the glass bottle, and shake it up! Also, shake before spraying to make sure it's all mixed up good.
- If you'd rather not use a spray, then just mix the oils with some liquid coconut oil or jojoba oil, and rub it on exposed skin.
See? Couldn’t get much easier. I love this stuff, it even works on the little tiny flying bugs that don’t bite but just drive you nuts. Spray it on, and they’re gone! Now if only it worked when the kids were bugging you 😉
Have you ever tried homemade natural bug spray? What other kinds of homemade products do you make?
Update Notes
This post was originally published in July 2016. It was updated July 2018.
I need this. Bugs love me. It’s not mutual.
Same here, girl! I hate bugs. But they love trying to feed on me. OR just flying around me to irritate me. ugh!
I’m always intrigued by what all people can make with essential oils. This would come in handy in the Florida summers, those pesky bugs are everywhere! Posts like this would be great for the Waste Less Wednesday Blog Hop! http://www.skipthebag.com/2016/09/waste-less-wednesday-blog-hop-92116.html
Thanks Katy! The bugs in Florida are the worst!
I don’t know why i never think to use Lemongrass in my bug spray. And may I say, I’m so impressed that your recipe does NOT use eucalyptus. I’m a certified aromatherapist and it drives me batty when people add it to their bug sprays and then say it’s “safe for kids!”. I’m new here, but I’m loving your site!
Thanks for the kind words, girl! I really appreciate it. 🙂