DIY Bug Spray: The Best Essential Oils for Bug Repellant

Home remedies can save you so much money and stress of worrying about what chemicals are in a product and how they impact your health. That’s why my diy bug spray, that is natural and can be home made.

Now being a mom in a humid, mosquito laden state (Florida). All-natural bug repellent or bug spray is a necessity to keep my children from being bit.

Most importantly, mosquito repellents often have harsh chemicals in them. That is to say, “they use chemical ingredients such as diethyl phthalate, diethyl carbate. In addition to, N, N-Diethyl-3-Methylbenzamide (DEET), metofluthrin, picaridin and ethyl hexanediol.”

Diethyl phthalate- “no information is available on whether this chemical can cause birth defects when given by mouth. Diethyl phthalate can be mildly irritating when applied to the skin of animals.” (cdc.gov)

N-Diethyl-3-Methylbenzamide (DEET)

“Large doses of DEET are linked to skin blisters, seizures, and memory loss. In addition to, headaches, stiff joints, shortness of breath, and skin irritation.

DEET is also linked to neurotoxicity that may lead to physiological and behavioral problems, especially with motor skills, and learning and memory dysfunction.” (madesafe.org)

Ethyl Hexanediol

Ingredients in the non-Diy Bug Spray — https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/702299-ETHYL_HEXANEDIOL

Now why would you use a product that has chemicals that may irritate you when you could use more natural ingredients?

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What are natural ingredients?

Well the EWG gives you a rating scale on many natural products and what ingredients make them harmful or safer. “If it comes from the ground or has a mother, it is food.” REAL FOOD is safe to be put on your skin, hair or ingested.

You eat your lip balm….

That’s right! Not only do kids eat lip balm, you eat it off your lips too. Where else do you think it goes to? In other words, products we put on our skin, are also absorbed and go in our blood stream.

This is how hormone creams and supplements are taken topically. For example, people with leaky gut symptoms. Are able to bypass their liver when taking a supplement.

Therefore, if it is not safe enough to eat or absorb, keep it off your body also!

What if I don’t have time to make a bug spray homemade?

Certainly, you don’t have to make one! You just won’t have as much control over the ingredients, if you don’t make it yourself. There are some natural, affordable options available for purchase. These are great mosquito repellants with essential oils.

Babyganics Bug Spray is an organic option with ingredients you can all pronounce and are mostly essential oils. Ingredients include: soybean oil, rosemary, citronella, geranium, cedar wood, peppermint and lemon oil.
Badger anti-bug balm Certified organic and all natural DEET-free bug and mosquito repellent uses organic and all-natural citronella, cedar, and lemongrass.

**Meanwhile, do a spot treat on your skin to make sure there are no allergies before coating your body.**

Diy Natural Bug Repellant

2-3oz Water
2-3oz Alcohol-free Witch Hazel
10 drops Lemon Eucalyptus or Eucalyptus
20 drops Citronella
20 drops Orange Essential Oil
10 drops Tea Tree

Please include more water and witch hazel if the essential oils seem too strong. To clarify, you only need a few drops of each essential oil. These are the best types of essential oils for bug repellant. So the individual bottles will last you a VERY long time.

In a spray bottle (I chose glass to avoid BPA’s). Combine water with essential oils.

What each ingredient gets rid of:

Lemon Eucalyptus and Eucalyptus are great for repelling mosquitos.
Citronella is best for gnats, mosquitos, ticks and fleas.
Orange Essential Oil is great for getting rid of gnats, fleas, head lice, ants and spiders.
Tea Tree eliminates head lice, bed bugs, fungus, dandruff.
Alcohol-free Witch Hazel works as a carrier and can repel mosquitos and is great if you are too late and already bit by mosquitos.

Diy Natural Bug Spray for Pets

Furthermore, your pets may be fleas or ticks and just like your kids, you may want a more natural option for them. So, here is a home remedy for your pets also:

2oz Water
2oz Alcohol-free Witch Hazel
10 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 drops Cedarwood

In addition, combine mixture in a spray bottle. Start by applying a few sprays to the dog’s back (keep away from eyes).

add 10-20 drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil
add 10-20 drops Lavender Essential Oil

To the dog’s shampoo.

Checkout some other home remedies and uses for essential oils:

Natural Bug Spray with Essential Oils Safe for Kids

*This page does contain a few affiliate links.*

Credits:

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep

Originally posted 2019-01-04 09:00:00.

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Megan Santiago

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Hello! My name is Megan Santiago, B.S in Psychology, I have a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling and I am currently seeing clients as a Mental Health Counselor Intern. I am the Owner and Founder of Holistic-Momma.com. A little bit about me, I am OBSESSED with all things holistic health. I believe we can heal our physical bodies if we first heal our minds. I am a psychology major; I've worked alongside Naturopathic Doctors, Chiropractors, and numerous practitioners. I was a health educator for a well-known supplement brand, and now I share my experience and knowledge. I hope you learn something while on my site, and feel free to contact me with any questions!