Easy DIY Homemade Bug Spray

Heather Dessinger

This post contains affiliate links.
Click here to read my affiliate policy.
homemade bug spray

Jack Frost skipped us this winter, and you can guess what that means. Yep, instead of dying off in a deep freeze, the bugs from last season are out in full force.

That’s why I’m making up a batch of this easy homemade bug spray, which has worked really well for my family over the years. We use it any time we head to a neighborhood BBQ, summer concert, hiking trail, or even just our own backyard.

In this article I’ll cover which oils can be used – you probably already have a few of them on hand – plus safety information and what to buy if you don’t want to DIY.

So, which essential oils repel ticks, mosquitos, gnats and other bugs?

There are a lot of essential oils that have insect repelling properties, and many of them have additional therapeutic benefits as well. Here are my top nine based on personal experience and available research.

Also, if you’d rather invest in just one bottle instead of several different essential oils, you can use a pre-made blend such as the  Shield Me (safe for everyone including kids) or Nature Shield

1. Catnip Essential Oil

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) has long been brewed as an herbal tea to support digestion, relaxation and  restful sleep. However it’s impact on other animals is different. When cats eat it they tend to become relaxed as well, but when they smell it it usually has the opposite effect. 

So what kind of effect does it have on bugs? According to Science Daily

Researchers report that nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip that gives the plant its characteristic odor, is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET — the compound used in most commercial insect repellents.” 

Unfortunately it smells kinda, well, not great, so don’t plan on using this one alone.

Other uses for catnip: Along with diatomaceous earth and a few other ingredients, it makes a great natural flea and tick powder for dogs.

2. Cedarwood Essential Oil

Chests made from cedarwood have been used for generations to store clothing while repelling insects such as moths. 

Calming, skin soothing and absolutely delightful in this Wild Vanilla No. 2 Solid Perfume Recipecedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) is also often used to repel mosquitos.

Other uses for cedarwood: It’s a lovely addition to both homemade arnica cream and homemade body wash

3. Citronella Essential Oil

If you search on the EPA’s guide to insect repellents, you’ll find that when you specifically search for repellents for ticks it lists three oils as active ingredients that can be selected. 

Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) is one, and catnip (listed above) and lemon eucalyptus (listed below) are the others. 

Other uses for citronella: Outdoor citronella candles

4. Geranium Essential Oil

In this studygeranium(Pelargonium graveolens) was found to repel lone star tick nymphs. 

Other uses for geranium: It supports skin repair and renewal, elasticity and firmness, and even skin tone, which is why I use it in my hydrating skin serum recipe.

5. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia)- Calming, helpful for soothing bug bites, sunburns, and other skin irritations. In a study on hairless mice, lavender was effective at repelling adult mosquitos. Although I don’t typically use it in my DIY bug spray, if you already have it at home it can be used as a substitute for tea tree or patchouli essential oil.

Other uses for lavender: I always keep a large bottle on hand for making all-purpose cleaner with lemon and lavenderdiaper rash creamhomemade air freshenermagnesium body butter, and tallow skin balm

6. Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil

According to the American College of Healthcare Sciences

“In a 2010 study,[7] three species of eucalyptus (E. staigeriana, E. citriodora, and E. globulus) were tested for use with the blood-sucking sandfly, lutzomyia Lutzomyia longipalpis. Researchers found the eucalyptus essential oils were more effective against L. longipalpis than other natural products.” (source)

The E. citriodora variety can be found here.

Other uses for lemon eucalyptus: Makes a great addition to homemade granite cleaner.

7. Patchouli Essential Oil

According to this study, constituents found in patchouli essential oil(Pogostemon cablin) repelled several different types of mosquitos. 

Other uses for patchouli: It makes a great addition to men’s personal care products, like this homemade deodorant.

8. Tea Tree Essential Oil

 In one study, researchers looked at whether tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a viable alternative to synthetic repellents for mosquito protection. They found that it did have mosquito-repelling properties, but did not last as long as the synthetic stuff. They concluded that tea tree may have “potential as a short-period repellent or under conditions of low mosquito abundance.”

Other uses for tea tree: I love it in this face wash recipe

9. Vetiver Essential Oil

According to the American College of Healthcare Sciences: 

In Java, Indonesia, sustainable vetiver essential oil production has produced a viable vetiver craft industry with items such as aromatic mats, baskets, candles, and soaps—all being produced from the spent root. The added benefit is vetiver acts as a natural mosquito deterrent in the house. Diffusing a few drops of this oil will help repel the mosquitoes and also create a spicy, Balinese ambience for summer.” 

You can find vetiver (Vetiver zizanoides) here.

Other uses for vetiver:  Relaxing and emotionally grounding, it’s wonderful in essential oil diffuser blends and this DIY beard oil.

What Else You’ll Need

In addition to essential oils, you’ll need a high proof vodka to help solubilize (disperse) the essential oils evenly throughout the liquid, plus either distilled water or fractionated coconut oil to dilute it.

Here are the pros and cons of each: 

  • Water – Dries very clean but reduces shelf life to only a few weeks. May be drying on skin if applied to often.
  • Fractionated Coconut Oil – Longest lasting spray with just a tiny smidge of moisturizing properties that help counteract the drying effect of the alcohol. If sprayed in huge quantities it may leave a little oil residue on clothes.
Print Pin
4.67 from 3 votes

DIY Homemade Bug Spray Recipe

This easy homemade bug spray has worked really well for my family over the years. All you need are a few ingredients, and you probably already have some of them on hand.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Resting time 1 hour
Servings 1 4 ounce spray bottle
Calories
Author Heather Dessinger

Equipment

  • 4 ounce glass spray bottle

Ingredients

  • 6 tbsp Everclear or other high proof alcohol (151 or 190 proof)
  • 2 tbsp fractionated coconut oil
  • 60-70 drops essential oil (see notes section for suggested combinations)

Instructions

To Make

  • Start by adding the Everclear and essential oils to your glass spray bottle (or bottle made with PET plastic). Put the nozzle on and give the bottle a shake, then allow the mixture to sit for one hour so that the essential oils can fully solubilize (disperse). 
  • Next, add the distilled water or fractionated coconut oil and shake to combine. 

To Use

  • Shake well, then spray onto your body/clothing. Don't spray directly on the face and neck – instead, spray some liquid into your palm and apply with your fingertips. Reapply as often as needed.  If you're using the formula with fractionated coconut oil, be aware that it may stain clothing.

Special Notes for Kids Under Two

  • Even when using child-friendly oils, I recommend avoiding topical application for children under two. Instead, when my babies were over six months old but under two, I sprayed their clothes rather than their skin. For babies under six months old, netting, fans and clothing should be used to keep bugs off baby's skin.

Notes

Here are some essential oil combinations to consider: 
Pre-Made Blends
60-70 drops total of Shield Me (which was specially formulated for children ages 2-10, but also good for adults) or Nature Shield
Citronella Blend
Patchouli Blend
Shelf Life: If you included water in your formula, use within a few weeks. If you included fractionated coconut oil in your formula, use within a few months.

What To Buy If You Don’t Want To Make Your Own

DEET-free Wondercide Bug Repellent is the best option I’ve found. I personally would opt for the cedar formula (or lemongrass for kids over two) instead of the ones with peppermint or rosemary oil. Although many kids won’t have a reaction to peppermint or eucalyptus, for some it can cause breathing issues so I don’t use it with kids under six. 

You can read more about special considerations with peppermint/rosemary oil and children here

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to the most common questions I’ve received since first posting about DIY bug spray years ago. 

Are these recipes safe for kids?

YES. Although there are other essential oils that are helpful for repelling insects, I decided to keep things simple and only include options that are considered safe for the whole family.

Special Note Regarding Kids Under Two: Even when using child-friendly oils, I recommend avoiding topical application for children under two. Instead, when my babies were over six months old but under two, I sprayed their clothes rather than their skin. For babies under six months old, netting, fans and clothing should be used to keep bugs off baby’s skin. 

What about pregnant and nursing moms?

Yes, these recipes are safe to use during pregnancy and nursing. However, many experts urge women to be cautious about application during the first trimester. If it were me, I’d probably opt to just spray my clothes during that period.

Special note on dilution ratios: For general use, a topical dilution of 1% is usually recommended during pregnancy – the typical dilution suggested for adults is 2.5%. However, there are instances when a higher dilution ratio is considered appropriate, such as to repel bugs. 

The recipes above are just under 3%. If I were pregnant/nursing and using these everyday I would probably either dilute them more or just spray them on my clothes. However, if I was just using them occasionally I would go with the recipe as it is.

Can I use witch hazel, apple cider vinegar or regular vodka instead of Everclear?

While you’ll find a lot of DIY recipes that use these ingredients, experts in the fields of essential oil formulation have recently published information which states that they are not effective at evenly dispersing essential oils and should not be used. For more information, check out this article: Effective Use of Alcohol for Aromatic Blending

Does This Spray Kill Ants?

While it might, if you’re trying to get rid of ants in the kitchen or just outside the house, check out this article on how to get rid of ants naturally.

Any tip for soothing bug bites I already have?

This bug bite balm soothes mosquito bites, ant bites, and more. 

Do you have recipe for ticks specifically?

Yes, you can check out my tick spray recipe here.

homemade bug spray recipe

Want a FREE ebook of non-toxic cleaning recipes that WORK?

I’ve created a free ebook for you as a gift for signing up for my newsletter. 7 Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes That Really Work covers seven recipes that you can make in just a few minutes each for squeaky clean windows, sparkling dinnerware, lemon-fresh countertops, and more. Subscribe to my newsletter below and you’ll be redirected to a download page for immediate access to this PDF ebook.

Related Posts

About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world. 

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




117 thoughts on “Easy DIY Homemade Bug Spray”

    • dear miss hippo, I made some wonderful home made bug spray last year but have lost it.I remember it had lavander oil or tangerine oil and eucalyptus oil and witch hazel oil. It worked great on my mother is who is allergic to everything as well as the children in the area. Please help me find another one like this. Mom is really in great need from these terrible little black flies in the garden. Thank You very much, from a grandma hippo.

      Reply
    • Hello Heather
      Just read your recipe to make a Bug / Mosquito Spray.. was hoping if you can help me with two of my questions

      1) can this be used in our skin directly?
      2) how can we make a bigger batch say a few liters instead of just 100ml? How do I calculate drops to ml that might be needed in making a larger batch?

      Thanks

      Reply
  1. Awww shucks, Nicole Rice! Honestly, though, the credit goes to my cousin Jen. I never research personal products anymore . . . I just ask her!

    Reply
  2. Thanks! Do you have a recommendation for a non-toxic bug repellent for indoors? I would like to help the spiders and ants not want to come inside..

    Reply
    • I don’t know about spiders, but we have HORRIBLE ants! I’ve found they don’t like clove, peppermint, cinnamon essential oils. I just drip oil of choice on a qtip and run it along where they’ve been coming in and over their trails. It only works for a couple days though. They also don’t like stepping across chalk and I’ve heard diomaceous earth also works well.

      Reply
      • To keep spiders and ants out, also small rodents, use Wormwood. It doesn’t smell bad to me but this is what I use at our cottage, on a shallow lake, infested with crawly things. Wormwood is one of the herbs used in the “rushes” on castle hall floors to keep bugs down.

        Reply
        • Hello Nice Lady!

          Wormwood? Rushes on castle floors?
          You are my kinda lady!
          History trivia and all!
          😆
          Merry Meet good lady!

          Reply
  3. LOL- isn’t the internet a wonderful thing though? So much info at your fingertips! I’m making “hairspray” today! Who would have thought that was even possible???? If I like it- I’ll post it 😀

    Reply
  4. Is it the peppermint oil that makes the last not good for use during pregnancy or the potency? Just wondering. 😉 I have peppermint oil, although I haven’t used it this pregnancy. 🙂

    Reply
      • This is anecdotal – but the tick spray my friend uses on her dairy goats is essential oils (wish I had not lost the recipe as it worked very well) is based in apple cider vinegar.

        Reply
      • IN THE PROCESS OF SEARCHING FOR HOMEMADE mosquito repellant. I found many proven researches that citronella does not repel mosquitos. And now I am finding many recipes that include it as actually mane ingredient. Very confused. Could you explain please.

        Reply
  5. Great information to know, but because you have catnip essential oil in one of your recipes, I felt it important to note that essential oils can very quickly become toxic to cats because they lack the enzymes to properly metabolise them.

    Reply
  6. We’ve used vodka as a base in our insect repellent instead of water. I always assumed that this would help it keep longer, but I’d definitely prefer the cheaper route of purified water! Do you know the shelf life of your recipes?

    Reply
  7. Mosquitos are always awful by our house and I’m afraid this year is going to be even worse, so we are going to build a bat house! It’s not exactly a bug repellant, but I’ve heard that it can really help control the population of bugs. *crosses fingers*

    Reply
    • We used to be covered in mosquitos in Georgia. Bats, ponds filled with frogs, make a habitat that birds like, keep gutters clean & remove any english ivy you may have. Mosquitoes love that stuff.

      Reply
    • Do you have a link of all the essential oils we have to avoid during pregnancy? Because I was not aware that peppermint oil was off limits!

      Reply
  8. That’s awesome! THANK YOU!!! I was cringing thinking of having to put bug spray on my kids this summer. I wonder if it repels ticks, they are supposed to be real bad this year.

    Reply
  9. I was just reading that ticks hate Lavendar oil, eucalyptus oil and Rose geranium essential oil if anyone wants to add on.

    Reply
  10. Perfect timing! Goodbye bug bites. 🙂 Just curious..do you have any suggestions for non-toxic weed killer? Our weeds are almost as out of control as the mesquitoes since the grass never died this last “winter”.

    Reply
    • Great article. I’ve been looking for a recipe for a natural bug repellant. We were almost eaten alive the year before last when we went camping. I too was wondering if recipe #1 would be safe for dogs. My poor little chihuahua had a miserable time with the mosquitoes.

      To Bethany: From what I have read, one of the best natural and kid/pet safe weed killers is white vinegar. I’m excited to try it in our front yard this year. It was over run with weeds last summer, so I can’t wait to see if it works.

      Reply
    • Non-toxic weed killer- Try white vinegar and spray or pour onto the weeds. This will kill other plants too so be careful.

      Reply
  11. Thanks, great article… I wonder, does it work against ticks, too? and what essential oil would work the best against ticks?

    Reply
  12. hi
    i use purified water with a few drops of each of the following- some of which are specifically for repelling ticks…as well as other bugs…lavender- neem- rose geranium- tea tree and peppermint..it stinks but it seems to work…lol….i also learned another trick last year for repelling ticks around the yard…hang old stockings stuffed with a bar of irish spring ( or knock off of same) around play and recreational areas as well as around the perimeter of your property from tree branches…ticks ( and some other bugs) hate the smell….i don’t blame them 😉

    Reply
  13. are essential oils safe for babies, or what is age appropriate for the use of essential oils? i am having a tough time figuring this out with out help. is there a list i can refer to some where?

    Reply
  14. Hi Heather,
    I was wondering, if catnip is the anti mosquito oil why not use only this oil? It would definitely be cheaper that way. What role do the other oils play?
    Thank you.

    Reply
  15. Peppermint is used with caution for nursing moms because it is thought to decrease milk supply., but clinically I haven’t really seen this to be true. Personally, I drank tons of catnip tea after my second was born. It helped to keep be emotionally grounded post partum (read: not yell at my husband), and my baby was a perfect angel with no health issue. My point is that warning labels for herbs are usually extremely conservative, especially when the application is topical. They shouldn’t be ignored, but If I were pregnant or nursing and in a swarm of mozzies, I wouldn’t hesitate to dump a bottle of the first recipe all over myself – but that’s just me. 😉

    Reply
  16. i just made a recipe very similar to #1 except the recipe i had also included witch hazel, i’m going to have to remember catnip for the next batch!
    question: why are some of the essential oils listed not safe for nursing mothers?

    Reply
  17. Katrina Vinsonhaler – Some may have side effects that are not good for pregnancy/nursing. However, I think this comment from Emily at Holistic Kid is a pretty balanced way to look at essential oil safety:

    “Peppermint is used with caution for nursing moms because it is thought to decrease milk supply., but clinically I haven’t really seen this to be true. Personally, I drank tons of catnip tea after my second was born. It helped to keep be emotionally grounded post partum (read: not yell at my husband), and my baby was a perfect angel with no health issue. My point is that warning labels for herbs are usually extremely conservative, especially when the application is topical. They shouldn’t be ignored, but If I were pregnant or nursing and in a swarm of mozzies, I wouldn’t hesitate to dump a bottle of the first recipe all over myself – but that’s just me.”

    Reply
  18. thank you! i am nursing and i dont want to use anything that could be harmful.. i wouldn’t be using it often, but i would think that these natural recipes would be a considerably less harmful vs commercial spray that contain DEET and other chemicals? however, that is just an assumption..

    Reply
  19. I’m with Emily, Katrina Vinsonhaler. Given the choice I would definitely go for essential oils over DEET even though I’m nursing.

    Reply
  20. I’m with Emily, Katrina Vinsonhaler. Given the choice I would definitely go for essential oils over DEET even though I’m nursing.

    Reply
  21. Are these okay for younger children? DD is 10 months and DS is 3 years and I would like to try the second recipe (still nursing).

    Reply
  22. Are these okay for younger children? DD is 10 months and DS is 3 years and I would like to try the second recipe (still nursing).

    Reply
  23. Thank you!! I’m camping tomorrow and I’m pregnant and have been searching for a good bug repellent! Perfect timing 🙂

    Reply
  24. Literally thought this morning “I should check Mommypotamus for a home made bug repellant… she’s bound to have a good recipe.” Thanks!

    Reply
  25. Stephanie Craig Weilnau – Yes I believe they are 😉 I’m not an expert, but based on what I’ve read I feel comfortable putting these formulas on my littles.

    Reply
  26. I drink a tsp or so of apple cider vinegar every morning and I don’t get beg bites anymore. It has worked for two summers so far. I just put the vinegar in my water and sip on it all morning.

    Reply
  27. thanks for the information..
    I was wondering if there is anything to keep the wasps and hornets away from our property. Those things are everywhere.

    Reply
  28. I stocked up on my essential oils and cannot wait to test out this recipe for my trip to the U.P, Michigan! I have terrible reactions to mosquito bites and can’t stand the smell of DEET, so really happy to stumble on this recipe! Also, do you have any for repelling ants indoors? my little Chihuahua is very curious and therefore I don’t want to put any toxic ant traps around…but I am in need of something because this beautiful warm weather brings the ants inside!

    Reply
  29. How does the first recipe smell? It seems like an interesting combination. I hate the smell of store bought bug spray!

    Reply
    • Hi Christina! I wish I knew, but I had to google midge just to try to get up to speed! No helpful info out there unfortunately, but if you try it I’d love to know how it works for you 🙂

      Reply
      • Thanks anyway. My daughter is getting eaten up at our new house. They go through the screens! Just can’t bring myself to invest 100$ in essential oils. But I have to come up with something.

        Reply
  30. my daughter’s house is run over with fleas and her 6 yr. old daughter gets dozens and dozens of bites all over her every time she goes home for the weekend; she stays with me during the week while her mom is at work. she and her 4 yr. daughter get very few bites. do any of you know if these recipes will keep the fleas off while we are trying to get rid of them? also, any non-toxic ideas on how to kill flea infestations. we’ve done the lamp, shining on a white bowl of soapy water sitting on the floor. this works well she may just not be doing it enough, also, vacuuming everyday helps lots, but not enough. thanks!

    Reply
    • We had a terrible time with fleas once. What finally worked was sprinkling Borax and vacuuming! I remember lifting all of the mattresses and furniture to make sure I got EVERY ONE of the fleas and eggs. Can’t remember if I had to do once or twice but that was the end of the ankle-biting!

      Reply
  31. Wonderful recipes! Is lemon oil ok to use on a child with eczema? My daughter has reactions to citrus and I was wondering if it would give her the same type of reaction.

    Reply
    • I haven’t researched the effect of lemon on oil eczema in general, but if my child had known issues with citrus I would personally avoid it.

      Reply
  32. I invented a formula with a botanical chemist for Dogs AND it works for humans too! Check it out at http://WWW.ruffmart.com There is no water and no alcohol. It contains 11 essential oils and they make up 30% of the formula. The carrier oil is fruit based and also has insect repellant properties.

    Reply
    • The vodka helps the essential oils retain their potency longer. I most often use organic Plant Therapy oils, but I haven’t compared prices lately.

      Reply
  33. Have you had stinging with recipe #2 when you spray it on your legs? My sister and I tried it on our legs and my nephew’s and it sting for us all. It was fine when we sprayed it on our arms.

    Reply
    • Hi Hannah! I haven’t, but I do know that lemon oil can sting when applied at higher concentrations. If it were me I’d dilute the solution a bit and see how that works.

      Reply
  34. I don’t understand where the water comes in. Do you mix the oils with the vinegar (or vodka or witch hazel) AND water? I re-read the recipe but don’t see mention of mixing it with water but I noticed a few people mentioned that in the comments. Can you mix with water instead of the acv or witch hazel? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Hi Nicole! Originally this recipe called for water instead of witch hazel, etc. However, I found that the potency of the essential oils was preserved better with a different medium so I changed it. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  35. I was looking at the list of essential oils that are considered safe for children, but only the lemon oil was on the list, lol. I have a 2.5 year old…he is super allergic to mosquitoes (he gets a rash called papular urticaria). I was using California Baby Bug Repellent, which wasn’t doing the job. I would like to try the Recipe #1, do you think it’s safe enough for kids? He doesn’t have any other allergies, that I know of, anyways. Should I dilute it a little?
    Which brings me to the second question: how do I dilute it? Just add less drops of oils to the same 8oz of witch hazel? Or do you mix it with water?

    Thanks!!!

    Reply
    • Hi Stephanie! I use recipe on my kids, who are almost 3 and 5. I spray it mostly on their clothes so don’t worry about diluting. Regarding the safety of each oil, all I can say is that **I** am comfortable using it. I am not an essential oil expert, and unfortunately even they don’t agree on which oils/dilutions are safe/ideal 🙂

      Reply
  36. Does this help against ticks as well? I have friends in upstate NY dealing with a tick infestation. Many have family members and friend dealing with Lyme disease or the new disease the ticks seem to be carrying in that area. They are using deet because they feel like they have no other choice.

    Reply
    • We recently got a good air purifier for the bedroom (about $100 on amazon) and it has made a HUGE difference in improving my allergies!

      Reply
  37. Hi Heather! Just whipped up a batch, and just in time for West Nile season. You mentioned that depending on the child’s age, some oils need to be diluted. Do you know offhand if the concentrations in your recipe are suitable for a 21-month old? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Lea, that’s something I’m currently looking into now that more info is available. I’ll update this post regarding what I learn.

      Reply
  38. Hi Mommypotamus! Thank you for these recipes. I have a 7 month old and I have been thinking of ways to protect her from bugs when we take her out to the park or beach this summer. I saw somewhere in the internets that cutting a lime in half and sticking a bunch of cloves in it will help ward off mosquitoes but then I came across your recipes, which sound more promising. I have a few questions:
    I’m assuming recipe#1 is the strongest since it uses five different essential oils. Is is possible to make this recipe cutting out 2-3 of the oils (for economic reasons) but still get an effective repellant?
    You mention that you spray the clothes, not your skin directly- do you spray clothes before putting them on? Does one application last all day or does it have to be reapplied?

    Reply
  39. The water based patchouli recipe starts with 4 oz of apple cider vinegar, witch hazel or vodka but the water amount isn’t listed. The other ones look like 2 oz of one of the first liquids and 2 oz water. Is it the same for this one?? Thanks!

    Reply
  40. Hi,
    My horse has always had a really hard time with the bugs so I was thinking of using one or two of these bug sprays for him.
    As he is rather larger than me and would use of the supply of bug spray faster, I would prefer not to be buying a lot of essential oils that are pretty expensive. Is there another option that might be less expensive to use for him?

    Thanks!

    K

    Reply
  41. Question 2, your link to the mountain rose for the Eucalyptus (which I was hoping might give me the latin name for the specific type) no longer works. I’m based in the UK and have found a site that sells lots of oils but it gave me so many varieties for Eucalyptus that I’m baffled as to which one is right!
    Plz HELP!!!!

    Reply
  42. Plant Therapy’s catnip oil is labeled as kid safe. Has the safety of catnip changed since you posted this or should we still avoid using it? And if it is safe for kids, does that mean it’s safe for nursing, as well?

    Reply
    • Hi Alicia! I’m so glad you brought this to my attention. I wrote this post a few years ago, and the information on catnip was conflicting so I erred on the side of caution. Since then, though, I’ve picked up a copy of Robert Tisserand’s book, Essential Oil Safety, which took 10+ years to research/write and contains over 4000 citations. According to him there are no contraindications for use with children. I’m updating the post now.

      Reply
  43. Hi Heather! I’ll be making essential oil bug spray for our family to survive the 4th of July…I’m using the recipe that includes E.O. and vodka…do you recommend 1 drop of oil to help dispurse the oil in the vodka or is that only a prob with water? Thanks! Have a great 4th!

    Reply
  44. Hi, I am about to make water-based buy spray for my son, 1 yr old. Could you please recommend which carrier I should use; witch hazel, apple cider vinegar or vodka? What are the differences between each of these? Which one is mildest to babies’ skins. Thank you very much.
    Jinny

    Reply
  45. I was in Terrace BC for 10 days working in the bush and my wife made me a homemade bug spray utilizing Citronella and Cedarwood Essential Oil that I used every morning and evening to keep the bugs out of the tent. If anyone knows where Terrace BC is youll know how aggressive the bugs are in that part of the world. Not only did it keep all of the bugs out of my tent but it also made the tent smell amazing (much better than stinky me after 14 hrs of grunt work)

    Very impressed with the power of essential oils

    Reply
  46. Great recipe. I’ve not found vodka or alcohol to be effective in emulsifying essential oils. Apparently it needs to be at a higher alcohol content to work. Regardless I don’t like how it affects the scent of the mixture, as you can smell the alcohol and it overpowers the scent of the mixture. I hate apple cider vinegar, not to mention being allergic to vinegars. I don’t see why you need to add it when you have all those E.O.’s working for you. I use vegetable glycerin and water only in my recipe.

    I use cooled boiled water and about 1/8 to 1/4 tsp vegetable glycerin per 60ml bottle. I place my E.O’s in my spray bottle, add the glycerin, then my cooled boiled water and shake well. It has to be shaken well before spraying it on each and every time.

    I make a batch that’s a mosquito and tick repellant and it’s for the family and the dog, who is first priority since he’s lower on the ground and doesn’t wear clothing. I only spray the tail, lower legs, and tummy area, avoiding the neck, face, head, top and genital areas, and I spray it just as we are about to go outside.

    Reply
  47. I know this article is a few years old, but I read that oil of Lemon-Eucalyptus is not safe for babies under 2. Is that a more recent finding?

    Reply
  48. I see no mention of repelling wasps. I seem to get stung too often, and it defies odds. It’s gotten to the point that I stopped doing yard work myself and hired someone to mow. (I’d rather not spend that money on that and do it myself) I’ve tried various homemade bug formulas and I suspect that one or more ingredients may attract them, rather than repel them. Do you have any ideas? suggestions?

    Reply
  49. 5 stars
    This may have been answered in the comments already, but it is NOT lemon eucalyptus essential oil that repels bug …it is actually
    OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS, which is very different..
    I have not been able to find this particular ingredient, but it isn’t the E.O. lemon eucalyptus. THAT I DO know.
    While Lemon Eucalyptus E.O. MAY help repel bugs, the one in the study is actually the Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, a different product altogether.

    PS: I really don’t like patchouli!

    Reply
  50. There are those of us who cannot tolerate the smell of Tea Tree oil or Patchouli oil. Patchouli oil was used by those who love to smoke marijuana to help hide the smell. Others used it as a perfume and thought it was WONDERFUL! (NOT!) I love lavender and use it for many things even to get the scent of scented detergents out of cloth that has been given me.

    Reply