Are you tired of paying for commercial mosquito repellent sprays and annoyed with their chemical smell and harmful effects on your soft skin? Even medically approved insect repellents can cause irritation, rashes and blistering when applied on skin.
Here are some natural ways to prepare your own mosquito repellent sprays. They’re easy, they’re cheap, they’re effective, and they’re much gentler on your skin!
9 Recipes for Homemade Mosquito Repellents that Work
1. Essential Oils Mosquito Spray
The essential oils of rosemary, clove, lavender, cinnamon and eucalyptus are all good choices for this recipe. They smell great, and they’re also great at repelling all kinds of bugs!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. distilled water
- 2 oz. witch hazel
- ½ teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- 30-40 drops essential oil
Directions:
- Fill a 4 oz glass spray bottle half-full with distilled or boiled water
- Add witch hazel almost to the top
- Add the vegetable glycerin
- Add your preferred mixture of essential oils
2. Vanilla Lavender Mosquito Repellent
This recipe features a beautifully aromatic combination of vanilla and lavender in a lemon-water base. You’ll love the scent blend, but mosquitoes absolutely hate it!
Ingredients:
- 15-20 drops lavender essential oil
- 3-4 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 oz. distilled water
Directions:
- Combine lavender essential oil, vanilla extract and lemon juice in a 4 oz glass spray bottle.
- Fill to the top with distilled water.
- Shake well to combine ingredients.
- Keep it refrigerated, and use within 2 weeks
3. Extra Strong Mosquito Repellent
With a quarter-pound of super-potent cloves, this alcohol-based recipe doesn’t pull any punches. It takes a little longer to make this one, but it makes mosquitoes vanish quicker than ever!
Ingredients:
- 16 ounces rubbing alcohol
- 3.5 oz. whole cloves
- 3 oz oil (sesame or almond)
Directions:
- Macerate cloves in alcohol for four days, stirring/shaking twice daily
- Strain the alcohol into a spray bottle and discard the cloves
- Add the oil and shake well to blend
- Use liberally before going out (smells delicious!)
4. Mosquito & Tick Repelling Spray
This simple spray is equally effective against both – mosquitoes and ticks.
Ingredients:
- 6 ounces witch hazel
- 2 ounces castor oil
- 5 drops cinnamon oil
- 15 drops eucalyptus oil
- 15 drops citronella oil
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a glass spray bottle.
- Shake well to mix.
5. Soapy Insect & Mosquito Repellent
Neem oil is an all-natural, organic insecticide that makes an easy-to-use repellent when blended with ordinary soap and water.
Ingredients:
- 5 ml neem oil
- 2 ml liquid soap
- 1 quart distilled or boiled water
Directions:
- Mix everything together
- Gently shake before use
6. Easy Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent
Just essential oil and apple cider vinegar – or even plain water. What could be easier than that? Again, rosemary, clove, lavender, cinnamon and eucalyptus are mosquitoes’ least favorite essential oils.
Ingredients:
- 25 drops essential oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or distilled water
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients in a dark glass spray bottle
- Shake well before use
7. Natural Mosquito Repellent With Aloe
Pick an essential oil and a vegetable oil, mix them with aloe, and you’ve got a lotion that moisturizes your skin while it drives away bugs.
Ingredients:
- 10-25 drops essential oil (Citronella, Clove, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Cedar, Catnip, Lavender, Mint: all of these work!)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (avocado, olive, etc._
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Directions:
- Mix ingredients until well blended
- Apply as required
8. Child Friendly Mosquito Repellent Blend
This recipe is a gentle one that’s safe for children and sensitive skin. Choose spearmint and /or lavender essential oils.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz olive oil
- 1 oz organic aloe vera
- 10 drops essential oil
Directions:
- Add the essential oil to a 3 oz glass bottle
- Add the olive oil and aloe vera and shake well before use
9. Herb & ACV Repellent Spray
Essential oils aren’t the only botanicals that drive away bugs – dried herbs also work very well, especially when blended with apple cider vinegar. This mixture also has good antibacterial properties!
Ingredients:
- 16 ounces apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons dried sage
- 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
- 2 tablespoons dried lavender
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons dried mint
- Distilled water
Directions:
- Fill a glass jar with apple cider vinegar
- Stir in the herbs
- Seal the jar tightly and store in a cool, dark place for 2-3 weeks, stirring twice daily
- Strain out the herbs
- Transfer the remaining liquid to a spray bottle
- Add an equal amount of water
This mixture will probably last you an entire summer 😉