You can make your own bug spray with natural ingredients that actually works! Get protection from insects with essential oils and vanilla extract, coupled with distilled water and rubbing alcohol for a fast-drying mist. Ditch the chemicals and make your own bug spray today.
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If you want to keep the flies, gnats, and mosquitos away without covering yourself, or your children, with potentially harmful chemicals— this recipe is for you!
You can make a nice-smelling insect repellent, that actually works, with just a few natural ingredients.
Ready to get started? Below is what you will need.
Materials for Making All-natural Bug Spray
- 1-quart measuring cup
- Small rubber spatula
- 8-ounce bottle with spray top
- Pipette
- Teaspoon and tablespoon measuring spoons
- Labels (optional)
I mix everything in a glass measuring cup with a pointed spout for easy pouring. Using a rubber spatula makes sure none of the ingredients go to waste and makes cleanup a breeze.
Labels can be as simple or cutesy as you like. Don’t forget to include the date!
Ingredients for All-natural Bug Spray
Note: This recipe will fill one 8 oz. bottle, double or triple as desired
- 7 oz. distilled water
- 1 Tbsp. isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
- 1 tsp. organic sweet almond oil
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
- 20 drops sweet orange essential oil
- 20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
As you can see, the bug spray is mostly comprised of distilled water. Using distilled water, instead of tap water, reduces the risk of bacterial contamination and ensures that mineral content doesn’t compromise the performance of your homemade bug spray.
The rubbing alcohol and sweet almond oil help to carry, dilute, and disperse the essential oils.
Pure vanilla extract is a great insect repellent on its own and that is why I included it in my recipe. The alcohol content in pure vanilla extract also acts as a carrier and dispersing agent for the essential oils. The sweet vanilla scent adds body to the aroma of the bug spray too—a win/win! Make sure you use pure vanilla extract, and not a vanilla flavoring with sugar, because sugar will attract bugs instead of repel them!
I used equal amounts of each of the essential oils in this recipe, however, if you want more of a minty or lemony scent you can adjust the number of drops accordingly. There are also many other essential oils that could be used in a bug spray! Lavender, citronella, grapefruit, tea tree, and patchouli are among the essential oils that can be useful in repelling insects.
Directions for Making All-natural Bug Spray
- Pour 7 oz. of distilled water into the measuring cup
- Add 1 Tbsp. of isopropyl alcohol
- Add 1 tsp. sweet almond oil
- Add 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- Add 20 drops of lemon essential oil with a pipette
- Add 20 drops of sweet orange essential oil with a pipette
- Add 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil with a pipette
- Add 20 drops of peppermint essential oil with a pipette
- Stir with the rubber spatula
- Pour mixture into the 8-ounce bottle
- Top off the bottle with more distilled water, do not overfill—leave room for the spray top
- Screw spray top onto bottle
- Wipe bottles to make sure they are clean and dry, then affix labels
- Clean up your utensils
- Apply to skin and keep the bugs away!
Tips for Using your All-natural Bug Spray
- Shake well before using
- Apply liberally every 30 minutes
- Rub in
- Use within 6 weeks
Mother, farmer, author, and teacher by trade… She loves tending to things and watching them grow!