How to Make Homemade Insect Repellent Oil

Making your own insect repellent is fast and easy. This repellent really works!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 part bay leaves
• 4 parts pennyroyal
• 2 parts rosemary
• 1 part eucalyptus leaves
• Enough olive oil or other high quality oil to cover the herbs. Then top with another inch or two of oil.
• Double boiler
• Cheesecloth or muslin

1. 

   Wilt the fresh herb leaves or use dried herbs.

2. 

   Cover with enough oil to completely submerge the herbs, plus another one or two inches on top of that. Place the herbs and oil in a double boiler, and cover with a tight fitting lid. Heat slowly for one half to one hour, checking often to make sure the oil is not over heating.

3. 

   Once the oil and herbs have heated sufficiently, you can strain the mixture. Line a strainer or sieve with cheesecloth or muslin. Pour the mixture through the cloth. Reserve this oil. In a separate container, press the remaining oil out of the herbs. Do not mix together the two separate oil pressings. The second one will have a higher concentration of water and sediment. It is still usable, but not the high quality as the first pressing. Now you can add a drop or two of pennyroyal essential oil or eucalyptus essential oil to strengthen the smell in the first oil pressing. This is in addition to the dried pennyroyal and eucalyptus.

4. 

   Now you can bottle the oil. Keep in a cool place preferably a dark place. It does not have to be refrigerated, but if allowed to heat up too much, will deteriorate.

5. This oil is safe for human and animal use.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't overheat the oil as you are heating the oil and herbs together.

[meggfish]

on 6/1/2009 All of these herbs are contraindicated for pregnancy. Use caution if pregnant.

[sonni57]

on 5/21/2009 Thanks for the good homemade insect repellent recipe I'll give it a try.