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.
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
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
- Add all the ingredients to a 4-ounce glass spray bottle. Top off with water, secure nozzle and shake well.
- 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
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
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
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
- Witch Hazel (I use this kind.)
- Apple Cider Vinegar (I use this kind.)
- Eucalyptus essential oil
- Cedarwood essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Citronella essential oil
- Lemongrass essential oil
- Peppermint essential oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- Use a funnel to add 1/4 cup each of witch hazel and apple cider vinegar to a 16 oz glass spray bottle.
- Add 4 drops of each essential oil.
- Top off with distilled water.
- Secure lid, shake well, and it’s ready for use!
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.
- Murphys Naturals with lemon eucalyptus
- Buggins natural insect repellent
- Herbal Armor bug repellent for kids
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.
- How to naturally get rid of ants
- Homemade bed bug spray
- How to get rid of mice
- Homemade natural fly spray
Bug and Tick Spray
Equipment
- 8 oz glass spray bottle
Ingredients
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!
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?
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.
Monika says
Please suggest a roller bottle recipe to avoid those mosquitoes to bite you in night time in summertime.
Laura says
You can use the essential oils in this recipe to make a roller bottle. I would do 15 drop of oils in a 10 mL roller bottle and top it off with a carrier oil .
Evi says
Hi Again..love your blog and youtube channel. May I know how long is he shelf life of this Bug Repellent,? Why mine is changing its smell?
Laura says
It will last for several months in an airtight container.
Evi says
Hi…is Apple Vinegar safe for skin? Can we put on face? How much should put in a 100ml bottle? Thanks for answering.
Laura says
I do not spray this on my face, I have a DIY bug repellent lotion bar that I use for my face. The recipe is on the blog!
Evi says
Thanks
Celine says
Can I use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar?
Laura says
Yes!
wilhelmina says
This is a great solution! Thanks for posting this!
Johanna says
Hi Laura!
In you’re recipe for bugs and ticks, the ingredients just include apple Cider vinegar as well as essential oils, but in the instructions, you mention 1/4 cup of witch hazel. So I’m not so sure how to make it. Could you clarify it please. Thank you!
Laura says
Yes, it is 1/4 cup witch hazel, essential oils, and then I top it off with apple cider vinegar. I just fixed the recipe card, thanks for letting me know!
Beth says
These are amazing ideas! We live around woods and this will come in handy! Thank you!
Laura says
You’re welcome!
Lauren k says
Thank you so much for this. I’ll be using this all summer long!
Laura says
Of course!
Kathleen says
What is the shelf life once you make this? 1 year?
Laura says
Correct!
Kim says
Do you think this would be safe for cats??
Laura says
Cats can be sensitive to essential oils, especially tea tree. I do use it on my dogs and chickens with no problems.
Lacy says
Thanks Laura! I can’t wait to try this. The bugs, mosquitoes and ticks are really bad for us this year. I don’t think it got cold enough in middle Georgia this past winter to help with the bug population. I also have a 9 month old I would like to use this on. Any recommendations for using something like this on a baby/toddler?
Laura says
I use it on my kids, but dilute it further. Use half the amount of oils!
Lacy says
Perfect! Thank you!!
Evi says
Hi Laura, I love your blog/post. You use apple vinegar here. Is it safe for skin? Safe for kids? Knowing there is Apple Vinegar in it?
I live in tropical country so bugs and especially mosquitos are everywhere. I need this blend to work for me too. Thanks for your respond.
Laura says
Thank you so much! I use it on myself and my kids. 🙂
Robert says
Is it absolutely necessary to use all listed essential oils?
Laura says
I have found this combo to work, but there are several more that can help for bugs too!
Abbey says
Did you use a 2oz or 4oz bottle?
Laura says
This is for a 2-ounce bottle.
Abbey says
Thank you!!!
Trina says
Hi! First of all, I love watching all your stuff! My son is allergic to mosquito bites & yes we live in the hot, humid south where mosquitoes get bad 😬 I’m really wanting to try your recipe, but wanting to clarify the bottle size after also reading the comments please? The actual posted recipe says 16oz spray bottle but I saw in comments it says 4onces. Just want to make sure I’m ordering the correct size spray bottles prior please?
Thank you
Trina
Laura says
I use 4 ounce spray bottles.
Mar says
In your video you said this was for a 4 oz bottle, I want to try this recipe but I want to be sure that I’m using the proper ratio of vinegar/witch hazel with essential oils. Can you please clarify if it’s actually a 2oz or 4oz bottle?
Laura says
It is for a 4-ounce bottle.
j_boots says
Love your blog! Question though, because it’s all natural is it safe to use on pets?
lauraascher says
Thank you so much! I personally did use it on my dogs last summer. I have a whole post about essential oils for dog. You can read more about it here: https://ouroilyhouse.com/are-essential-oils-safe-for-pets/