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June 8, 2018 by Jenae - 208 Comments
This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy.

Homemade Mosquito Spray That Really Works!

homemade mosquito spray



First Published June 2011. Second update 2018.

Homemade Mosquito Spray

We live by water. We have mosquitos. Lots of mosquitos. I’m actually convinced they’re mutant mosquitos because they leave welts, not just bites…welts!

On more than one occasion, I’ve frantically run one of the boys over to my dad (the family physician) to see if the bites on their arms or legs are brown recluse bites (my other enemy who currently enjoys residing in our house) or mosquito bites because they are THAT big. They’ve always been mosquito bites (thankfully), but I know how irritating they must be for the boys (and for us).

Last week I asked Facebook friends to share their favorite mosquito repellents and/or mosquito bit remedies. Lindsey shared about her homemade mosquito repellent that she puts on pulse points and I was intrigued! Then just a few days ago I saw this idea for favorite mosquito repellents and/or mosquito bit remedies on Pinterest and knew I had to try it out.

Ingredients For Homemade Mosquito Repellent

Here’s what you’ll need:  

  • essential oils (favorite mosquito repellents and/or mosquito bit remedies and lemongrass are musts, I also like lavender or you could use tea tree oil or geranium oil for tick protection)
  • 14 oz. bottle of witch hazel (available in grocery stores & pharmacies usually close to the rubbing alcohol)
  • a spray bottle (or two–one for home and one for the diaper bag/car)
  • a jar for mixing
  • a funnel

*Please note:  This mosquito spray has not been tested nor confirmed to be effective at preventing mosquito-borne illnesses (such as West Nile Virus). If you are concerned about you or your family contracting such an illness, please use a different product containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or IR3535. Higher concentrations of active ingredient provide longer duration of protection. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s directions for use and safety. Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus specify that they are not to be used on children under the age of three years.

UPDATE 6/23/2016:  Due to the severity of and widespread nature of the Zika Virus, do not use this mosquito spray if there are mosquitoes carrying the virus near where you live. Although it has worked well for our family at preventing most mosquito bites, experts agree that the best mosquito repellent to use to prevent a Zika-carrying mosquito bite is one that contains DEET. Since our homemade version hasn’t been laboratory tested, I would strongly urge you to purchase a spray. Here are the recommended sprays, according to this article from NPR:  OFF Deep Woods (25% DEET), Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus (No DEET but performed very well in tests), Repel 100 (98% DEET), Cutter Skinsations (7% DEET).

How To Make Homemade Bug Spray

homemade mosquito spray
We used these essential oils:  citronella, lemongrass and lavender. You could also use peppermint or cedar wood essential oils as well.
homemade mosquito repellent
I cleaned out an empty detangler spray bottle for our “on the go” spray.
homemade bug spray
STEP 1. Pour the witch hazel into the glass jar then add your essential oils. We put about 15 drops of both citronella and lemongrass, and about 10-12 drops of lavender.
homemade bug spray with essential oils
STEP 2. Put the lid on the jar and shake vigorously until it is mixed.
homemade mosquito spray
It should be pretty cloudy.
Homemade mosquito spray
STEP 3. Pour the mixture into your spray bottles using a funnel.
STEP 4. Make a label (or write in Sharpie). I used an old Scrapbook sticker to make it look “cuter”. :)

How To Use A Natural Mosquito Repellent

You can spray this on the exposed parts of your body:  arms, legs, neck, ankles, feet, etc and then rub it in. Make sure you don’t spray it on your face or get it in your eyes.

Homemade Bug Spray For Kids

If you put this on your kids, be sure to try just a little bit first on one area of their skin to make sure they’re not allergic to any of the essential oils.

Homemade Mosquito Spray For Yard

You can even use it to spray the area around where your sitting outside.

What kind of natural mosquito repellent does your family use?

 

Click here for more homemade recipes:

After Bite Cream You Can Make Yourself

How To Get Rid Of Brown Recluse Spiders

Licefree Spray

Homemade Glue

Homemade Laundry Soap

Homemade Window Cleaner

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Denise Kline says

    June 8, 2011 at 7:48 am

    AWESOME! Great idea! I will have to try it! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Olga says

      June 10, 2013 at 12:15 pm

      Hi can I use scented olive oil and rubbing alcohol instead? Coz the ingredients are not available or too expensive here in the Philippines. Thanks!

      Reply
    • michelle hicks says

      July 3, 2014 at 6:36 pm

      I appreciate the information. I am so sick and tired of putting that poison spray on my body but I haven’t had any choice for years. I hope it works for me . Thank You Have a good one!

      Reply
  2. Jenae says

    June 8, 2011 at 8:05 am

    That looks great as well. Yes, the essential oils add up. I had wanted to buy some lavender anyway for our next batch of laundry detergent anyway.

    When we went to get the essential oils, I saw a product similar to the one you shared, Natalie. It was $10 and I almost just bought that instead, but Kevin convinced me that once we have the oils, we'll be able to make tons more. So yes, the oils are a bit expensive upfront, but since you only use a few drops, you'll get lots of use out of them. I think we spent around $20 for the oils and $1.50 for the witch hazel.

    Reply
    • Beverly says

      September 18, 2011 at 11:19 am

      Hi Since reading your comment I thought I’d tell you where to buy awesome oils etc.
      SanFrancisco herb company
      I buy from them all the time:)
      Let me know what your experience was

      Reply
      • Heather says

        February 29, 2012 at 6:26 am

        Thank you so much for posting this, I LOVE that site! My husband might groan but I am so excited to buy from them!

        Reply
    • Sherri Burkett says

      January 4, 2012 at 7:24 am

      Just wanted to share something an herbalist told me once: don’t waste money on oils for laundry soap,etc. The dryer heat destroys the scent, so unless you hang clothes instead of drying them,you won’t smell anything.

      Reply
    • Honey says

      May 31, 2013 at 12:54 pm

      If you look on Amazon, the essential oils are much cheaper than any I have found and regular store and a wider variety. I paid $9 for 3 oz of peppermint oil a couple weeks ago.

      Reply
    • Dale says

      November 23, 2014 at 5:14 am

      Iherb.com really cheap essential oils and cheap shipping

      Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    June 8, 2011 at 9:10 am

    Do you have to use the oils? I am alergic to most scents. I am with you. We all have huge welts from the mosquitos. We live about a half mile or so from a lake and have lots of trees in our back yard so it attracts the little buggers.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      September 15, 2011 at 3:23 am

      Essential Oils are different than traditional “fragrances”, especially if you get good quality ones. There are some good brands available on the internet that may be better than the store ones (if you’d like some suggestions, i can give you some, i sell one, and there are two others i like as well of the many brands i’ve used). I have had contact allergies for a while, including fragrances, and don’t have the same problem with oils. I even have an oil I use for perfume that I love!

      Reply
    • CAt~~~ says

      September 20, 2011 at 6:42 pm

      hello anonymous – you wrote that you were allergic to some scents, you could order some “Skin So Soft bath oil” from Avon it is a great Mosquito repellent, you can place it in a spray bottle, or get the tiny one from Avon with the oil in it & buy a big bottle that will last for possibly years, i have had some for years, so unless Avon has changed something about it, it should last a long time. i keep it under a sink or someplace fairly cool & dark preferably …you can test the essential oils on your skin, dilute 1 drop with a “carrier” oil, like Olive ,Sunflower,safflower, or any light oil of your choosing, then dab with a q-tip on the inside of your wrist, wait awhile. if no reaction you should be ok to use the Essential oils…good luck

      Reply
      • vicky elliott says

        May 17, 2012 at 7:45 am

        avon also has non sented bug guard with sun screen .

        Reply
      • Debra Winchell says

        June 6, 2012 at 7:49 pm

        Skin So Soft is not natural. It contains artificial fragrance that is actually toxic. It’ll kill people as well as insects.

        Reply
        • Ami says

          June 28, 2012 at 11:18 pm

          I don’t ever remember hearing or seeing of anyone dying from using skin so soft. My mother used it on me forever and I’m still alive!

          Reply
        • Lisa says

          July 1, 2012 at 12:38 pm

          U r right about the artificial fragrances in Skin so soft but it doesn’t kill people Debra.

          Reply
        • JUDITH says

          September 26, 2013 at 2:13 pm

          I had heard that there were questionable ingredients in Skin So Soft.
          Avon disavows any use of Skiin So Soft as an insect repellent. We must keep in mind that anything that is put on our skin goes to all of our internal organs. Also, a good thing to keep in mind is whether the products we are using are cruelty free — meaning that no animals died or were tortured in a labotatory so that we could “enjoy” these products.

          Reply
        • MoskeetoSteve Been says

          April 1, 2017 at 8:11 pm

          Also contains,,,, PICARIDEN ! AKA : DEET !

          Reply
      • Rachael says

        July 26, 2012 at 11:12 pm

        I have a huge sensitivity to fragrances and am allergic to SSS, Burts bee’s lotion, and a cocoa butter lotions, and a lovely spa lotion from Iceland. Essential oils could be the the best way to go do to our situation. I’m working through a process of elimination. Maybe the oil companies will refund if there are problems.

        Reply
      • Shannon says

        March 29, 2013 at 3:50 am

        Used to love SSS before I moved to the Gulf Coast. Skeeters here must be meaner, because it doesn’t phase them!

        Reply
      • Anon says

        April 30, 2013 at 5:38 pm

        Actually Consumer Reports debunked the Skin So Soft mosquito theory a long time ago… :-/ It is false. Avon Skin So Soft does not repel mosquitoes.

        Reply
        • April says

          June 13, 2013 at 4:33 pm

          I completely agree. I tried it and it does not work.

          Reply
        • Miss M says

          January 3, 2015 at 11:22 pm

          Debunked or not, it works very well for us. I am the mosquitoes’ favorite person, but I can put on Skin So Soft, and I will rarely get bitten with it on.

          Reply
      • Judy says

        June 26, 2016 at 3:12 am

        I have used SSS to kill and repell roaches and ants. Works great. Living in some apartments, no matter how clean you are, if the person who lives next to you is not you can have roaches. I dampened a rag with it and wipe down the inside of the cabinets and spray behind the stove and fridge.

        Reply
    • Angelica Moody says

      June 1, 2012 at 12:17 pm

      Essential oils are a must! I learned about them for a lot of home remedies in my ethnobotany class. My professor says he makes a mosquito repellent with lavender and he’s the only one every year that doesn’t get any mosquito bites when he goes to the Amazon rain forest,

      Reply
    • Christina says

      June 3, 2012 at 10:41 am

      you can take basil and either rub it on your skin or make basil water and put in spray bottle. Mosquitos don’t like basil. Also, plant basil around your house, put in window planters, place by door to repell mosquitos.

      Reply
      • Stephanie says

        September 22, 2012 at 8:40 pm

        Planting Marigolds around your house will repel mosquitoes also!!

        Reply
    • Barb says

      May 9, 2013 at 4:37 pm

      Pure Essential oils are just that… pure. There are no adiitves. So you may find your allergies are not caused by pure oils but by other chemical “scents” addes to most products.

      Reply
    • Alan says

      May 26, 2014 at 1:13 pm

      Avon sells Skin So Soft Bath Oil Spray we use that and have NO problems with mosquitos.

      Reply
      • Judy says

        June 26, 2016 at 3:00 am

        Try using skin so soft to kill ants and roaches too. It works great.

        Reply
    • Sharon says

      October 22, 2014 at 9:44 pm

      To Anonymous regarding sensitivity to scents. I too get welts from mosquitoes that can last up to three weeks. My doctor says I’m allergic to them. Living in Hawaii and we have these biting pest all year round. I found that taking a vitamin B1 (Thiamoine) every day helps: 1. reduces the chance of getting bit, 2. if I get a bite it doesn’t swell nearly as much, 3. the duration of inflammation is less than a week. I don’t like taking a pill every day but it sure is better than suffering from those hard, hot itchy, red welts. Works best if taken two weeks before exposure and to continue during exposure.

      To Jenae, I have a granddaughter visiting and she gets those ugly welts too. She’s too young to try B1 (above). I’ll try your recipe, I’m sure it’s better than over the counter and nothing at all. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
  4. Jenae says

    June 8, 2011 at 9:20 am

    I'm not sure it would be as effective without the oils, but I really don't know. You might look into Avon Skin-so-soft…I've heard that's really good too.

    Reply
    • Kris says

      July 27, 2011 at 11:57 pm

      Avon Skin-so-soft works well but is highly perfumed even keeps midges away !

      Reply
  5. Curly-T says

    June 8, 2011 at 10:15 am

    We use a mixture of vanilla (like for baking) and water. Even the imitation vanilla works! I believe the mixture is 1 tbsp vanilla to 1 cup of water, but we haven't had to make any since last summer, so I'll have to pull out my book again and check.
    Anyway, it's a fast easy mix-up, it doesn't leave you sticky, and it is with ingredients I always have on hand!

    Reply
    • CAt~~~ says

      September 20, 2011 at 6:47 pm

      i have done that with Vanilla, it is effective also if you make up a batch of sun tea, Ice tea..with no sugar, that too will keep bugs away, you can take a glass of unsweetened tea out side & no bugs will bother it, if you drink Tea regularly it seems to keep bugs away from your body while outside…seems the Black Pekoe tea works best

      Reply
      • crazywoman2 says

        June 16, 2012 at 11:55 am

        Sure doesn’t work for me (the drinking tea, or having a glass with me). I’ve been consuming LOTS & LOTS of iced tea (black Pekoe) lately, and was sitting outside last night as a matter of fact drinking some, and had to go inside because of the mosquitoes!! :>(
        Sure wish it DID work for me.
        Mosquitoes case huge welts on me too!

        Reply
        • crazywoman2 says

          June 16, 2012 at 11:57 am

          Oh, and this was unsweetened tea!

          Reply
          • Chelsea Little says

            September 1, 2012 at 4:43 pm

            I drink sweetened tea and that doesnt help either! I drink A LOT of tea too! Hope I can find something that works very good.. Trying to make my own now :)

            Reply
            • Frankie says

              June 24, 2013 at 8:23 am

              I have no idea if it is true or not but I have been told the more sugar and sweetened products you consume the more the the mosquitoes will bite you. Something about your sweat having sugars in it much like when you drink to much alcohol and sweat it out the next day at the gym. Again no idea if it is true but I do know that i have a sweet tooth always and get bit twice as much as my sweet hating partner.

              Reply
    • Deb says

      March 1, 2012 at 8:13 am

      Hi can u email the recipe for this?

      thanks
      Deb

      Reply
    • Angela says

      May 17, 2012 at 9:57 am

      Be careful using vanilla or other fragrances that smell like food if you are camping or staying anywhere near bears. I would warn against it.

      Reply
  6. Julie KG says

    June 8, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    Thanks for this! We just moved to CT from New York City and we're dealing with LOTS of bugs. Do you know if this is safe to use on a 7-month old? (other than her face?!)

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 6, 2013 at 2:45 pm

      Lavender is completely safe for babies. The others are not. I use many and have studied their uses for several years. Feel free to contact me. Kathy

      Reply
      • Julie says

        August 14, 2013 at 12:25 pm

        Kathy,

        What can we use for babies? My sweet tasting, outdoor loving nursling is getting eaten alive!

        Help!

        thanks

        Reply
  7. Cakewalk says

    June 8, 2011 at 2:15 pm

    I have heard that essential oils shouldn't be used during pregnancy and also that lavender has been known to cause abnormal breast tissue growth in boys.

    Reply
    • jen says

      August 10, 2011 at 8:04 pm

      don’t worry– you would have to use a LOT of lavender for the estrogenic effects to kick in. like rubbing it all over his body straight (not diluted like this), every day, for a long time. lavender essential oil has been safely used for hundreds, if not thousands of years. for pregos & babies, it’s definitely a safer bet than DEET, hands down!

      Reply
      • Caiti says

        June 4, 2012 at 9:04 pm

        Be careful with some essential oils later in pregnancy as they can induce labor. I know peppermint is one to stay away from while pregnant! Just a thought.

        Reply
    • Kris says

      September 24, 2012 at 1:13 pm

      The study about abnormal breast tissue growth in boys is so faulty. Yes, pure lavender essential oils have very slight estrogenic properties… So slight it’s unlikely to have any effect at all. Here’s a link about how unscientific that study was.. https://groups.google.com/forum/m/?fromgroups#!topic/everythingdoterra/ghHLoGYeaFE Also, I use doTERRA oils, and they offer an insect repellent blend, Terrashield, that’s amazing! It even smells good! Their oils have honestly changed my life!
      I’ve been a massage therapist over 11 years now, and have used essential oils even longer. I’ve found none more potent or more pure than doTERRA! Yeah, they’re a bit pricey, but, as another said, using just a few drops will be effective and last a long while. Also, especially when it comes to essential oils, you get what you pay for. They have options to save you money if you know you’ll be buying oils fairly often… You can join as a preferred member by paying a small fee ($10 yearly, I think) and save a certain percentage on retail prices, or join as a consultant (you don’t have to sell!) by paying only a few bucks more (one time fee) and get their products at wholesale (25% off!). I joined to buy for myself :)
      You can check them out here: http://www.mydoterra.com/blissessentials
      Hope this information can help someone!

      Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 6, 2013 at 2:47 pm

      I am certain lavender doesn’t do that! Where did you hear that??? It’s even safe for babies and pregnant women.

      Reply
      • Debbie Riley says

        June 10, 2013 at 9:23 am

        Real essential oils of lavender ARE NOT SAFE for pregnant woman. Many essential oils are hormone disrupters and lavender will interfere with lactation.

        Reply
  8. Andrea says

    June 8, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    This is great! We're going camping next weekend, so I'm going to try it out!

    Andrea
    http://www.addicted2tutes.blogspot.com

    Reply
  9. Elizabeth Frick says

    June 8, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    So does it actually work? We have an INSANE number of mosquitoes at our place and are always looking for new solutions.

    Reply
  10. Sarah says

    June 9, 2011 at 8:16 am

    This sounds great, but I'm a little confused. Is it the oils or the witch hazel that keeps the mosquitoes away? If it's the oils, is there a particular one that needs to go in the mix? I always have a problem with the oils clogging the bottle's pump. Are hair detangler bottles the way to go to avoid this?

    Reply
    • Angelica Moody says

      June 1, 2012 at 12:21 pm

      Lavender should be the only one you absolutely need. My ethnobotany teacher insists he is the only one each year that doesn’t get mosquito bites when he goes to the Amazon rain forest.

      Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    June 9, 2011 at 8:17 am

    actually… I believe the lavendar and breast issues with boys was ONE study.. on a small handful of boys…. and something else was flawed… like maybe a few of them had issues BEFORE adding lavender. Check into it before you 1. worry too much and 2. before you spread worry to everyone else. Worry is contagious. I used it with my son and he is VERY flat-chested! LOL

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    June 9, 2011 at 8:27 am

    THANK YOU! I already bought the citronella and lavendar oils and have been looking for a home-made insect repellent. I hate the thought of putting DEET all over my little girl. We used the skin so soft when she was a baby and seemed to work fairly well but I can't stand the smell of it. :p)

    Reply
  13. Kelly M. says

    June 9, 2011 at 8:44 am

    We have a family friend that uses Listerine to spray the area where he is having family gatherings. It has worked so far for him. Mosquitoes have been horrible this year!

    Reply
    • Lana says

      June 26, 2012 at 10:14 am

      I have recently heard that too. It is the original Listerine that is so strong you can hardly gargle with it.

      Reply
    • Erica W says

      June 28, 2012 at 10:55 am

      Listerine is toxic… it contains triclosan… the poison on antibacterial soaps, etc… it is toxic enough just being used on hands & should NEVER be ingested!

      Reply
      • thar says

        June 13, 2013 at 2:17 pm

        Triclosan is a bad, BAD ingredient. Don’t take my word. Read up on it.

        Reply
  14. Jenae says

    June 9, 2011 at 8:47 am

    Sarah, I'm honestly not sure…maybe the combination??? There is so little oil compared to the witch hazel that I don't think clogging should be an issue.

    Kelly M: What a great idea to use LIsterine! We might have to try that.

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    June 9, 2011 at 9:02 am

    I've also heard that tea tree oil works as a good repellant.

    Reply
  16. Mary says

    June 9, 2011 at 9:08 am

    How does this work? I'd like some real life stories :)

    Reply
  17. Shannon M. says

    June 9, 2011 at 9:10 am

    I just read that the essential oils citronella and lemongrass are insect repellants, so you probably wouldn't want to leave those out.

    Reply
    • Sheri C says

      August 11, 2012 at 6:01 pm

      I just received a recipe to make insect repellant. It calls for 3 1/2 ounces (approx 1/3 cup) of Witch Hazel, 1/2 teaspoon Lemongrass oil, 1/2 teaspoon Eucalyptus oil, 1/2 teaspoon Citronella Oil. You mix them together and put it in a 4 ounce spray bottle. You have to shake it because the witch hazel separates from the oil. I have not tried it. I might add the Lavender oil for the smell.

      Reply
  18. Thia says

    June 9, 2011 at 9:15 am

    This sounds great for the mosquitoes. Everyone should just be aware that this will not work against ticks. For that, as far as I know, you need the DEET. I was all set to make something for my kids until I read this. We live in an area with a lot of ticks.

    Reply
    • Heather says

      February 29, 2012 at 6:32 am

      Even using Deet my son has had ticks in the past. As long as you are checking your children after playing outside and remove the ticks immediately there isn’t reason for concern. Personally I”d rather do that then have my son putting his hands with deet on them in his mouth.

      Reply
    • Jocelyn says

      May 31, 2014 at 10:39 pm

      Add some peppermint oil to it for tick repellent.

      Reply
  19. Anonymous says

    June 9, 2011 at 10:10 am

    Geranium oil works GREAT for ticks. I just put it on my dog's collar every couple of days and we haven't had any ticks since I started doing that.

    Reply
  20. Lindsey says

    June 9, 2011 at 10:58 am

    Do you think it would be beneficial to add Vitamin E oil as well? Not to repel insects but for overall skin care…kill two birds with one stone kinda thing?!

    Reply
  21. Tina says

    June 9, 2011 at 11:12 am

    I'm curious as to how safe it is for little ones? I have a 16 month old & I'm still learning all about essential oils. As for geranium oil for ticks, could that possibly be added to the original recipes posted? Thanks for all your wonderful ideas! They're much appreciated =)

    Reply
  22. Amber says

    June 9, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    Where can I find these essential oils at!?

    Reply
    • Vickie says

      May 17, 2012 at 11:57 am

      Hi! You can find really good essentail oils at: http://www.ineways.com/leblanc
      They are fantastic!

      Reply
  23. Jenae says

    June 9, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    Yes, definitely use citronella and lemongrass both…the other oils are optional.

    Lindsey, I would think that would be a great idea!

    Tina, I'm not entirely sure if essential oils are safe for babies. I would check with your pediatrician.

    Reply
  24. Anonymous says

    June 9, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    I bought some organic baby bug spray and it is made with essential oils. I will definitely be making my own and see how that goes! My son is SO sensitive to bug bites so I have to find something safe but effective.

    Reply
  25. Jenae says

    June 9, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    I found the essential oils at Whole Foods, but you can also find them on Amazon:

    Citronella Essential Oil: http://t.co/GXGdfNO

    Lemongrass: http://t.co/7bRVLvK

    Lavender: http://t.co/PmATNh4

    Reply
  26. LivingSoAbundantly says

    June 9, 2011 at 5:19 pm

    That is SO neat! Thank you for sharing. :) I saw this on moneysavingmom.

    Reply
  27. KimH says

    June 9, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    All of the essential oils you mentioned here are safe to use on babies & children & adults too as long as they have been diluted as per the recipe above or in a lotion too. The witch hazel is just a carrier as is lotion. Most EOs need to be diluted for safe use because they are so strong.

    I personally have used straight lavender oil (one of the few oils you can use full strength on your skin) in a mosquito infested forest several times. It works pretty good, but not 100%.

    If I were making a bug spray, I'd definitely use the lavender, citronella & lemongrass.
    If you remember, there are citronella candles for sale for this purpose.
    Any of the mint family will work well.. Here is a link.. read down to the natural repellent section and it can give you an idea of what else might help.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_repellent

    Also, I get my EOs from 3 different places…I use EOS a lot. These places have the best quality in my opinion and are very popular with herbalists & soap makers.

    1. http://www.sfherb.com/store/essential-oils,category.asp
    2. http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/index.php?AID=105381&BID=681
    or
    3.http://www.naturaloptions.us/

    HTH

    Reply
  28. Helen says

    June 9, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We live by a large wooded area, with a pond in our backyard. So, needless to say, it's mosquito heaven! I hate it! It seems like the mosquitoes go straight to ME! I'm also pregnant and running around with a 2 year old. So this bug repellent is great! I hate smelling all the chemicals the put in those store-bought products. Thanks again!

    Reply
  29. Kari says

    June 9, 2011 at 7:39 pm

    This is such a great idea! I never knew you could make bug spray on your own. Honestly, this really is probably a lot healthier than the ones you buy in the store with tons of deet! I live in MN where the mosquito is out state bird, so this will definitely come in handy!

    Reply
  30. Merissa says

    June 9, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    Thanks for sharing! We only use natural bug sprays to avoid the chemicals but they are very expensive! Mosquitoes have been really bad here this year with all the rain we are getting so hopefully with a little of this I can finally look like I don't have a scary disease all over my legs!

    Reply
  31. Anonymous says

    June 9, 2011 at 10:37 pm

    I did not check on all the other oils but know that Lavender should be avoided in pregnant and nursing mothers.
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/143985-lavender-oil-pregnancy/

    Reply
  32. MN Mom says

    June 9, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    You can also buy the Thayer's Alcohol Free, Organic Witch Hazel, which won't be a problem for the face or eyes. Young Living Brand, Purification Essential Oil contains citronella, lemongrass, lavender, rosemary, and tea tree and costs about $27 I think. You can use about 50 drops of this and add it directly to the spray bottle, then add the witch hazel, that way you won't waste a single drop in the pre-mixing in another container. If you add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the mix, this will help to preserve it a bit and won't add any smell as the amount is so small, but this is optional. This is how I make mine and it works really well.

    Reply
    • Cindy says

      June 3, 2013 at 7:43 pm

      I use Young Living Oils as well. They are very pure oils and well worth the money, in my opinion. :) Purification Blend works splendid but I am also going to try this recipe….I like it :)

      Reply
  33. Janne says

    June 9, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    i have tried a recipe similar to this but I used water as the carrier and it wasn't always effective. I am excited to try it with witch hazel and hope it will be effective %100 of the time!

    Reply
  34. bigguysmama says

    June 9, 2011 at 11:23 pm

    Do you have any idea how long of a "shelf" life the spray has? How often do you have to apply/reapply? We live in MN where deer ticks are prevalent not to mention the unofficial state bird, the mosquito!

    Reply
  35. Katie says

    June 9, 2011 at 11:53 pm

    in reply to the lady who said she was allergic to most scents — often people don't realize that essential oils are very opposite from "fragrances" and most people who cannot tolerate fragrances have no trouble with Essential Oils. This is true both with respiratory and skin sensitivities. In fact many essential oils are used for medicinal purposes.

    I don't know if this applies to you or not, but I thought I'd mention it.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      August 4, 2011 at 7:24 am

      I would have to disagree with that. As someone who is severely salicylate intolerant I find that I have the same, if not more, problems with ‘natural’ things. In my experience people who are ‘allergic to most scents’ (or a wide range of foods etc) and can’t put their finger on a specific allergy, usually are intolerant to something like salicylates or amines.

      The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital has some great resources on this.
      http://www.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/rpa/allergy/

      As to the original topic, thanks for all the tips – am going to try some of the methods out for my husband. He HATES getting bitten and seems to attract them like crazy.

      Reply
  36. Shepardsgate says

    June 10, 2011 at 10:33 am

    it is perfectly safe to use Young Living essential oils throughout pregnancy and with babies with correct knowledge of how. An excellent resource book is Gentle Babies, by Debra Raybern (www.growinghealthyhomes.com), I teach applied aromatherapy through CARE (raindroptraining.com). There are some excellent articles on discerning purity of essential oils in the archived newsletters at raindroptraining.com.

    Reply
  37. SillySimple says

    June 10, 2011 at 11:06 am

    If you are interested in a summary of the scientific literature on bug repellent effectiveness check out this PDF summary.

    http://ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/fact_sheets/tickbiteprevention05.pdf

    Reply
  38. lovenotesmama says

    June 10, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    Thanks for this timely post! I am going to be making some to keep the massive mosquitos away this summer! I'm going to blog this in my Sunday Surf! thanks!

    Reply
  39. Tracey says

    June 13, 2011 at 7:45 am

    so….is the recipe 14 oz witch hazel to 15 drops of oils? And thanks for all the great comments like where to get the oils and all.

    Reply
  40. Jenae says

    June 13, 2011 at 7:49 am

    Tracey,
    It's 14 oz. witch hazel to 40-45 drops of essential oil (15 citronella + 15 lemongrass + 10 lavender (or 5 lavender and 5 peppermint).

    And to all who wondered how it works…GREAT so far!

    Reply
  41. Eco Baby Mama Drama says

    June 23, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    Thanks for this! New follower here and super excited to read more!

    Reply
  42. Joy @ Joy In This Journey says

    July 5, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Saw the earlier comment about ticks and geranium oil. Would this work as a tick repellant if you add geranium oil to the other three?

    Reply
  43. Jenae says

    July 5, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Joy, I'm not completely sure…but I would think it would be just fine!

    Reply
  44. Catstina says

    July 11, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    The welts you describe could be because the boys are mildly allergic to mosquitos. I am and I always get welts from mosquitos, no matter where they are from. Does this spray work well? I'll have to try it!

    Reply
  45. Anonymous says

    July 12, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    I use peppermint, catnip, lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus mixed with water, oil (I prefer jojoba) and 1 tbs lemon joy dish detergent. Shake it all up and put it in a spray bottle. Work great! Smells great! Safe for kids.

    Reply
  46. Kristina says

    July 15, 2011 at 8:32 am

    I didn't get enough protection with just witch hazel and tea tree oil, but when I added apple cider vinegar to the mix, it worked much better. Equal parts witch hazel and vinegar.

    Reply
  47. Laura says

    July 26, 2011 at 7:17 am

    I work in mosquito control, and just want to say that while these are lovely smelling and will work for a little while — they really won’t provide a lot of protection from mosquitoes (or at least not for longer than 5-15 minutes).

    The CDC actually recommends one “natural” product — oil of lemon eucalyptus (along with picaridin and DEET) to repel mosquitoes for a significant amount of time. If you are going to add a “special ingredient” to your best natural remedies, you might want to seriously consider that one.

    Reply
    • Desiree says

      May 7, 2012 at 12:18 pm

      mosquito control? Anyways, people want to use all natural products on their children and any pediatrician or good mommy will tell you to stay away from DEET! Using products with deet on your children, in my eyes, is like spraying your crops with pesticides. Love the essential oil and with hazel and am going to give it a try!

      Reply
      • Laura says

        May 8, 2012 at 5:24 pm

        Any pediatrician? Is that why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends DEET?

        You guys can decide to dose yourself in air fresheners and perfume if you want. But I’ve met people who have had family members die from mosquito borne disease. It’s not something I mess around with.

        Reply
  48. Mindy says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    I make a wonderful spray with many of the same oils as above in an aloe vera gel and witch hazel base. Some alternatives are Patchouli, Orange, and Opopanax for fleas and ticks. It works great, just needs to be applied often as the oils evaporate and are absorbed.

    Reply
  49. Rebecca - Soap Deli News Blog says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:25 am

    There are a handful of widely recognized essential oils that possess properties that naturally repel biting insects. These oils include: cedarwood, lavender, lemon, patchouli, neem, peppermint, rosemary, basil, thyme, citronella, lemongrass, pennyroyal, tea tree oil, geranium, catnip, and eucalyptus. You can sub any of these oils. I have more ideas on making insect repellents on my blog article here: http://www.soapdelinews.com/2011/06/natural-mosquito-repellent-recipes-and.html if you’re interested.

    Reply
  50. Lynda says

    August 4, 2011 at 6:14 pm

    I made the following bug spray at the start of the summer, and neither my hubby or me have gotten bitten this summer and we are out all of the time. There are substitutions at the bottom of the tutorial if you don’t have lemon balm or lavender around.

    http://www.bloombakecreate.com/2011/05/lemon-balm-lavender-bugs-off-spray/

    Reply
  51. Linda says

    August 12, 2011 at 6:48 am

    I have tried different natural bug sprays but they never work. This one looks like a good one, I am going to have to try this. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  52. AmberVercler says

    August 16, 2011 at 11:30 am

    This looks Great! I am excited to try it. We use California Baby Bug Repellant. It works very well and uses essential oils like these to repell bugs.

    Reply
  53. Lindsey Rowland says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:00 am

    I found this link on Pintrest and I was super excited about it. I am going to try this right away.
    Do you know if it will keep the bugs called no-see-ums away? We have an awful time with them where I live.
    Thanks so much for posting this!!!

    Reply
  54. Nicole C says

    September 23, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Hi there,
    I use on myself and will be using on my son this week or so (EEE threat in our town) the EcoSmart bug spray. I ride horses so flies are AWWWFULLLL and it works pretty well. It smells just like horse fly spray – so you’d have to smell it. I like the smell of it, but I am used to the stronger scents. But besides that, EcoSmart brand products (and they include insecticides, etc) are organic, natural, plant-based and pet-kid safe. Yes including the ant/roach killers. And they can be used in the kitchen (we also have a huge ant problem and I was worried about my son playing on the wood floor and then putting his hands in his mouth). Yupp, they’re all non-toxic. Their website is ecosmart.com I once saw a reviewer on a TV show eat one of the bug killers (not recommending at all haha).
    1

    Reply
  55. Garnet says

    October 18, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    Dr. Christopher’s has a balm that is FABULOUS! It will HEAL a brown recluse bite. We put barely a smudge on a skeeter bite and that’s that for the bite. No itch, no welt, no bump, it goes away within a day or two and never does itch. rarely we have had to put salve on a bite twice. I gave some to a guy who had a recluse bite turning gangrene. He came back the next day and wanted to know where to buy some, as he saw a huge change over night. It is amazing on a bee sting. It is called…Dr. Christopher’s Bite and Sting. Google Dr C and find his Herb Shop to purchase or if you live in a city with a good health food store they might carry it! I am a true believer in Dr. C!

    Reply
  56. Susan says

    January 16, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Can you find essential oils at Walmart?

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      March 29, 2013 at 3:45 am

      I’ve bought tea tree oil there in the vitamin section, but I’ve had to go to the health food store for any others.

      Reply
  57. Pat says

    January 29, 2012 at 10:35 am

    Do you think this would work for chiggers too? All of a sudden the past few years, I’m very attractive to chiggers! If now, does anyone have a suggestion for chigger repellant?

    Reply
    • Deanna says

      February 25, 2012 at 12:15 pm

      Ceaderwood essential oil works against chiggers.

      Reply
  58. Aubrey Hill says

    February 8, 2012 at 11:23 am

    I just came across this great pin on pintrest. I am excited to be able to try this recipe out in the summer.
    I just thought I would post my website http://www.mydoterra.com/aubreykhill as another option of a place to buy great Certified Pure Theraputic Grade essential oils (CPTG). They are a great company resolved to have the best, purest, potent essentil oils. They do 2 different test on every single batch of oils they produce at a 3rd party testing center to ensure there are no chemicals or pesticides added to the essential oils. They source their oils where the plants, flowers, roots, fruits grow the best throughout the world. Go on over & check them out. Thanks!

    Reply
  59. Britta says

    February 16, 2012 at 2:34 am

    You should also try putting a dryer sheet in your pocket. I live in Minnesota. Land of 10,000 lakes and 10 million mosquitos. The dryer sheet keeps them at bay from my experience, but I’ll also give this a try! Thank you for the recipe and pictures!

    Reply
    • Rebecca says

      May 7, 2012 at 6:14 pm

      The dryer sheet works for gnats, too. We live in southwest GA, “below the gnat line,” and this is the only thing I’ve ever found that keeps gnats away (they don’t bite, but one buzzing around your ear is enough to send a sane person over the edge). Just tuck in in your pocket/ponytail/wherever you want. Sometimes when we go fishing I always rub it over my arms, legs, and neck, but that would be up to you depending on your skin sensitivity. I generally can’t use detergents or scented dryer sheets in my laundry because it makes my skin itch, but just carrying one for gnats has never given me a problem.

      Reply
  60. Deanna says

    February 25, 2012 at 12:10 pm

    I just wanted to add that my parents run their own company called Gritman that sells and distributes essential oils. From experience I know that when dealing with essential oils you will want to store them in a colored glass bottle. (ie brown or cobalt) Essential oils will eat through the plastic containers causing a mess and who knows what plastic chemicals to be sprayed on you and your loved ones skin. Because my parents are based in Houston, they also have an aweful time with mosquitoes and have come up with a few blends that are particularly effective. Their website is http://www.gritman. com if you’d like to check it out. Also, if you already have bites, teatree oil is fantastic on them. It really helps to cause the itching to subside, and to help your body heal the bite faster. Good luck in your bitey bug fighting adventures!

    Reply
  61. Megan says

    March 2, 2012 at 3:36 pm

    this works great been using even before I read it here. Tea tree I found worked to keep horse and deer fly away when camping in NY Adirondacks! even got my cousin hooked on it before I left up there. She lives 1 mile inside of park. Also pepermint is big help too

    Reply
  62. SoCalGal619 says

    March 6, 2012 at 9:58 am

    Sounds cool but pricey–and I don’t like that you can’t put some on your face. But most importantly, does it work? I swear on Avons’s Skin So Soft bug spray. We never get bitten when we have that stuff on. They always have it on sale in Avon too. Highly recommend.

    Reply
  63. SoCalGal619 says

    March 6, 2012 at 9:59 am

    Sounds cool but pricey–and I don’t like that you can’t put it on your face. But most importantly, does it work? I swear on Avon’s Skin So Soft bug spray. We never get bitten when we have that stuff on. They always have it on sale in Avon too. Highly recommend.

    Reply
  64. Michelle says

    March 14, 2012 at 5:53 am

    So, I make my own bug repellent. I’ve found that just using these isn’t quite enough (perhaps mid-west bugs are just meaner? lol). As far as DEET is concerned, catnip is the best thing I’ve found. If you have it fresh, make tincture with it (fill glass container with fresh catnip, add vodka, shake daily, let sit 10-14 days). Or, use catnip EO. It’s *very* expensive, but I only use about 5 drops/4oz bottle. It’s *fantastic* and seems to last few hours.

    Reply
  65. Cindy says

    March 19, 2012 at 11:03 am

    In Hawaii we had a mosquito home in our plants (the hallway between bedrooms was exposed to the outdoors). The post bite cure was a swab of alcohol over the bite. In California the mosquitos are much healthier and it takes more to overcome the itch. A parley rub works pretty well in California to avoid those pesty bugs. At least it’s not very toxic.

    Reply
  66. ashley says

    March 27, 2012 at 2:54 pm

    we swab with ‘rubbing’ alcohol on bites too! Works great on Houston mosquitos. Don’t be shy with it though, we put some on a cotton ball and rub the well for a good 30 seconds or more. It takes the itching away and the bump is gone within he day.

    I saw the idea yesterday to use Listerine as repellent.
    http://www.homemademamas.net/2010/08/bugs-be-gone.html

    I didn’t have a bottle to dilute it so I just splashed some around my patio edge and it worked quite effectively. I watched mosquitos fly around feet from where we were but they weren’t bothering us.

    I’m going to try your recipe for when we’re away from the house. Thanks!!!

    Reply
  67. Doris says

    April 12, 2012 at 8:27 am

    Where do you buy your essential oils at?

    Reply
    • Jenae says

      April 12, 2012 at 8:46 am

      I bought mine at Whole Foods. But now that I have Amazon Prime, I’ll buy them online from now on because I think they are cheaper.

      Reply
  68. cathie l says

    April 12, 2012 at 11:58 pm

    I buy my essential oils at http://www.puritan.com (Puritan’s Pride) My recipe for mosquito, tick, and flies is for my horse- I use witch hazel and add skin so soft to essential oils (geranium, eucalyptus, citronella, etc) Vinegar, in some studies listed throughout the internet, has been known to attract gnats. They were not specific about apple or regular vinegar though. At puritan you can get free bottles right now with buy x get x amount free- and they are WONDERFUL. I’ve stocked up for the summer for my horse! (And get skin so soft on ebay if avon doesnt have it on sale. I am not paying $13 for 16.9 ounces when I can (and did) just get it for $8 and free shipping.)

    Reply
  69. Daneille Snowden says

    April 26, 2012 at 11:43 am

    Gonna do this too! Too cool of a winter this year I just know those bugs will be out!

    Reply
  70. Tracy says

    April 26, 2012 at 3:06 pm

    How long does this last for once it’s made? Do you have to keep it in the fridge?

    Reply
  71. playmobil advent calendar says

    May 8, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    If you are allergic to any of these, you should not use them. To work as a natural mosquito repellent, you will need to apply these oils to your exposed skin more often than you would chemical-based products.

    Reply
  72. martha calderon says

    May 14, 2012 at 7:54 am

    My sister and I make a bug repelant that we call “bugg off!” and we steep water with an array of herbs. We dont like the smell of citrenella so we use lime instead. We also use wormwood, pennyroyal and a handful of herbs with cinnamon. Smells great and you wont stink. It can be sprayed on your face AND I spray it on my dog and we have never had fleas. We live right between 2 lakes. We also have a remedy spray for bites and stings. We call it ” be calm”
    Sisters Suds and Salves at Facebook.

    Reply
  73. patricia c ropper says

    May 17, 2012 at 10:36 am

    FYI,. if you decide to use tea tree oil in the mix,.it only take 2 drops to poison your pet,.so if you have them in your home,. best to leave that one out of the mix :)

    Reply
  74. Jo says

    May 18, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    The house we used to live in had a drainage ditch at the bottom of the yard and the mosquitoes were terrible, my kids couldn’t play in the back yard without getting covered in bites and my son reacts badly to them. I found a product on amazon called mosquito barrier. It’s completely natural – it’s highly concentrated garlic juice – won’t harm you kids, your pets or the beneficial bugs in your yard. You mix it with water and spray it all over your yard ( not on yourself unless you’re worried about vampires!) and it will keep mosquitoes away for about 3 weeks. It worked so well in my yard that both my neighbours started using it too. I highly reccomend it. Use it with your bug spray and your boys will be happy campers.

    Reply
  75. tara says

    May 21, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    I love your recipe, but I’d like to add though, are you putting any water in this? I might not have read it clearly, but you cannot use essential oils just by themselves b/c they are so strong and it’s harmful to your body. My mom is an herbalist and aromatherapist and she’s always telling me how there needs to be some sort of pure water in with oils. I will try this out though. My mom has been trying to get me to keep using natural remedies lol

    Reply
  76. giddy tigress says

    May 25, 2012 at 3:09 am

    Do you have a preferred or recommended brand of witch hazel which you can use, and also a recommended brand of essential oils? Thanks!

    Reply
  77. Joey @ bug spray for babies says

    May 27, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    Thank you for your blog posting. Very informative and I plan to visit your site more often.

    Joey,

    Reply
  78. Carole says

    May 28, 2012 at 8:56 am

    I use a all natural spray made of essential oils. I had been looking for months since moving to Houston where the mosquitoes are really bad. I’d even tried making my own bug spray from natural oils. Someone from my mommy group told me about Bugsprayforbabies. It works really well…so well that my husband uses it also when he does yard work. http://www.bugsprayforbabies.com

    Reply
  79. Eveyln says

    May 29, 2012 at 10:42 am

    You could try what I use. http://allnaturalbugspray.com/

    Reply
  80. Tara says

    May 29, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    I got the oils and am going to make it, but was wondering how long it will last. How long can I store it and how often does it need to be applied? Thanks!!

    Reply
  81. Tamika says

    May 30, 2012 at 9:17 am

    I totally need to do this, thank you so much for sharing.

    Tamika @ http://www.notimefortea.com

    Reply
  82. curly says

    June 6, 2012 at 5:36 am

    Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I would like to verify the amount of witch hazel used.. 14oz is quite allot of witch hazel… Possible to convert to ML? I tried converting 14oz to ml and it came up to 672ml.. Can you pls advise? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Abbey says

      June 26, 2012 at 11:39 am

      1oz=30ml

      Reply
  83. Dana says

    June 6, 2012 at 10:22 pm

    I have heard that rubbing yarrow on the skin makes an excellent mosquito repellent. Just be careful though, yarrow looks like hemlock and you don’t want to be rubbing that on your skin, it’s HIGHLY toxic. There are ways to tell the difference, it’s all online. Thanks for the tip! I have lemongrass oil and I’m making a lavender oil infusion and will add that. Perhaps I will make a tincture from yarrow and add that as well. I have kids and I absolutely hate putting chemicals on them to deter pests. Hopefully these ideas will work. :)

    Reply
  84. Debbie says

    June 8, 2012 at 11:42 am

    Just wondering about the lavender…as I am allergic to it. Is there something you can use in its place?

    Reply
  85. Leattea says

    June 22, 2012 at 6:29 pm

    I tried this recipe today and had no luck. I had mosquito bites in a matter of minutes. Tomorrow I will try adding more drops of the oils to see if that works. I used 100% lavender oil, citronella, and lemongrass.

    Reply
    • Leattea says

      June 22, 2012 at 6:32 pm

      And also melaleuca’s tea tree oil.

      Reply
  86. Karen says

    June 26, 2012 at 9:41 am

    Here is another idea–a natural mosquito barrier for the yard. It’s best explained in this link: http://www.mosquitobarrier.com. It really works, too. I used it for the first time this past weekend and we have been able to sit out in our yard in the early evening, unbothered by mosquitos. That has never happened before! It’s also supposed to repel deer which we are hoping is true since they love our garden–so far, so good the past few days. BTW, I didn’t even use the barrier on our whole yard since it’s an acre–just the part we use the most.

    Reply
  87. Michelle says

    June 26, 2012 at 10:29 am

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16041723 This is the study done to see which oils worked best. The top 2 were Clove and Patchuli worked for 2-4 hours with 100% repellency.

    Reply
  88. Stephanie says

    June 26, 2012 at 10:42 am

    Take some rubber bracelets and soak them in your mix. Should last six days!

    Reply
  89. Granny Bear says

    June 26, 2012 at 4:55 pm

    We now carry Organic Lavender essential oil and more. We also have other products.Garlic is another good thing bugs dont like.If you would like us to make a scent for you that works on bugs let us know.

    Reply
  90. falisha ortega says

    June 28, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    wow thank you so much. My family and i always BBQ out on the deck and are being chased in by “the Mosquito”. Now we have something to fight back with. thanks again.

    Reply
  91. Belinda D says

    June 30, 2012 at 12:07 am

    Thanks for all the great tips!

    Reply
  92. Mitzi says

    July 10, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    I made a concoction today for mosquitos and tick repellent. I used 15 drops each of tea tree, citronella, and lemongrass. Smells great, and time will tell if it works, will try tonight while I walk the dogs. Make sure you use a jar that you don’t use for anything else. I used a quart Ball jar, and the odor will not wash out. SO, I’m saving this jar for making more.

    Reply
  93. Christina says

    July 11, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    I’ve been reading the comments listed here and have one question, well maybe two. Do the essential oils used in making this bug spray have alcohol in them? Is this mixture completely alcohol-free? I have a child who is severely allergic to all types of alcohol. With the recent prevalence of West Nile in my area, I want my children protected, but I don’t want to end up in the ER with an allergic reaction either.

    Reply
  94. Rhonda says

    July 15, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    I’ve heard original Listerine, the brown one works well…adds to shopping list.

    Reply
  95. Paulette Mitchell says

    July 18, 2012 at 8:18 pm

    Thought this was the same recipe I use but then I read that you use witch-hazel. I use the same essential oils but I add them to baby oil or olive oil. In the 20 years that I’ve lived in Florida I’ve never had anything to work as well as this. The thing that lead me to this recipe was a trip to one of our local nurseries. I couldn’t help but inquire as to what the employees used to ward off the mosquitoes since they spend 95% of their time out-doors among the plants. When the cashier told me what they used I asked what the ingredients were. To be honest, I wasn’t the least bit surprised when the list included all natural ingredients because it’s an organic nursery. With the exception of a few essential oils, I had everything on hand. I’ve been making it every since with great success. If I am bitten, it’s always in a place where I neglected to put it. Recently I assumed that I didn’t need to put it on my legs because I was wearing jeans….wrong! I had one huge bite on my leg but not on the rest of my body. Interesting thing is, we were on an open field after a rain, at night watching the fire works and I was only bit once. If you know Florida, there’s nothing left to say! Good idea for a blog post! I think I’ll follow suit and let them know that you were my inspiration! Thanks!

    Reply
  96. Pam says

    August 9, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    We have tried Skin so Soft, Cutter, Off (in spray and other forms). Nothing works for myself and my kids. I can’t wait to try this to see if it really woks. I feel horrible for the kiddos especially my 17 month old. We can’t be outside more than 10 minutes without them being attacked.

    Reply
  97. [email protected] says

    August 10, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Hey there! Just wanted to let you know we featured you in our Favorite Find Fridays post over at Whimsically Homemade. We used one of your pictures and linked back to you. If that’s a problem let us know and we’ll remove it immediately. Thanks for your great inspiration!

    Reply
  98. Oana79 says

    August 19, 2012 at 6:27 am

    That’s great! We have been using a natural product roll on but it’s quite dear so when we run out we’ll make our own following your advice! Love the label on the bottle, by the way ;-)!

    Reply
  99. Demetria says

    August 19, 2012 at 5:06 pm

    Thanks for sharing this! We’re taking our 10 month old camping this week, and are in need of a repellent!

    Reply
  100. Belinda says

    August 24, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    I either use Bullfrog Mosquito Coast sunscreen that has repellent in it or Listerine I keep in a spray bottle in my diaper bag. Not sure where I heard about using Listerine, but it really works. I didn’t use it Wednesday and was outside for about an hour and have over 15 welts. Never leaving home without it again.

    Reply
    • Marla says

      February 21, 2013 at 2:49 pm

      I have read about Listerine being toxic to use topically….anyone know anything about that?

      Reply
  101. angie says

    December 24, 2012 at 5:18 am

    for those of you who live by water, do you garden? planting basil plants is supposed to keep mosquitos away. they dont like the scent.

    Reply
  102. Cleaning systems says

    December 28, 2012 at 5:10 am

    Awesome post, i will definitely have to try this. Thank you…

    Reply
  103. hilton5m4w says

    May 29, 2013 at 2:28 pm

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    Reply
  104. joe says

    June 13, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    PURITAN’S PRIDE IS A GOOD PLACE TO BUY THE OILS. THEY USUALLY HAVE A BUY ONE GET TWO FREE SALE GOING ON. http://www.puritan.com/?scid=6845&cmp=msn-_-PuritanVitamin-_-vitaminsonlinefreeshipping&9mtype=e&9mkw=20250582195&9mad=2325642651.2&9mraw=vitamins%20online%20free%20shipping
    I BUY MY TEA TREE OIL AND VITAMINS HERE.

    Reply
  105. Rob says

    June 17, 2013 at 5:15 am

    I use listerine. Put it in a spray bottle and spray around your camp site.

    Reply
  106. MsPony says

    June 17, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    We use the citronella/eucalyptus/lemongrass combination here on our farm in the Ozarks. It works to repel ticks, mosquitoes, and other nasty things.

    We also use it on our dairy goats and other livestock. Doesn’t interfere with the quality of the milk, and it keeps our animals so much more comfortable.

    Now if it would only work against those nasty brown recluse spiders…

    Reply
  107. Barrier Mosquito Control says

    July 3, 2013 at 10:43 am

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    July 4, 2013 at 4:26 am

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    Reply
  109. KM says

    July 7, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    I am currently making my own spray (different “recipe) but will try this one too, minus the lavender. I love lavender but read recently not to use with boys or men. Not sure how accurate but may want to read some more on that if using on boys/men. Can’t wait to see how it works. I moved from West coast to East coast and we are getting “welts” not bites like you said.

    Reply
  110. mosquito control says

    July 23, 2013 at 1:54 am

    wow thank you so much. My family and i always BBQ out on the deck and are being chased in by “the Mosquito”. Now we have something to fight back with. thanks again.

    Reply
  111. no see ums repellent says

    August 20, 2013 at 11:31 am

    If you do get bit, they say putting some tape or nail polish over the bite prevents it from itching because it stops oxygen getting in causing the itch.

    Reply
  112. Go Green says

    October 16, 2013 at 4:33 pm

    I know if you rub basil on your skin it keeps away mosquitoes, and if you plant certain herbs and flowers around your home it repels them, too.

    Reply
  113. some guy says

    October 25, 2013 at 2:57 pm

    why cant you just go to a store like publix and buy a bottle of mosquito spray that is proven to work, and works much better than your homemade mosquito spray?

    Reply
    • Steve says

      February 4, 2014 at 3:46 pm

      The all natural bug spray from Mission Essentials called “Fight Back 2” is by far the best I’ve ever used. It smells great, has no alcohol, does not leave skin feeling dry or oily and works fabulous! They are @ http://www.mission-essentials.com

      Reply
  114. Dr. Craig A. Maxwell says

    February 20, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    Great idea! Those synthetic pesticides are terrible for children and the environment.

    Reply
  115. Mike Moore says

    March 2, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    Simplest concoction I use is pine needle or pine oil as much or as little as you like. Mix with filtered water and pour into a heavy duty spray bottle. Mosquitoes cannot stand the smell of the pine. I spray liberal all over from head to toe. Just make sure to avoid eyes and put away glasses and sunshades or they may get ruined.

    Reply
  116. pest control Bromley says

    March 18, 2014 at 5:28 am

    Simply I will say such a tremendous site I never saw before.

    Reply
  117. NCKP says

    April 23, 2014 at 5:09 pm

    Thank you so much for posting this. I have used this to spray around doors and windows as mad bee season has arrived. I have also planted a mosquito repelling garden in the front of my house since that is where the kids are all the time.
    Your spray works like a charm (o far on bees-whew! and I anticipate it will be great for repelling mosquitoes too!) –North Carolina Momma

    Reply
  118. Tonya says

    May 17, 2014 at 2:37 pm

    I stumbled upon your sight through pintrest, and im very glad i found it! I work for the forest service as a wildlife biologist, So im out in the night with a thick swarm of mosquito around me. Im also allergic to the bits since they all seem to swell up to about the size of a quarter or bigger! I had to use deet, just on my clothes, and that still barley helped! Im dying for a way to keep them off me and from biting me through my clothes. I am going to give your recipe a try, and ill let you know my results, thanks so much for the recipe!

    Reply
  119. Toddy says

    May 18, 2014 at 2:18 pm

    Use Avon ‘Skin so Soft’ mixed with citronella oil and eucalyptus oil for midges in Weardale, County Durham, England. Amazing results, not a bite, without it i’m eaten alive with bites from head to toe

    Reply
  120. Steve says

    May 26, 2014 at 4:07 pm

    The best all natural bug spray out there by far is made by a company called Mission Essentials (www.mission-essentials.com) – it’s called Fight Back 2…it smells great, works fabulous and has no alcohol so it feels good.

    Reply
  121. Alicia R says

    May 31, 2014 at 7:19 pm

    I was so excited to try this and am disappointed to say that it didn’t work for me. I bought all of the ingredients at a price that I was not happy with. I am now covered in bug bites, with burning eyes from the strong odor. I say if you still want to try it, go ahead. Hopefully it works for you.

    Reply
  122. Minerva says

    July 5, 2014 at 9:08 pm

    Plain weather and essential oils works best for the whole family. You can use peppermint oil, pennyroyal oil, or lemongrass. They all work! One spray bottle 20 drops of oil and that’s all

    Reply
  123. Minerva says

    July 5, 2014 at 9:09 pm

    That’s water, not weather lol

    Reply
  124. Abbie says

    July 12, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    Peppermint is not a good choice of oils if this is to be used on children under 6, it can hinder breathing… otherwise looks like a good blend.

    Reply
  125. Eryn says

    November 30, 2014 at 3:14 am

    HI if you really have an interest in starting to use essential oils in vest in books written by Valerie Ann Worwood she is a master!! I own The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy also The Fragrant Pharmacy. I have in paperback pre- Kindle but she has 9 available on Kindle from 4 to11 dollars.
    Also
    Aromatherapy a Lifetime Guide to Healing with Essential Oils. This one I have had since it came out in 1996 it was my first, it’s a great intoduction to essential oils from how they are made to how to tell the real thing its the nitty gritty including what can and can not be used on children and why. I wish I could post a photo with my comment my book has pages falling out and 2 huge rubber bands holding it together also wavy pages from water happenings. Not on Kindle you can try http://www.phdirect.com.
    Cheers
    Eryn

    Reply
  126. Johnkristen says

    February 10, 2015 at 7:18 am

    This is great! I’m going to share this tip with my mom who has cat issues once in a while. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  127. nae says

    March 7, 2015 at 11:17 pm

    Past summer, I used One for me and my little one Who was one. Vitamin E oil, tea tree oil and lavander. It works good, I am going to add peppermint or lemongrass this year.

    Reply
  128. joyce johnson slone says

    March 23, 2015 at 1:03 pm

    I love to try new things this sound very good. Thank you Joyce

    Reply
  129. joyce johnson slone says

    March 23, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    I love to try new stuff, Thank you

    Reply
  130. vert shock system says

    April 27, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    I absolutely respect and appreciate your point on each and every object.

    Reply
  131. natural mosquito repellent says

    January 12, 2016 at 5:19 am

    nice article for home made bug spray recipe. I will definitely use this recipe as bug repellant

    Reply
  132. Patti Armanees says

    April 25, 2017 at 3:41 pm

    Can this be used on dogs to keep mosquitoes off of him I don’t like the side effects I have seen with all of the heart warm products out there on the market would like to use something natural to keep the mosquitoes off him instead

    Reply
  133. Rita says

    April 20, 2018 at 12:58 pm

    🌒🏕️🕷️🐜🐝🤱👶we can use the bugger off when we take the baby for a walk in the park, we can use it after dark, when camping with the folk, getting bitten aint no joke, bugger me

    Reply
  134. Rahul Mehta says

    May 6, 2018 at 8:22 am

    very good i like this really much.

    Reply
  135. anertsa says

    May 6, 2018 at 12:09 pm

    very good i like this really much.

    Reply
  136. Pet Lover says

    May 7, 2018 at 12:48 pm

    Great i love this very much.

    Reply
  137. Rahul Mehta says

    May 7, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    Great i love this very much.

    Reply
  138. ferweas says

    May 7, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    Great i love this very much.

    Reply
  139. ferweas says

    May 7, 2018 at 3:58 pm

    Great article very appreciatd.

    Reply
  140. ricky says

    October 14, 2018 at 7:58 am

    wonderful guide i really like

    Reply
  141. john says

    October 14, 2018 at 8:18 am

    keep sharing stuff like this

    Reply
  142. john says

    October 30, 2018 at 4:56 pm

    keep posting worthy stuff like this

    Reply
  143. john says

    November 27, 2018 at 3:16 pm

    wonderful article i really like it

    Reply
  144. john says

    March 2, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    wow i like this product must buy this

    Reply
  145. Earvin says

    June 6, 2019 at 11:30 pm

    Wow! This is nice since there’s a lot of annoying insects in our backyard. Thanks for posting this

    Reply

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