Mosquitoes are my nemeses! The pesky bugs have been horrible this year (and we’re still dealing with them!). So I’ve been looking for ways to repel bugs naturally, not being a big fan of slathering the kids in chemicals. I have to say, essential oils work great for this purpose. And yes, there are more options than just citronella!
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4 Easy Ways to Repel Bugs Naturally
I made these homemade recipes that include a spray, reed diffuser, body mist, and lotion, and we tested them for keeping the bugs at bay. Each method has a few pros and cons; here’s what we learned.
1. Lemon Mint Patio Spray
Combine vodka, lemon juice and peppermint oil in a spray bottle. Spray around the perimeter of your gathering or play area. The menthol in peppermint essential oil is not only responsible for the strong minty aroma, but it also has insecticidal properties as well [source].
Upside: Things definitely seemed less buggy, and it added a nice aroma to the yard.
Downside: It’s hard to cover the entire perimeter, and the scent fades somewhat quickly—you have to remember to respray every hour to keep bugs away.
2. Lavender-Eucalyptus Diffuser
Combine essential oils withh water in a pretty cup and add reed sticks. These essential oils are frequently used in formulations to deter flying pests and they have the added bonus of making your table look pretty.
Flip the reeds over every couple of hours to refresh the scent. If the scent starts to dissipate – or isn’t strong enough – then add more essential oil.
Upside: Definitely the easiest of the natural remedies! And the soothing scent of lavender tones down the medicinal smell of eucalyptus. It could be a good option for a smaller space, e.g. bedroom.
Downside: The diffuser only covers a small area, and in our case, it didn’t deter mosquitoes.
3. Lemongrass Lotion
Combine essential oil with unscented body lotion or oil. Mix together in a bowl and transfer to an empty bottle. Apply to exposed skin areas.
Note, this might not seem like a lot of essential oil, but lemongrass and clove are both powerful essential oils, so don’t overdo it. Lemongrass makes you unappealing to ticks and mosquitoes [source], and cloves can keep mosquitoes away for up to two full hours [source].
Upside: The lotion actually smells good! No yucky bug chemical scent to follow you around.
Downside: You have to catch the kids every hour or two to reapply.
4. Lemon-Lavender Body Mist
- ¼ cup vodka
- ¼ cup witch hazel
- ¼ cup distilled water
- 8 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 8 drops lavender essential oil
- 6 drops peppermint essential oil
- 3 drops clove essential oil
- (Optional) 1 teaspoon glycerin or aloe vera gel
Combine all ingredients in a 4 oz glass spray bottle (preferably amber or cobalt to protect oils from sunlight). Shake well before each use.
Spray on exposed skin and clothing every 1.5–2 hours, or as needed.
Upside: Spraying the body is easier than applying lotion and provides even coverage than perimeter sprays or diffusers.
Downside: Peppermint oil is not recommended for kids’ skin, so it’s better to omit it from the recipe if using on kids under 10.
The final verdict? The lotion was definitely the winner to repel bugs naturally, but I’ll keep using all these recipes to supplement. Lemongrass remains my favorite of the bug-repelling essential oils. You can combine it with lemon eucalyptus, citronella, and lavender in a bug bite spray or a bug-repelling bracelet.
What do you do to keep mosquitoes away? Don’t forget that there are plants that bugs hate so think about planting a few of those around the patio!
And if you do get unwanted bites, essential oils can help ease the itch too. Apply this bug bite spray or this balm to soothe the skin irritation.
Photos by Ana Stanciu
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