How to Make a Natural Insect Repellant with Essential Oils

At a certain time every year we all pull out the insect repellent so we can do battle with mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, noseeums, chiggers, and the various other bugs that are the bane of our existence. Most of the time, those insect repellents are made with DEET. DEET is a highly toxic, non eco-friendly, but highly effective, mosquito and insect repellent. There are natural insect repellent alternatives though that work as well, if not better in some cases, as DEET. These are much healthier for you and your family. This article will tell you how to make those natural insect repellents for your body and home, using essential oils.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Std. size spray bottle and/or small 2 oz. spray bottle.
• essential oils (as listed in the article)
• Vodka or grain alcohol
• Almond, safflower, olive or coconut oil

1. 

   There are several essential oils that are excellent insect repellents. Some are more effective on some pests than others. The following is a list of some of those essential oils, along with what insects they are best at repelling.
   * Lemongrass - Mosquitoes, chiggers, noseeums, gnats, fleas, and ticks
   * Tea Tree Oil - Mosquitoes, chiggers, noseeums, gnats, fleas, horseflies, ticks
   * Eucalyptus - Mosquitoes, chiggers, noseeums, gnats, ticks
   * Lavender - Ticks, Chiggers, ants
   * Spearmint and Peppermint - Ants, roaches, chiggers, fleas, gnats, and spiders
   * Catnip - Highly touted as being MORE effective than DEET and a good general natural insect repellent.

2. 

   For your body there are two methods you can use when preparing your insect repellent. The first I will cover, is an oil based method that is heavier than the other alternative, but also has a moisturizing effect. Regardless of the method you use, when making a solution for your body make sure it is no more than 20% essential oil to 80% base solution. The oil based solution mix is:
   * 2 oz. of a carrier oil (any of those listed in the "things you'll need" section
   * 1/4 teas. Catnip oil
   * 1/8 teas. Eucalyptus oil
   * 1/8 teas. Lavender oil
   This will make a good broad spectrum natural insect repellent. You can, however, use any of the essential oils listed in step one for your own combination. Spray the oil directly onto your skin, or your hands, and rub in well. It is not recommended that this be applied around the mouth or eyes.

3. 

   You can also make a misting spray insect repellent, which is much lighter in weight, and easier to apply. Use a standard size plastic spray bottle a make the following solution:
   * 2 cups Vodka or grain alcohol (do not use rubbing alcohol as this will dry out your skin)
   * 2 teas. Catnip oil
   * 1 teas. Eucalyptus oil
   * 1 teas. Lavender oil
   As in step two above, you can use any combination of essential oils listed, depending on your need and availability. Shake ingredients well and spray the solution on your body, being careful around your face. Keep the solution refrigerated when not in use.

4. 

   An additional step for pest and insect control around the home, is to take strips of cloth or paper and cover with the following solution.
   * 5 drops each of Lavender oil and Citronella oil, or
   * 5 drops each of Peppermint and Eucalyptus oil.
   Hang these strips near windows and doors where the mosquitoes and other insects enter your home. It is not necessary to dilute the oils, if you are not putting them on your skin.
   For ants, rub spearmint and cinnamon oil on the counters, and put cedar chips that have been soak in those oils at entry points on the floor in your home.

Tips & Warnings

• Natural insect repellents do not last as long as petrochemical repellents do so REAPPLY EVERY 1 TO 1/2 HOURS for best results.
• Apply carefully so you avoid staining your clothing
• Make sure that you use pure essential oils. They can be purchased from your local natural food store or online from many vendors.
• Do not use the alcohol spray if your are own medicine that makes you hypersensitive to alcohol, or is you are otherwise not supposed to ingest alcohol.

[missbeth]

on 6/3/2009 Excellent article on making a natural insect repellent! We don't have many mosquitoes around here for which I'm really grateful. But if/when we go camping or hiking they can be really annoying. 5*s and REC

[JanieWrites]

on 6/3/2009 great information - we don't have a lot of these kinds of bugs in Arizona -- but we do get ants so I will try the cedar chips with cinnamon oil. Thanks

[langleycornwell]

on 6/3/2009 I've got to try this; mosquitoes are huge in SC. Thanks for the suggestions.

[ladym33]

on 6/2/2009 This is really cool. I am going to give these recipes a try.

[PhiMcRee]

on 6/2/2009 Great information...always good to find natural ways to get some of that nature to leave you alone.