Homemade Essential Oil Bug Spray

This season, skip the stinky store-bought bug repellents. Smell good AND keep the bugs away with this easy homemade essential oil bug spray.

As the warm weather sets in, with it comes the buzzes and bites of pesky bugs. Nothing ruins a joy-filled outdoor activity quite like continuous swatting and slapping to keep the bugs away.  

This season, instead of stocking up on stinky commercial bug repellents, consider making your own homemade essential oil bug spray.

Essential oils are the best natural bug repellents as their chemical components block an insect’s odor receptors leaving it confused and unable to track human scents like sweat. 

In the garden, I interplant herbs throughout my raised beds. The essential oils from the herbs naturally infuse the air and repel unwanted bugs from more delicate and desired vegetables, like tomatoes, broccoli, and squash. 

Why not bottle up the natural benefits of these powerful essential oils and use them all season long to keep outdoor activities bug-free?   

Whether I’m working in the garden, playing outside with my son, or enjoying a meal out on the deck, I keep this homemade essential oil bug spray close by at all times to quickly spray-n-go. 

This natural bug spray comes together in minutes and smells AMAZING. 

You can use as few or as many essential oils as you like or have on hand, and the best part is that this recipe is customizable. Pick from my list of oils based on the bugs you wish to deter or mix and match until you find a scent combination you love. 

 Here’s to summers spent outdoors, fun-filled and pest-free! 

If you’re interested incorporating more natural bug-repellents, try growing herbs! They’re easy to grow, can adapt to any space, and have a million uses, including keeping the bugs at bay.

Bug-Specific Essential Oils

While many essential oils contain bug-repelling properties, a few studies highlight specific essential oils and their effectiveness in deterring certain insects.  

• Mosquitos: citronella, peppermint, lemongrass, cinnamon, clove, geranium, thyme, eucalyptus
• Ticks: cedarwood, rosemary, rose geranium, cinnamon, clove, thyme 
• Flies: basil, lemongrass, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus
• Ants: peppermint, spearmint, clove, lemon

All-Purpose Bug Spray (2 oz.)

• 6 drops citronella
• 6 drops lemongrass
• 4 drops peppermint
• 4 drops cinnamon
• 3 drops clove

Kid-Friendly Bug Spray (2 oz.)

• 4 drops citronella
• 4 drops cedarwood
• 2 drops lavender
• 2 drops lemon

Supplies For Your Essential Oil Bug Spray

• Amber glass bottle with sprayer – Sunlight is the biggest culprit in degrading or reacting with certain essential oils. A dark-colored glass bottle will help prevent this and provide a sturdy and stable vessel since potent essential oils can degrade plastics.   
• Essential oils – Pick a few from my list above for pest-specific blends or mix and match until you find a scent combo you love. In general, it is recommended to create a 1-2% diluted spray for safe topical use. This works out to about 6-12 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of carrier. 
• Water or apple cider vinegar – Acts to dilute the essential oils since they are often too potent to be applied at full strength. Undiluted essential oils can irritate or burn your skin or nostrils, so be sure to dilute your bug spray blend. You can easily dilute your blend with water or give your bug spray an extra kick with apple cider vinegar, which is a common and natural ingredient in many bug repellents. I find that the essential oils shine through in the spray’s scent without ever giving a hint that there’s vinegar in it.  
• High-proof alcohol or witch hazel: Obviously, water and essential oils don’t like to mix, so ethanol or witch hazel is used to solubilize (dissolve) essential oils into water based sprays so they can be diluted without separating. High-proof alcohol, like vodka or Everclear, is preferred and also serves as a great preserving agent for your spray. Witch hazel is an acceptable swap if you don’t have alcohol on hand.

Instructions

1. Fill your glass spray bottle halfway with witch hazel or high-proof alcohol.

2. Add in the essential oils of your choosing or follow my go-to recipes above. Remember for safe topical use: about 6-12 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier. 

• 2 oz. spray bottle: 12-24 drops
• 3 oz. spray bottle: 18-36 drops
• 4 oz. spray bottle: 24-48 drops

3. Screw on the top and give it a good shake to properly dissolve the oils.

4. Top off the blend with water or apple cider vinegar.

5. Shake well before each use and reapply every 2 hours.

Q & A

How do you store an essential oil bug spray?

Store in a cool, dark, and dry place. If stored properly, your bug spray will last up to a year.

How often do you reapply essential oil bug spray?

Reapply your bug spray every 2 hours. Be sure to shake well before applying and avoid contact with eyes, nose, and mouth.

Is homemade essential oil bug spray safe for kids?

Yes, a homemade bug spray with essential oils can be safe for children, but you may need to make a few adjustments.

Eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint essential oils are believed to be too potent for children under 12 years of age and should be avoided.

If applying to smaller bodies, you should also be using a smaller amount of essential oils in your bug spray. Aim for a 1% dilution rate for kiddos (6 drops per 1 oz. carrier).

Follow my Kid-Friendly Bug Spray Blend for appropriate oils and concentrations:

• 4 drops citronella
• 4 drops cedarwood
• 2 drops lavender
• 2 drops lemon

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