Homemade Bug Spray
Love being outdoors but hate getting bit by bugs? Here’s a non-toxic, natural homemade alternative to those harmful store-bought bug repellents. The bonus is this DIY version works as well as those containing DEET and you can make it in less than 5 minutes.
Yield: 4 oz. bug spray
Materials
- 15 drops lemon eucalyptus oil
- 10 drops Nature Shield blend or Kid Safe “Shield Me” blend if using on kids under 10 years
- 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
- 2 ounces organic witch hazel
- 2 ounces organic neem oil or fractionated coconut oil
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a small spray bottle.
- Shake bottle well before each application (and a few extra shakes between applications if spraying more than one person).
- Apply to exposed skin as well as clothes, shoes, hats and backpacks. Be careful to avoid contact with eyes.
Notes
- When packing this bug spray for a hike, toss it in your bag in a sealed zip-top bag to avoid leaks/spills.
- If you won't be hiking with this spray, these glass spray bottles are recommended.
- I always prefer glass when using essential oils, but because our kiddos pack their own bug spray in their hiking backpacks, we use these plastic spray bottles to avoid broken glass.
- When spraying the face, we recommend spraying a little onto your hands and rubbing it onto your face to avoid accidental spraying in the eyes.
- Our family chooses to use Plant Therapy for their high quality, pure, therapeutic grade essential oils offered at affordable prices. For $10 off your first order, click through any of our Plant Therapy links and sign up for their newsletter. They'll gift you $10 off of your first purchase. Plus shipping is always free, no matter how small or large your purchase.