This best homemade bug repellent recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients you have at home and can save you money over the store bought kind.
Homemade bug repellent is a good way to avoid chemicals but still keep mosquitoes, flies and gnats from bothering you. It’s best to spray it on your clothing instead of on your skin.
Homemade Bug Repellent Bars Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup olive oil – can be found here*
1 cup avocado oil- can be found here*
1 cup beeswax can be found here*
30-40 drops Essential Oils (any combination you like):
citronella
eucalyptus
lavender
peppermint
lemon
lemongrass
clove oil
I like a combination of clove, citronella and lemon for my bug repellent bars.
Instructions
- Melt all of the ingredients together.
- Stir until the beeswax is melted.
- Add essential oils.
- Then pour into molds. These silicone molds work great.
- Let set until completely firm and pop out of molds.
- Then just rub on your skin like a lotion.
Homemade Mosquito and Tick Repellent Recipe
Ingredients
4 oz. distilled water
2 oz. witch hazel*
2 oz. castor oil*
5 drops cinnamon oil
15 drops eucalyptus oil
15 drops citronella oil
*You can purchase these items in the pharmacy at your store.
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Shake well to mix.
- Be sure to shake well before each application.
Another Homemade Mosquito and Tick Repellent
Ingredients
4 oz. distilled water
2 oz. rubbing alcohol
2 oz. castor oil
2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
15 drops cinnamon oil
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Shake well to mix the ingredients.
- Be sure to shake the bug repellent well before each application.
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How about a ant repellant recipe that works?
Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 3 Tbsp. Borax, add enough water to make like a syrup. Set it out in small bowls and pour it around any ants hills you can see. The ants will be drawn to it because of the sugar and will take it back to their nests where the Borax will kill them.
Will it accidentally harm a dog? My silly critter will try to taste anything which is why I won’t use commercial brands or should I just put on the counter as we have a few ants that crawl up there too. Thanks in advance for a response as I know this does take time!
The borax probably would not be good for him.
Hello! Thank you for these great recipes!
The cinnamon essential oil ingredient on the list is linked to a cedarwood essential oil on Amazon. I am wondering now, if it is cinnamon or cedarwood I should be using. Can you please clarify?