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Homemade bug repellents are easy to make at home, inexpensive and effective in keeping bugs away. Feel confident this summer by spraying down clothing and shoes with this natural bug and tick repellent.

Adding oils to homemade bug and tick repellent dropper bottle.
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This post was originally published in April 2018 and has been updated to include more helpful information and a revised recipe.

Summer is in the air, and I couldn’t be more excited! Winter was way too long for me this year!

I love everything about summer; swimming, barbecuing, boating, floating, camping, the beach, everything…except for the bugs!

We have all been there before. You are out on a hike or camping trip, and the next thing you know, there’s a tick crawling up your leg, or a swarm of mosquitoes finds you to be a suitable midday snack. Ugh.

That is one thing I seem to forget about every single year. It’s all fun except for the bugs!

And since we practically live outside in the summer, using a bug spray is a must.

There are a number of essential oils for bug spray that work really well at keeping ticks, mosquitoes, and other pesky insects away. So let’s get started, shall we?

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Essential oils for ticks | Repel ticks naturally

homemade natural tick repellent in spray bottle

I often get asked what I do about ticks, and for a family that loves the outdoors, keeping ticks off of us can be a constant struggle in the late spring and early summer, when the ticks are the worst.

Hands down, the best essential for repelling ticks is cedarwood. Have you ever noticed ticks are less prevalent in cedar thickets?

In a study done by the ARS, results revealed cedarwood to be an effective natural tick repellent.

This is why you will find cedarwood essential oil in this homemade bug spray. If ticks are a big problem in your area, you can even add an extra drop or two of cedarwood, which I usually do.

Cedarwood is not the only way to repel ticks naturally, though. Oregano (which is also great for plants), citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, and spearmint are all effective tick and insect deterrents.

How to make tick repellent

Ingredients

  • 6 drops cedarwood
  • 6 drops citronella
  • 1 tablespoon witch hazel
  • Distilled Water

Instructions

  1. Add all the ingredients to a 4-ounce glass spray bottle. Top off with water, secure nozzle and shake well.
  2. Mist the repellent over top of the clothes, especially around the ankles.

Ticks can carry a number of diseases, so it is important to reduce the chance of bites. In the event of a tick bite, remove it as soon as possible.

Mosquito repellent essential oils

pouring essential oils into glass dropper bottle for a diy bug repellent

While I’m sure mosquitoes play an important role in our ecosystem, they are certainly one of the most annoying summer pests.

Have you noticed some people get bit up worse than others? Well, you are not crazy; studies reveal mosquitoes prefer certain blood types.

So whether you find yourself particularly attractive to mosquitoes, know that mosquitoes hate the scent of peppermint, eucalyptus and lemongrass.

Use the bug repellent recipe below to keep those pesky insects away.

On that note, if you live in an area where mosquitoes like to breed, such as near lakes, streams, or swamplands, it can be difficult to stay 100% bite-free.

Try this roller bottle for itch relief or anti-itch bug balm to help with the inevitable itchiness.

Essential oils for gnats

homemade insect repellent in amber colored glass dropper bottle

The last and final tiny creature that gets an honorary mention is the gnat. Although not every area is prone to gnat problems, they are a huge nuisance in the midwest in the late spring.

While they have a relatively short season, gnats can sure stir up some troubles. Gnat bites look like little red dots and are very itchy.

But that’s not why gnats are on the list. Gnats can be a huge problem for young backyard chickens by entering the chicken’s nostrils and suffocating them.

Homemade Gnat Repellent

In a 16 oz glass spray bottle, add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and 10 drops each of citronella, peppermint, and lemongrass essential oil. Top off with water and shake well.

Each of the oils in this recipe will work just fine on its own if you don’t have all 3 of the essential oils. 

Mist over the top of your clothing to keep bugs off yourself.

Spray your chicken coop to discourage gnats from entering. However, take care not to get the spray on the chickens, especially around the head or eyes.

Homemade bug spray with witch hazel

bug repellent oil bottles on white marble

This homemade bug repellent only uses the necessary ingredients to fend off pesky bugs. Below are the ingredients I use and a little excerpt on why I use them.

Witch Hazel works as an emulsifier allowing the oils to distribute evenly throughout the spray.

Apple Cider Vinegar is one aroma that nearly every bug cannot stand. I have heard people making a spray bottle of ACV and water to mist on their dogs to keep ticks off.

Essential Oils are excellent natural bug repellents. Citronella (a widely known bug deterrent scent) along with eucalyptus and cedarwood will leave nearly all mosquitoes, ticks, gnats and crawly critters thinking twice about bothering you.

How to make a natural bug and tick spray

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.

This is a great all-around homemade bug spray. However, if you are trying to target a specific bug, see my recommendations above and simply use those oils recommended.

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Use a funnel to add 1/4 cup each of witch hazel and apple cider vinegar to a 16 oz glass spray bottle.
  2. Add 4 drops of each essential oil.
  3. Top off with distilled water.
  4. Secure lid, shake well, and it’s ready for use!
Homemade bug spray being made on white marble.

How to use your natural bug spray

Spray it on clothing, avoiding exposed skin, especially the eyes and mouth. I use my bug repellent lotion bars for the face and neck.

Store repellent indoors out of direct sunlight. I keep my bug spray by the back door, so it’s easy to apply before going outside.

Reapply every couple of hours or as needed.

Not ready to make your own yet?

Hey, if you are not ready/don’t have the time to make your own bug and insect spray, here are a few of the best natural bug sprays I have found to be effective and relatively inexpensive.

Homemade bug repellent

I hope you find this natural recipe effective. Be sure to let me know how it works for you in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you!

If you are looking for more great DIYs, be sure to check out my most recent pest control posts using common household ingredients.

4.29 from 38 votes

Bug and Tick Spray

Prep: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Yield: 5 ounces
Make your own natural bug and tick repellent to save money and go chemical-free.

Equipment

  • 8 oz glass spray bottle
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Instructions 

  • Use a small funnel to add witch hazel and apple cider vinegar to the bottle.
  • Add in 4 drops of each essential oil.
  • Top off with distilled water.
  • Secure lid, shake well, and it's ready for use!

Notes

Iโ€™ve included the complete step-by-step video tutorial here in the recipe card!
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This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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4.29 from 38 votes (37 ratings without comment)

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50 Comments

  1. Claire says:

    5 stars
    Hi ! I tried your bug spray with witch hazel this week – with a few swaps to match the EOs I have – and I think it has helped ! I still got a few bites but not many and interestingly there weren’t very itchy. Very pleased ! Thank you. I live in the tropics so a homemade efficient bug spray is *amazing* !

    1. Laura says:

      I’m so happy to hear that! Glad it helped.

  2. dia says:

    I’ve a question is there one particular essential oil that roach’s hate?

    I do plan to make your natural bug and tick spay. last year we had a bad
    case of ticks in the house.

    I am relatively new to “playing around” with essential oils. I may be way over 40 but I am willing to learn.

    thanks!

    1. Laura says:

      Hm, I do not have much experience with roaches, though I have heard they do not like minty scents or lavender

      1. Lynette Koon says:

        Try a mixture of borax powder and powdered sugar. Use one of those clear bottles with a tip like a ketchup bottle for application. squirt a bit of the dry mixture in areas where the roaches run. The powder will stick to the roaches as they walk through it. They will carry the powder back to their nest where it will get on other roaches. Roaches are notorious for grooming themselves, and so they will ingest the powder as they groom. The borax has a dehydrating effect on the roaches, the sugar is to attract the roaches to the powder. Make sure if you have pets, you keep their water bowls where the roaches can’t get to them for a drink. You don’t want them re-hydrating themselves. This simple mix worked quickly for me when we suddenly had a roach problem.

  3. Sue G. says:

    Can I substitute anything else for the witch hazel, I am allergic to it.
    Thanks!

    1. Laura says:

      You can just use just use the distilled water in place of the witch hazel!

  4. Louise says:

    Greetings from Italy! Thank you for your suggestions and recipes. Living in Tuscany, the main recipes Iโ€™ve used are this amazing bug repellent spray and your diffusers which I use these same bug repellent oils in.
    We have problems with horse flies between end July and mid September – urgh! This spray reduces bites but I canโ€™t work out how to repel them completely! Until then, it works for me and our dog when weโ€™re out and about on the trails! Thank you!

    1. Cheryl says:

      Iโ€™d be very interested in something to repel horseflies.

  5. Tooney says:

    What size bottle to use for the bug repellent recipe and how much apple cidar do you use to top off? I think I may have used too much apple cidar vinegar thinking the recipe calls for a 16 oz bottle.

    1. Laura says:

      I am using a 4-ounce bottle.

      1. Alexis Larabell says:

        The end of the blog and recipe says 16 oz spray bottle. But it looks like you’re using a 4 oz. bottle.

  6. Lorraine says:

    Hello Laura. How can I use the Gnat repellant on my body? Do I apply to face and body and do you have a recipe to rid fleas and ticks from cats?

    1. Laura says:

      I personally spray this on my kid’s clothes, shoes, hats, etc.

      I do have a bug repellent lotion bar for skin and face. I also have a post for flea and tick spray.