Summer is such a wonderful time of year to be outside enjoying the sun and warmth. However, with summer comes annoying mosquitos, flies, gnats and all of those pesky bugs that try to ruin the fun.
If you are trying to live a life as toxin free as possible, than it can be a little scary to think about slathering yourself and the kids with products containing DEET and other chemicals. But, that doesn’t mean the bugs are any less annoying.
So thankfully, it is super easy to whip up a DIY essential oil bug repellent spray! Many essential oils have been and are currently being studied to determine their effectiveness at repelling bugs and so far, the results are great. The recipe I am providing is by no means the only option and the concentrations and ingredients can be tweaked depending on your personal preference.
Ingredients for DIY Bug Repellent
- 2 ounce (60ml) glass spray bottle
- 15ml (1 Tablespoon) witch hazel or rubbing alcohol (you can also use vodka)
- 30 drops citronella essential oil
- 20 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops tea tree essential oil
- Water or vinegar to fill bottle
Instructions for DIY Essential Oil Bug Spray
- Add the essential oils and vodka or rubbing alcohol to the glass spray bottle and shake well to combine.
- Add witch hazel (or rubbing alcohol or vodka) and shake again.
- Fill the bottle with water or vinegar and shake to combine.
The ingredients will separate over time so remember to shake the bottle before each use.
This recipe can also be added to glass roller ball container and used as a roll-on bug repellent. These are small and easy to keep in a purse or pocket for use on the go.
Bug Repellent Bracelet
The essential oils used for making the bug repellant bracelet are the same as above.
You simply mix the essential oils with 1 cup of witch hazel (or rubbing alcohol or vodka) in a spray bottle and shake to combine.
Simply spray your bracelet thoroughly with the bug repellant and allow it to dry.
As for the bracelet, you can use any absorbent bracelet you may have on hand such as a lava or leather diffuser bracelet. If you are crafty, you can make a paracord or other woven type bracelet. Use your imagination because there really is no limit to what you can use.
All of these natural DIY bug repellents will last up to 2 hours so they will need to be reapplied as necessary. They don’t last as long as those DEET containing products but they also are toxin free and I think so worth the slight hassle of having to reapply.
The Happy Pharmacist is your resource for essential oil and wellness education and tips. Check it out at thehappypharmacist.com
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