GO NATURAL: DIY Insect Repellant

NOTE: This recipe is adapted from one featured on MightyNest. I love this website, with all the natural products and informative articles, but didn’t want to pay for their insect blend when I could make my own. I looked up a bunch of others online, too, and incorporated pieces of some of those into this formulation.

MightyNest has a totally awesome program called MightyFix. It’s a monthly delivery of something eco-friendly, from wool dryer balls to dishtowels to glass containers. For me, it’s an easy way to remove more harmful stuff from my house while not spending a fortune all at once, and I love it! If you want to find out more, go here.

Back to today’s post…

Recipe for DIY Insect Repellant

In a small spray bottle (glass is best but BPA-free plastic is okay too), combine:

2 oz of water – tap is fine

2 oz of rubbing alcohol or vodka (vodka is preferred since it absorbs better)

10 drops EACH of Citronella (this link goes to a blend of Citronella, Lemongrass, and Grapefruit), Eucalyptus, Cedarwood, Lemongrass, Lavender, Tea Tree, Vanilla, Grapefruit, and Patchouli oils.

This oil can be diffused indoors – just scale the recipe down to fit into your diffuser. To use outdoors, make into the spray indicated above and use just as you would any other insect repellant. It can also be placed in an oil burner around a picnic area or patio. If using directly on the skin, it’s advised to dilute with a carrier oil like almond or grapeseed. About 2 oz should be sufficient if using the recipe above.

I hope this recipe works as well for you as it does for me! If you use a different combination or have any comments about natural insect repelling, tell me below in the comments section!