Looking for a DIY natural bug spray recipe? This recipe only uses two blends of Young Living essential oils (here’s how to get Young Living oils). It’s so simple to make!
I used to avoid spraying bug repellent on my kids at all costs. But then, last year, after all the rains that we had in the Midwest, I realized that I had to do something. We had such a wet spring that my kids were getting bitten by mosquitos even on sunny days.
My kids have sensitive skin (and eczema, asthma, and allergies), so I was afraid to use traditional bug sprays on them. But I still wanted to take them outside.
I finally broke down and made my own natural bug spray. It worked really well, although it does need to be reapplied more frequently than the “traditional” bug repellent that I had always used on myself.
I tried to make this bug repellent with as few ingredients as possible. However, if you’re missing some of the ingredients or if you’d rather just buy ready-made bug repellant, I’ve also had success using Off! Family Care Insect Repellent, although it contains DEET, as well as Calgon body mist in a pinch.
How to Make Homemade Bug Spray Using Essential Oils
I wanted to make a natural bug repellent using ingredients that I already had in my home. I also wanted something that worked but didn’t harm my kids’ baby-soft skin.
This bug spray is simple to make and works, although I typically reapply it every 1-2 hours.
Natural Bug Spray Ingredients:
- Glass spray bottle
- 4 oz. witch hazel
- 20 drops Thieves essential oil
- 20 drops Purification essential oil
- 8 oz. distilled water
How to Make Your Own DIY Bug Repellant:
Combine ingredients in a glass spray bottle and shake before using. Once I made this, I poured it into several small bottles. Apply liberally and reapply every couple of hours.
Note: I used Young Living essential oils to make this bug spray. Both the Purification and Thieves oils come in the YL Starter Kit. If you’re interested in trying them, I shared some tips for buying YL oils at a discount here.
Jennifer
Tuesday 20th of June 2017
I make a natural bug spray too. I prefer it over the DEET filled sprays. There are a variety of oil combos that the bugs detest!
Thanks for sharing!
Alexis @FITnancials
Wednesday 10th of May 2017
This sounds like a good recipe! I'm not a fan of what the average bug spray smells like, so I'll have to give this a try. :)