Say goodbye to chemical-laden repellents and hello to a homemade bug spray (nontoxic) that’s just as effective—without the harsh ingredients. Whether you’re headed into the garden, out for a hike, or just enjoying a summer evening on the porch, this DIY bug spray will keep the bites at bay using simple, natural ingredients you can feel good about.
Made with powerful essential oils and pantry staples, this recipe is quick to mix up, gentle on skin, and safe for the whole family. No more worrying about mystery chemicals—just a homemade solution that smells great and works even better.
In the Midwest there are a LOT of mosquitos throughout the summer (as well as other pesky bugs) and we just didn’t feel right about dousing our children in chemicals to try and deter the bugs. Therefore, this homemade bug spray using essential oils and witch hazel is a staple during the buggy months.
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4 Additional Safe Ways to Deter Bugs
Some other items we use around our homestead to deter the bugs, that don’t involve spraying toxic chemicals directly on your skin, are these bug deterring bracelets. We wear one on our ankle when we are enjoying the outdoors during the spring, summer, and fall months.
In addition to the bracelets, we like to use these bug deterring stickers. They stick to the back of the children’s clothing so that they don't pull them off or mess with them!
Flys are a nuisance around our homestead too, so we hang these disposable fly bags around our outdoor play and living areas. They REALLY cut down on the pesky flys, without having to use chemical sprays. There is a slight odor to the bags, so we hang them about close enough to keep the flys from bothering us, but far enough away that we can’t smell them.
Lastly, we like to use a diffuser on our porch. We plug it in and use a mix of essential oils to deter the bugs from feasting on us while we enjoy the porch. Some common oils we diffuse on our porch are Peppermint, Cedarwood, Lavender, Citronella and Lemon.
Homemade Bug Spray Ingredients
- Witch Hazel - witch hazel is made from parts of the witch hazel plant and is often used to help soothe and protect the skin. This is used as the base of the natural bug spray.
- Essential Oils - essential oils are the components that actually deter the bugs. There are many brands and options when it comes to essential oils, but we prefer to use YoungLiving.
See recipe card for quantities.
Why Homemade Bug Spray?
Store bought bug sprays are known to pose great health concerns. The short answer for why we quit using store bought bug spray, is because it contains DEET. Yuck.
DEET is a chemical that can be absorbed through the skin, which can be toxic. Prolonged exposure can cause brain cell damage, among other terrifying health issues. It can cause allergic reactions, rashes, seizures, respiratory issues, aggressive behavior, and low blood pressure - to name a few.
Given this information, this is definitely not something our family would like to be consuming.
The good news, is there is an alternative homemade bug spray that actually works!
Homemade Bug Spray Instructions
Gather your supplies - this homemade nontoxic bug spray takes less than 5 minutes to make!
Supplies:
- 4oz amber spray bottle
- Witch Hazel
- Essential Oils (Citronella, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lavendar)
Instructions:
- Pour the witch hazel into the 4oz amber spray bottle, leaving a half inch of room toward the top.
- Add in your essential oils.
- 20 drops of citronella
- 5 drops of peppermint
- 5 drops of eucalyptus
- 5 drops of lemon
- 5 drops of lavender
- Twist on the lid to the spray bottle and shake.
Apply the homemade bug spray as needed.
Storage
The homemade bug spray keeps best in an amber bottle. Store in a cool, dry place. We typically use at least a bottle through the buggy seasons in the Midwest.
FAQ
Yes! The store bought options often contain harsh chemicals, such as DEET. This homemade option contains natural ingredients.
The homemade bug spray can last up to two hours, however it is safe to reapply as needed.
Yes! The whole family uses this homemade bug spray.
Yes! An essential oil brand that is pure is the best option. Our family has used YoungLiving for years and absolutely loves it.
Yes. A glass amber spray bottle is the best option.
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Homemade Bug Spray (nontoxic)
Materials
- 1 4oz Glass Spray Bottle
- 4oz Witch Hazel
- Essential Oils (citronella, eucalyptus, lemon, lavender, optional-peppermint)
Instructions
- Add 4oz of witch hazel to the glass spray bottle.
- Add 20 drops of Citronella essential oil, 5 drops of each of the remaining essential oils (eucalyptus, lemon, lavender, peppermint)
- Add the nozzle to the spray bottle and shake.
- Spray the homemade bug spray liberally when outdoors.
Notes
- Reapply bug spray every hour or as needed.
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