Diy natural bug spray

Getting bit by bugs is no fun. They itch like crazy and can sometimes even be painful. Some bugs like ticks and mosquitos can spread diseases, so preventing bug bites is pretty important. Unfortunately most store bought bug sprays are full of harmful toxins like deet and fragrances. They pose as much risk as the bug bites they aim to prevent.

This is where a natural bug spray comes in handy. Before I dive into the recipe I do have to say that I absolutely love Earthley’s Pest Aside. It comes in a roll on applicator that is easy to apply and is mess free. It works extremely well, is more travel friendly and lasts longer than the natural bug spray that we make and use. But with 5 kids the spray is so much faster. If we’re going to the park for a couple hours we’ll use the spray. If we’re going hiking or going to be outside all day we will most likely use the Pest Aside.

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Diy

Without further ado I give you my natural bug spray recipe.

What you’ll need

12oz Glass spray bottle
Water
Fractionated coconut oil
Almond oil
Natural bar soap. We use this
Citronella, cedarwood, lavender, and tea tree essential oils. We get our oils here

Directions

Fill your spray bottle with 10oz of filtered water.
Add in 1 teaspoon of fractionated coconut oil and 1 teaspoon of almond oil.
Add in a pea sized shaving of your bar soap
Add 50 drops of citronella, 50 drops of cedarwood, 20 drops of lavender, and 20 drops of tea tree oil
Place the nozzle on the bottle and shake it up

Check out this dilution chart from Simply Earth. Since we have kids we usually do a 1-2% dilution. You can increase or decrease the dilution to suit your needs.

application

Apply the bug spray to exposed skin and clothes before going outside. Re apply every 2-3 hours as needed. We have a lot of ticks where we’re from so I spray heavily around the ankles, neck and wrists.

Also be sure to check that these or any other oils used are safe for you and your situation. Learn more about essential oil safety here.