In the summer, we’re faced with the ever-growing population of insects. Each year there seem to be more and more different varieties of every species. Ticks, mosquitoes, flying insects, creepy crawlies, and bugs that eat through every plant in your yard.
Fight back against these pesky critters with your own, do-it-yourself blends of essential oils that repel insects. Whether you want a spray for your plants, a candle to repel insects while you’re enjoying your evenings outside, or a lotion to soothe and repel, one of these recipes will fill the need.
Of course, you can use your own special blend of essential oils for your specific requirements. But if you need some creative ideas and recipes for bug repellent, here are a few suggestions:
For mosquitoes, use a blend of two or more of the following: citronella, peppermint, lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, basil, thyme, lemongrass, geranium or clove.
For ticks, mix up a blend of geranium, juniper, rosewood, grapefruit or other citrus; thyme or oregano.
For fleas, try combining two or three from the following: geranium, rosewood, juniper, thyme, citrus, or oregano.
For flies and gnats, use a mixture of lavender, rosemary, spearmint or peppermint, patchouli, lemongrass or citronella.
As you can see, many of the same essential oils can be used to repel different insects, making it convenient to mix up a single batch.
Insect Repellent Lotion Recipe
- 8 drops each of tea tree essential oil, lavender essential oil, and lemongrass essential oil.
- 6 drops each citronella and eucalyptus or lavender essential oil
- 4 ounces of an unscented lotion
Mix essential oils together in a small bowl. Add the oils to the lotion. Put into a pretty container like a small glass jar. Allow the mixture to harden. To use, spread it on your skin before you go outdoors.
At-a-Glance Natural Essential Oil Bug Repellent Cheat Sheet
Ants:
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Garlic
- Orange
- Cedarwood
- Citronella
Aphids:
- Cedarwood
- Peppermint
- Hyssop
- Orange
- Spearmint
Beetles:
- Peppermint
- Garlic
- Orange
- Cedarwood
- Thyme
Chiggers:
- Lemongrass
- Cedarwood
- Sage
- Lavender
- Thyme
- Orange
Cutworms:
- Thyme
- Sage
- Orange
Fleas:
- Lemongrass
- Lavender
- Cedarwood
- Citronella
- Tansy
- Peppermint
- Orange
Flies:
- Lemongrass
- Lavender
- Cedarwood
- Citronella
- Tansy
- Peppermint
- Orange
Gnats:
- Patchouli
- Spearmint
- Cedarwood
- Citronella
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Orange
- Eucalyptus
- Rose Geranium
Head lice:
- Lavender
- Tea Tree
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- Pine
- Thyme
- Geranium
- Orange
- Cedarwood
- Rosemary
Mosquitoes:
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
- Citronella
- Orange
- Cedarwood
- Tansy
- Peppermint
- Rose Geranium
- Eucalyptus
- Blue Cypress
- Cinnamon
- Sage
- Lemon
- Clove
Moths:
- Cedarwood
- Hyssop
- Lavender
- Citronella
- Orange
- Peppermint
- Sage
Plant lice:
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Orange
- Cedarwood
Roaches:
- Cedarwood
- Eucalyptus
- Cinnamon
- Thyme
- Orange
Slugs:
- Cedarwood
- Hyssop
- Pine
- Garlic
- Orange
Snails:
- Cedarwood
- Pine
- Patchouli
- Garlic
- Orange
Spiders:
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- Lemon, Lime, Orange Or Other Citrus Oils
- Lavender
- Citronella
- Cedarwood
Ticks:
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
- Sage
- Thyme
- Orange
- Citronella
- Tea Tree
- Cedarwood
- Tansy
- Eucalyptus
- Geranium
- Sweet Myrrh
