DIY Bug Spray: Essential Oils for Natural Protection

Summer has made its arrival here and with it the joys of being outdoors more, along with the miseries of insect pests. Mosquitoes, ticks, and other irritating or dangerous insects can definitely inhibit our enjoyment of the great outdoors but the many negatives to heavy chemical solutions like DEET leave most of us feeling discouraged. Once again, herbs may help!

All plants, including medicinal herbs, contain chemical constituents. All of nature is essentially chemistry! These natural chemicals have myriad effects on our bodies and those of other creatures as well, just as lab-made chemicals do. Essential oils are concentrated distillations of plants that contain some of these powerful phytochemicals. Today I’d like to share some essential oils that you may use to make your own natural bug spray.

First, a few warnings and caveats:

Essential Oils should be diluted! Never put pure essential oils directly on the skin, especially most of those recommended here as the same phytochemicals that repel insects may irritate or harm your skin.
Caution with pregnancy, babies and young children! Some essential oils may be unsafe for the very young, so consult an expert or trusted resource such as the Tisserand Institute to make an educated decision. Pets are also sensitive to essential oils so use caution spraying or diffusing them if your furry loved ones are nearby and never apply them directly only pets’ fur.
Concentration matters! Some essential oils in particular (such as clove) must be used mindfully in lower amounts relative to what you are diluting it in. At the same time, to be effective essential oils need to be present in high enough concentrations. A drop or two either way won’t matter, but several drops may, so count your drops when creating your repellent.
As with many natural alternatives, essential oil-based sprays or lotions will fade faster and therefore require reapplying (generally every hour or so) to be effective.

Now for our anti-bug helpers:

Clove Oil

This spicy essential oil is best known for its use on dental pain, but it has also been shown to be very effective against both ticks and mosquitoes, with effects lasting over an hour.

Cinnamon Oil

Another spice with powerful zing, cinnamon is the most effective against ticks of all EOs tested, while also offering a strong effect on mosquitoes.

Thyme Oil

Also in the top 3 of most effective and longest-lasting versus ticks, thyme oil is a great addition if they are a concern for you.

Peppermint Oil

Many people already know the folk wisdom of sprinkling dried peppermint leaves or oil to get rid of ants in the house, and the essential oil has proven to be similarly effective against both mosquitoes and ticks.

Lemongrass & Citronella Oils

The “classic” mosquito-repellent scents are indeed effective, though less so than the ones mentioned above. Yet they showed significant enough effects that they warrant inclusion in any bug spray!

Honorable Mentions/Helpful Additions

Other EOs that may have additional effect and/or are great to add to a repellent to improve the scent include: Lavender, Cedarwood, Geranium, Eucalyptus, Orange, and Lemon.

A Basic Bug Spray Recipe

In a 2 oz spray bottle, combine:

Approximately half Witch Hazel and half water

8-10 drops Clove Oil

10-15 drops Cinnamon Oil

10-20 drops Peppermint Oil

10-20 drops Citronella Oil

10-20 drops Lemongrass Oil

Optional: 5-10 drops each any of Lavender, Thyme, Geranium, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Lemon and/or Orange Oil

Shake well and spray as needed, reapplying every 30-60 minutes.

*Alternatively for longer-lasting protection, the same essential oils may be mixed in 2 oz of unscented lotion at approximately half the dilutions (for instance, 4-5 drops of Clove Oil)