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Insect repellent for the home


11 Homemade Bug Repellents Worth Trying

Looking for a natural, DIY way to create bug repellents? These home bug repellent formulas use simple, organic ingredients. Try them and find one that works best for you.

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Lemon Eucalyptus

Lemon eucalyptus is an effective natural oil to use as a mosquito repellent, with sharp-scented compounds proven to drive mosquitoes away. It can also make a great cleaner! Combine 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup witch hazel (you can add a little vinegar, too) and then add 30 to 40 drops of the lemon eucalyptus oil. You can add a little more of the oil if this amount doesn’t seem to be effective.

Note: This is a potent home bug repellent and is not child or pet friendly.

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Citronella Oil

Small bugs usually hate citrus, so citrus oil sprays are common in homemade repellents. Mix equal parts water with witch hazel (a half cup of each works well). Witch hazel is an alcohol-based astringent that is commonly used in DIY repellents. (Some repellent recipes call for straight alcohol, such as vodka, but you can substitute with witch hazel, which tends to be gentler to skin.)

Add in a couple dozen drops of citronella oil, and pour it into a spray bottle. Lemon additives may also help. Remember to shake the bottle before using, and don’t spray it near your eyes.

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Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is a very common ingredient in homemade bug repellents. If a recipe calls for citrus oils, neem oil, lemon eucalyptus, clove, or cedarwood oils, you can also add a little lavender oil. This will help improve the fragrance. But you can also use lavender oil by itself in a mixture similar to the citrus oil recipe for a home bug repellent. It won’t be quite as effective as some other options, but if you can’t stand the smell of other oils, it’s certainly worth a try as an alternative.

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DIY Neem Spray

Much like lemon eucalyptus, neem oil is known to contain compounds that insects heartily dislike. That means you can use it as an effective repellent. It is derived from evergreen neem tree, native to India, and known for its potent fruits and seeds. Add a couple tablespoons of the oil into your witch hazel spray and try it out. If the spray isn’t mixing well even when you shake it, you can also add a little vegetable glycerin (aka glycerol, which is a clear, odorless liquid typically made from palm, soy or coconut oil) to help the ingredients combine. Neem may work best when combined with more fragrant oils.

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Cedarwood Oil

When stocking up on essential oils, look for cedarwood oil. It is very fragrant and ideal for a pleasant spray. Cedar also has insect repellent properties. Use it alone, or add it to citrusy sprays for a more powerful home bug repellent.

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Cloves Spray

You can also use clove oil (or even add a few whole cloves to your spray bottle) for an enhanced repellent that can better deter insects. Clove oil is quite potent though, so don’t apply it directly to your hands or leave it on your skin overnight.

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Bug Balm with Beeswax

If you prefer to use a balm instead of a spray, you can make an excellent homemade balm with a little citronella and lemon eucalyptus oil. Start by gently heating a mixture of beeswax, cocoa butter and coconut oil, and then add the essential oils once the mixture is starting to cool.

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Peppermint and Castor Oil Repellent

Peppermint and castor oil are also both well-regarded as repellents. Plus, the peppermint smells great! You may want to go easy on the peppermint oil at first, since it can be surprisingly potent compared to other essential oils.

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Homemade Citronella Candles

Candles are a popular bug repellent option when outdoors, and you can make your own candles with bug repellent properties. The easiest way is to create these homemade bug repellent candles and then add several drops of citronella oil to the wax as it starts to cool.

Here’s how to make candles in yogurt jars!

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Garlic and Lemon Juice

Garlic is a well-known repellent for both insects and animals. They dislike the smell of allicin, a compound found in garlic. Acidic lemon juice can also be used to protect areas you don’t want bugs to cross. Soak crushed garlic cloves in mineral oil for at least a day, then mix the oil with a solution of water and a couple teaspoons of lemon juice. Shake the home bug repellent mixture well before using.

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Photo: Courtesy of Oliva Jenkins

Herb Repellent

If you prefer not to use essential oils, you can create a homemade bug repellent made with herbs. Fresh herbs are recommended, particularly mint, catnip and citronella. Crush 1/2 to 1 full cup of these herbs together, then boil them with a cup of water. Once the mixture reaches a boil, let it cool down and filter out the herbs. Mix this water with witch hazel and pour it in a spray bottle.

Originally Published: March 20, 2021

Natural Recipes for Your Skin, Home, and Plants

Not everyone is comfortable using synthetic chemicals and pesticides to ward off bugs. Many people are turning to natural, environmentally friendly remedies for repelling insects, and homemade bug sprays are an easy solution. Not only are they typically safe for human use, they’re generally effective too.

This article will take a closer look at some of the natural ingredients that may help keep bugs at bay, and how you can use these ingredients to make your own bug spray.

While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires most skin-applied insect repellants to be registered for both human safety and effectiveness, the agency has also listed several natural ingredients as minimum risk pesticides.

It’s important to note that while these ingredients are safe for human use, the EPA does not evaluate them for effectiveness.

Here are some popular natural ingredients that may help repel bugs in your home and yard.

Citrus oils

Citronella and citrus oils like limonene are popular and well-known insect repellents. Studies suggest citronella helps repel mosquitoes, and it may also be effective against kissing bugs, fleas, aphids, mites, and flies.

Garlic oil

Research suggests that garlic oil may help with repelling ticks. Plus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists garlic oil as a natural tick repellent for use in yards and gardens.

Thyme essential oil

A 2005 study suggest that thyme essential oil helps repel mosquitoes. However, thyme oil isn’t considered safe for use on your skin unless diluted.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus

A 2016 review concluded that oil of lemon eucalyptus is an effective natural mosquito repellent. Plus, according to the CDC, products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus are effective against mosquitoes.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus shouldn’t be confused with lemon eucalyptus essential oil which isn’t effective at repelling mosquitoes.

Dill essential oil

Looking to repel bugs indoors? One study concluded that dill effectively repels cockroaches. However, the oil should be diluted before using it on your skin.

Cinnamon oil

If mosquitoes are a major concern, cinnamon oil may be a good option to consider. One study concluded that cinnamon oil helped repel mosquitoes both in a lab setting and outdoors. Another study suggested cinnamon oil may be effective in killing mosquito larvae as well.

However, cinnamon oil can cause skin reactions, so be sure to dilute it before using it on your body, or stick to using it in the yard.

Lavender essential oil

Lavender oil isn’t only helpful for relaxation and sleep. It can also be effective at repelling mosquitoes. Plus, lavender is usually considered safe for topical use without diluting it.

Peppermint oil

Studies suggest that peppermint oil works to both kill and repel mosquitoes. Plus, another study concluded that peppermint oil may be effective at keeping spiders away as well.

Many of these ingredients are considered natural and safe for human use. However, it’s important to remember that not all essential oils are safe for topical use. If you’re planning to use essential oils on your skin, you may need to dilute them with a carrier oil.

Certain essential oils, like citrus oils, can be phototoxic when applied directly to the skin. This means that sun exposure may cause severe burns and even skin cancer.

When it comes to making a bug spray recipe that’s safe on your skin, make sure that you’re choosing essential oils that are safe and effective for topical application.

For an easy and natural mosquito repellent for your skin, you’ll need the following:

Then, follow these steps:

You can also create a homemade bug spray to use around your house or yard. Remember, while many essential oils are safe and effective for repelling insects, that doesn’t mean they’re safe for topical use.

For a DIY indoor/outdoor bug spray, you’ll need the following:

Then follow these steps:

While some homemade bug sprays can help keep bugs away from your plants, others — like cinnamon essential oil — can cause damage to the plants themselves.

For a DIY recipe that won’t harm your plants, try diluting a few drops of thyme essential oil with distilled water. Mix in a glass spray bottle and spritz on your plants.

No one likes dealing with bug bites. Besides using a bug spray or repellant, there are other steps you can take to help protect yourself.

Although synthetic insect repellents are considered safe for human use, natural alternatives are growing in popularity. While studies suggest that many natural ingredients may be effective in repelling insects, more research is needed.

If you want to make a homemade bug spray, make sure you know about the safety of the ingredients you’re using. Even natural ingredients can be unsafe in certain situations.

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