Living in the woods of Vermont we rely on bug spray. At certain times of the year you can get eaten alive by the bugs when working outside. Even in the evening when my husband and I take our walk the bugs can be bad. Using essential oils you can make your own bug spray.
It is so easy to make your own bug spray. I have been making our own spay for years and I am so pleased with how well it works. It’s a nice feeling to know that this spray will be effective against the bugs while at the same time not harming your skin.
I have purchased essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs in the past, but recently I started using Young Living essential oils. With a few additions my basic spray has improved! Try making your own bug spray, it is so much better for you than commercial spray. There really is no reason to spray toxins on your skin.
Bug Spray
Ingredients:
My original recipe included the following ingredients:
Witch hazel
Lemongrass essential oil
Geranium essential oil
Citronella essential oil
Directions:
The directions were easy, insert a small funnel into your spray bottle and fill the bottle with witch hazel. Leave about one inch of headspace.
Then add approximately 25 drops of each of citronella essential oil and lemongrass essential oil, plus approximately 15 drops of geranium essential oil.
Remove the funnel and replace with the sprayer cap, shake the bottle and it is now ready to use!
New Bug Spray Recipe:
My new recipe is very similar, however I am now adding several additions including tea tree oil, lavender and peppermint.
Ingredients:
To a 2oz spray bottle add the following:
10 drops of citronella essential oil
10 drops of lemongrass essential oil
10 drops of tea tree essential oil
6 drops of geranium esssentialoil
5 drops of lavender essential oil
5 drops of peppermint essential oil
Directions:
Fill up the remainder of the bottle with a 50:50 mixture of alcohol free witch hazel and water. Shake and you are ready to go!
Do you make your own bug spray? What sort of ingredients do you use and are they effective?
Nancy on the Home Front 
This looks like a great alternative to the deet laden sprays…thanks for sharing!
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Nothing like being toxin free! 🙂
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Thanks for sharing your recipe!
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I am so pleased to find this article! I am so excited to try this. Thanks a lot for sharing the great article.
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Amanda,
I hope it works as well for you as it does for us!
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I prefer to make my own bug repellent when possible, too. Might I ask for clarification on what the PR stands for on your smaller bottles?
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Adrienne,
The PR stands for a special essential oil called Plague Rescue! It’s a mixture of other essential oils.
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Thank you! Is that available from YL?
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Adrienne,
Yes the essential oils I am using now are from Young Living.
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