DIY Bug Spray Recipe

Looking for a natural DIY bug spray recipe that will not leave you soaked in toxic chemicals (…who needs that!??) AND actually works?

Here is where I would usually go into my spiel about individual ingredients in products that make them bad for us. I think that I can skip that with bug spray (BUT, if you want to know more I tackle toxic bug sprays in this post). We know it’s pretty darn nasty stuff, right? Okay…good.

Now that we have that out of the way, when it comes to bug spray for your body there are two ingredients that the big chemical corporations do not want you to know about. They just so happen to be essential oils (if you need a quick review about essential oils, check out this post).

So, let’s learn a bit more about these two specific essential oils.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil (also known as Melaleuca Oil) is a wonderful essential oil and has been studied quite a bit throughout history. Among other uses for humans, it has antimicrobial, antibiotic, andanti-inflammatoryproperties. Not only is it healthy and healing (in appropriate doses) for humans, it is toxic to many insects. Woo Who!¹² Not to mention, I think that it smells quite lovely. I use it in many things around my home, even in my handcrafted body sprays and lotions.

Geranium Oil

This essential oil has been shown over hundreds of years to be a strong wound healer. It also holds many of the same properties as Tea Tree Oil, but is also hailed for its ability to keep insects (especiallymosquitoes) away.⁴⁵⁶

How Do You Make It?

Easy! First, you’ll want to get your hands on a spray bottle (I used a small 3oz travel spray bottle for the following recipe).

Second, you’ll need to locate the following ingredients. Don’t be worried by prices. Essential oils go a loooooong way, so you’ll have plenty of batches you can make from this purchase.

I prefer to purchase the vast majority of my essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs, BUT I am NOT one who thinks ‘only this company ALWAYS’. I’m also quite fond of Plant Therapy (and they offer very affordable smaller sizes of EOs, which is nice to get started).

Combine ingredients in a 3oz bottle (glass is best, like these)…

30 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
10 drops of Geranium Essential Oil
1 T Vegetable Glycerin
Fill to (almost) the top with filtered H2O
Shake and apply as needed
See the additional add-ins listed below (which are included in my Pronounce Skincare Bug Spray)

Now, you will smell great, keep the mosquitoes and other buggers at bay, all while being healthy and non-toxic. Isn’t it great learning new health conscious ways to treat problems?

Oh, and before you ask…YES! There are other essential oils you can use to help stop bugs from biting you when you are outside. This just happens to be the recipe that I like to use (again…it smells great and I know that this formula works).

DIY Bug Spray Recipe Add-ins

***You can also add a little Neem Oil…I am in love with it. For this recipe 1 t will do.

***I also now suggest that you add a bit of homemade or organic (non-GMO, sustainably-sourced store bought) vanilla extract. It has been an amazing addition to our spray at home. Those crazy little flies (that seem to have been running rampant this year) can’t stand it. Again, for this recipe 1 t will work.

***I encourage you to do essential oil research here…they have a plethora of excellent information about essential oils on their website and I think that they are a great company.

If you would prefer to purchase this bug spray already made and shipped right to you, no problem!

Check out my Pronounce Skincare Shop to purchase this bug spray, Makeup, Body Butters, Body Lotions, Lip Lotions, and many other handcrafted Pronounce Skincare products.

Head on over and take a look!

Until next time…

xoxo,
Jess, aka Scratch Mommy