These bug repellent lotion bars are perfect for summertime. While moisturizing your skin with all-natural ingredients: you will also be keeping bugs at bay. Safe for all ages!
Last winter, I made some homemade lotion bars and absolutely loved them. In fact, I made such a large batch we still have a couple left. So while I was getting ready to whip up another batch, I thought, why not add in some bug repellent essential oils?
Instead of adding lavender essential oil, as I did before, I used oils like lemongrass, peppermint and cedarwood. Now when we rub these on, not only will we receive the moisturizing benefits, but we will be bug-free too!
After making these, I realized just how great of an insect repellent for babies and kids this was. I didn’t have to risk the bug spray getting in their eyes, and I can rub this directly on their faces.
If you prefer a spray, check out my bug and tick repellent HERE.
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WHY USE ESSENTIAL OILS TO REPEL BUGS?
Essential oils can be very effective in deterring bugs of all kinds. I have so many stories to prove it! Essential oils are very concentrated and give off a powerful scent. Bugs don’t like these scents and flee from them.
Once, we had ants in our house. We tried a few different tricks, and until I broke out my peppermint oil, they weren’t leaving.
I mixed 30 drops of peppermint essential oil with 8 ounces of water and sprayed the door frames, windows, and any area they were in. By golly, we were ant free the next day, and they stayed away!
Recently, we had a major gnat issue going on in our chicken coop. So bad, in fact, they killed several of our hens. Again, we tried everything! We even bought a bug spray online that was specifically for gnats. Guess what? It didn’t work!
I did some research and made a spray with vanilla extract, lemongrass essential oil, and peppermint essential oil. We sprayed the entire coop, and it worked! We joked, saying that we were going to start hanging out in the coop to get away from the gnats in our yard. It was the only gnat-free area on the whole property.
The best part about essential oils, other than the fact that they work, is that they are all-natural. I love that I can spray my house and my kids without worrying about the chemicals going into the air. With kids toddling around, I don’t want chemicals lurking in my home, on my walls, floors, or in the air.
WHAT ESSENTIAL OILS WORK BEST FOR BUG REPELLENT?
Several essential oils can be used for bug repellent, and certain ones work better for certain bugs. I like to add a little of everything to keep all the flying, crawling, and biting things away.
PEPPERMINT & EUCALYPTUS
Peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils are excellent natural bug repellents for aphids, squash bugs, whiteflies, ants, beetles, spiders, and fleas.
You will also find peppermint as the main ingredient in my mouse-repellent spray.
LEMONGRASS
Lemongrass can repel flying and crawling pests without harming plants, animals, or skin. This one is great for gnats.
ROSEMARY
A potent repellent for many types of insects, including flies, fleas, and mosquitoes.
Rosemary is also great for garden plants because it can deter insect larvae that can easily destroy entire crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and even some root veggies if left undisturbed.
CLOVE & THYME
Clove and thyme work well together for flying and biting insects: like chiggers, ticks, roaches, and flies.
CEDARWOOD
Cedarwood is excellent for repelling ticks. I always add cedarwood to my bug repellents because we have lots of woods near our house, and we visit my parent’s farm every weekend.
This oil is great for dogs too. We soak our dog collars in a cedarwood water mixture during spring and summer to keep ticks off of them. It helps so much!
TEA TREE
Tea tree is another great oil for repelling insects of all kinds; it is a natural mosquito control and the best mosquito killer, in my opinion. If you already have bug bites, tea tree would be a good essential oil to apply to the area. It has cleansing and purifying properties that will help soothe the skin.
Find your natural bug repellent essential oils HERE.
WHAT ABOUT CONVENTIONAL BUG SPRAY?
Conventional bug sprays are filled with toxins and chemicals. I prefer not to spray these on my skin or into the air I am breathing.
In hopes of deterring bugs, most people run to products that contain DEET. DEET has been used for many years, and research is now saying that it can have harmful side effects for the skin, brain, and cells.
HOW IMPORTANT IS BUG SPRAY?
If you are going to be outside during the warmer months, bugs are going to be a problem. You will most likely get bit by something at some point. Most bug bites won’t require any medical attention and will go away on their own.
However, they can be very annoying, itchy, and can cause swelling. In some cases, you could contract a disease or have an allergic reaction. Though these things aren’t extremely likely, it is always best to prevent them as much as possible.
I keep my homemade bug repellent lotion bars by the back door to rub on my kids before going out for the day. I keep my bug spray in my diaper bag to spray everyone’s legs and clothing when we are out and about.
If you do get bug bites, you can apply a blend of lavender, tea tree, and frankincense to the area of concern. Get the full roller bottle recipe HERE.
HOW TO MAKE BUG REPELLENT LOTION BARS
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup cocoa butter or shea butter (or you can use a combination of the two)
- 1 cup beeswax
- 30 drops of bug repellent essential oils (pick one or multiple oils from the list above)
- Silicone molds or metal tins
INSTRUCTIONS
- Melt all the ingredients, except the essential oils, in a double boiler. You can make your own double boiler by placing a glass bowl over a medium-size saucepan.
- Bring the water to a boil until the ingredients are melted.
- Once ingredients are melted, remove the bowl from the heat. Let mixture cool slightly, and then add in essential oils.
- Stir well until combined.
- Pour the mixture into silicone molds or metal tins.
- Allow the mixture to cool completely, and then pop the bars out of the molds.
- Store in an airtight container for up to one year.
HOW TO APPLY BUG REPELLENT LOTION BARS
Rub the lotion bar onto the skin where you want to use it. It is best to apply to any exposed skin. When you rub it on the warm skin, it will melt slightly, making it easy to apply. Massage into the skin.
A few more summertime DIYs
Sea Salt Spray for Wavy Beach Hair
PRINT THE RECIPE BUG REPELLENT LOTION BARS
Bug Repellent Lotion Bars
Equipment
- Double Boiler
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup cocoa butter or shea butter or use a combination of the two
- 1 cup beeswax
- 30 drops bug repellent essential oils pick from the list above
- Silicone molds
Instructions
- Melt all the ingredients, except the essential oils, in a double boiler. You can make your own double boiler by placing a glass bowl over a medium-size saucepan.
- Bring the water to a boil until the ingredients are melted. Once ingredients are melted, remove the bowl from the heat.
- Let mixture cool slightly, and then add in essential oils. Stir well until combined.
- Pour the mixture into silicone molds or metal tins.
- Allow the mixture to cool completely, and then pop the bars out of the molds.
- Store in an airtight container for up to one year.
Marieke says
Is this recipe safe for all ages? I have a 6 and 9 year old 🙂
Or do i have to make a different version for my 6 year old?
Shelly says
This was easy to make. I’m not sure about measuring the shea butter. Mine came in a big block and was difficult to cut, so I sat the measuring cup beside it and cut off a piece about the same size as the cup. I fear it was too much! The bar are very ‘greasy’ feeling and I leave ‘grease’ marks on everything. It also smells only of shea butter, despite the fact that I used more than 30 drops of essential oil. I may remelt them and add more oils. I have other bug repellant that uses essential oils, but I can really smell the oils, which is what keeps the bugs away. I still gave it 4 stars because the error may have been mine and this is a lovely idea. I keep mine in the refrigerator so it doesn’t melt and an added bonus of a cool lotion on hot days & nights.
Patty says
Hi, I LOVE reading all your recipes! I have a question about the bug repellent bar. How often do you need to reapply? I am also wondering if I rub it on the grands hair before jumping in the pool would it help with flies biting them or will it was right off. Thanks!
Laura says
Hi! Thanks, I would reapply fairly often depending on the type of activity you are doing. Applying before getting in the pool would probably just wash off.
Lynn says
do you sell these lotion bars for insect repellent so we could try one?
Laura says
Sorry, we don’t sell any physical products.
Liz says
Anything I can use to substitute beeswax?
Laura says
The lotion bars need beeswax to make them a “bar” it is really what firms it up.
NancyCB says
Hey You can substitute organic soy wax, for a vegan version! works great!
You may need little extra to firm it up.
Monoca says
What could I use in place of the coconut oil? Severe allergy to coconut so can’t use it
Kris Eastway says
Sweet Almond Oil works great. Grapeseed oil too but it has a short shelf life.
Karen says
To clarify, this is not a shower soap correct? Could it be used as a shower soap? Seems like a good way to cover your entire body.
Laura says
This is to be applied like lotion, and not washed off.
Tamara Bailey says
Hi I have a question I am in the process of making the bug rappelant lotion bars. Can I ask you what oils work best?
Laura says
I would take a look at the list provided and consider what type of bugs you are dealing with most often. But truly I would just use whichever one you have on hand.
Kris Eastway says
Soap is a wash off product so the scent that lingers, if any, won’t be enough to repel bugs.
Cindy says
It’s not soap, it’s a lotion bar.
Kathy says
Hi Laura, I’m thinking of taking a trip to Hawaii but am scared to death of the huge centipedes there, plus the flying roaches, and as with any travel, bedbugs. Any suggestions on oils to use as sprays to keep these creepies away?