Keep the mosquitos away using the best essential oils for repelling mosquitos. I’ll also share how to make a homemade mosquito repellent spray.
I’ve told you in the past about my son’s sensitive skin, and all of the skin problems he has. Not only does he deal with the rashes associated with atopic dermatitis, but he also has strong reactions to mosquito bites. Whenever he gets bitten by a mosquito, he ends up with a big, inflamed bump that bothers him for days. His complaining about the itchiness and pain of the bumps often keeps both of us up at nights!
Preventing the mosquito bites in the first place is, of course, the best way to keep both of us happy and sleeping well. Here in Spain, the most common way to prevent mosquito bites in kids is with bracelets that use essential oils to keep mosquitos away. While they help, my son gets sick of wearing the bracelets everywhere, and they really only cover a small portion of his body anyway.
Do essential oils work as a mosquito repellent?
Essential oils have become unbelievably popular in the last decade, with claims of healing and preventing a myriad of things, as well as natural and DIY combinations for everything from household cleaning and laundry to aromatherapy and mood enhancement. While some claims may seem more than a little outrageous, there is one thing some of these oils can definitely not only prevent, but treat: insect bites!
Because they do work gently, they are used in the repellent bracelets used by so many kids here in Spain.
With the summer months upon us, hopefully you’ll find the following list of essential oils helpful. These oils are said to prevent insect bites, and will come in handy to anyone venturing outdoors for fun in the sun!
Watch me make the homemade mosquito repellent spray.
Essential oils for mosquito repellent
Citronella
It should be no surprise that citronella essential oil is #1 on the list. With a proven track record of warding off pesky mosquitoes and other annoying bugs, it is one of the most reliable oils, which is why it shows up in most homemade mosquito repellent recipes. Many people find its fragrance unpleasant, but it is worth adding it to your mix if you are one of those people who seem to get eaten alive when you dare to step outside during these warm days.
This oil is safe for use by people of all ages over 6 months for aromatherapy purposes, and is safe to apply topically as long as it is heavily diluted. (You need to be especially careful about dilution when using on young children’s sensitive skin.)
Tea tree essential oil
Tea tree essential oil is a great multipurpose insect repellent. It works well as a mosquito repellent, but is also is great for getting rid of and preventing fleas and other parasites in animals. (It is safe to use topically on dogs when highly diluted.) You could consider adding some to my homemade dog shampoo bar soap! Tea tree essential oil also keeps lice away. That’s why I also used it as one of the top ingredients in my homemade lice repellent spray.
Tea tree essential oil not only works great as a natural insect repellent, but is very useful for all kinds of skin issues, including insect bite relief.
Tea tree oil is another essential oil that is generally safe for people of all ages over 6 months, as long as it is diluted for topical use.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender essential oil has always been one of my favorites. I love its fragrance, and it’s the one I use most in my homemade soaps because it tends to last longer than most other essential oils in soaps.
A lot of people don’t realize that lavender essential oil also helps with the prevention of bug bites and infestations. (That’s why I added it to both my lice repellent spray and dog soap.)
Lavender essential oil may be the mildest essential oil on the list, and is one of the only oils said to be safe for even babies between 3-6 months of age (as long as it is diluted well when using with babies). It can be used both topically and in a diffuser to ward off many different kinds of bugs. It can even protect your clothes from moths, which is why I showed you how to make lavender sachets for your closet.
Lavender is normally suitable for people with sensitive skin and those with allergies to strong smells due to its lighter intensity. That’s also why it’s great for repellents for younger children.
Lemongrass essential oil
Lemongrass essential oil is closely related to citronella oil, but its odor intensity is much more pungent than sweet. Lemongrass has a citrus like scent that I happen to love, but the strength of its smell is highly unattractive to many kinds of bugs, especially mosquitoes and flies. (Be aware that lemongrass and spearmint oils can attract bees.) Lemongrass oil is also known for its purification of air, making it a very valuable oil.
While it is generally a safe essential oil, it should be reserved for children over the age of 2 to be on the safe side!
Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil smells pleasant to most humans…but not so much to bugs! That’s what makes it a more attractive oil to use for people who hate the overwhelming fragrance of some of the other oils on the list like citronella. It not only has been shown to keep bugs away, but it kills many insect larvae before they can even hatch into full-grown insects.
It is generally said that you shouldn’t use peppermint essential oil on children under the age of 6(or should at least use caution when doing so). It can also be irritating to the skin, which is why it needs to be diluted for topical use, especially when you use it in sprays for children.
Other essential oils that may prevent mosquito bites
I once bought an essential oil blend meant to be used as an insect repellent, and it was a mixture of lavender, lemon and clove essential oils. Because all three of those essential oils are generally safe for use with children (lemon after 6 months of age, and clove for children over the age of 2), they are good oils to consider when developing a mosquito repellent for your entire family.
Geranium is another safe oil (for children over 6 months) that may also be helpful for repelling mosquitos as well as other insects. It’s another oil to consider adding if you happen to already have it in your home.
Any of these oils can be used alone or combined in a blend to make your own custom homemade mosquito repellent.
You can either add the oil blends to water or you can add them to carrier oil like coconut oil. The blends can be used as a topical spray or diffused to prevent and ward off bugs.
DIY essential oil mosquito repellent
Homemade Mosquito Repellent Spray Recipe
Materials
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
- 20 drops tea tree essential oil
- 20 drops citronella essential oil
- 15 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 5 drops geranium essential oil
- 1 tsp. neem oil
- 1 Tbsp. vodka or denatured alcohol
- distilled water or lavender water
Instructions
- Add all essential oils to a glass spray bottle. This is easiest when using a funnel. You can use a mixture of repellent essential oils of your choice, ending up with around 80 drops of essential oils total.
- Add the neem oil to your mixture. Neem oil is optional, but also does a great job at keeping mosquitos away. (It does have a rather potent scent, though, so if it bothers you, you can either reduce the amount or leave it out completely.)
- Add the alcohol to the bottle. The alcohol is also optional, but it helps to somewhat mix/emulsify the oils into the water mixture. The oils and water will still separate, so you will need to shake the mixture before each use, but it will help dissolve them better each time.
- Fill the rest of the (100ml) bottle with distilled water or lavender water. We had just made lavender water with my new distiller this past weekend, so I used that as it’s potent fragrance should also help against mosquito bites.
- Cap the bottle and shake the mixture before using.
- Shake and spray the mixture on your skin before heading outdoors or when in mosquito infested areas. Do not ingest!
Notes
DIY mosquito repellent for younger children and sensitive skin
- 30 drops lavender essential oil
- 25 drops tea tree essential oil
- 10 drops geranium essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
Add the oils to a 100ml spray bottle. Fill the rest with water. Shake before using. Do not ingest.
As with all essential oil use, use carefully, and at your own risk; every person and body reacts differently to different things.
Are there any other oils you have had luck with keeping insects and other pests away?
What other oil blends help with bug repellant and bite/sting relief?
Sherry
If I make the recipe for sensitive skin can I put this on my dog
Tracy Ariza
Hi Sherry,
I’m not sure. You’d have to check on the safety of each Essential oil for dogs.
I’m also not sure about doing for dogs as they may lick their skin.
Kimberly Gubisch
Is this same for dogs?
Tracy Ariza
Hi Kimberly,
I’m not really sure. You’d want to check on the safety of each oil with dogs before using it on them.
I looked up a few when I formulated my soap-based “shampoo” recipe for dogs, but I don’t remember off the top of my head all of them.
Another thing to keep in mind is that I was using a much higher concentration for the soap because it’s a wash-off product. You have to be much more careful with a spray based product that will stay on them.
Joanne
I have bought lavender hydrasol and witch hazel do I still need the alcohol and water or can I do without?
Tracy Ariza
Hi Joanne,
The alcohol is just to help disperse the oils better and to also help preserve this somewhat.
You can definitely switch out the water for a hydrosol of your choice.
Witch hazel differs depending on where you buy it. There are witch hazel distillates (aka. hydrosols) and then there are also alcohol extracts. Often you’ll find a mix within the same product.
It doesn’t matter too much in this recipe, but if you do have some sort of alcohol in your mix, it will help disperse your oils better and will also help it keep fresher longer.
Jane rose
How much repellent does that make. And how long are u protected for. I swell up when I get bitten really bad and I get savaged if I don’t use repellent. Do u just spray and leave it or rub it in.
Tracy Ariza
Hi Jane,
The recipe is for 100ml, but you can size it up or down as needed.
I bought the bottles locally here in Spain, but these look to be very similar to mine. At 4 ounces, they should hold the 100ml.
As for how to use it, I usually just spray it on. I don’t really think that it’s necessary to rub it in.
How long it lasts? I don’t know, to be honest. I usually bring along a tiny atomizer (something like these atomizers) and occasionally spray some on to keep it fresh. Once you start spraying essential oils on yourself, their scent will begin to fade, so it’s a good idea to keep some on hand.
Barbi
How much water do you add?
Tracy Ariza
Hi Barbie,
I added enough water to fill up the 100ml bottle after having added the oils and any alcohol you want to add. It will depend upon if you add alcohol or not and how much alcohol you choose to add.
Kusumanand
What is witch hazel.
How to make it @ home
Tracy Ariza
Hello,
Witch hazel is the extract of the Hamamelis plant. You can buy it in several formulations- it is sometimes distilled just as a flower water/hydrosol is extracted. Other times it is extracted into alcohol or other solvents. I’ve been considering doing a post on how to make it at home and have some of the plant material at home waiting to be used. 🙂
All of that said, it’s definitely not necessary to make a homemade mosquito repellent.
Elynn
Hello. Usually how long can it be kept if with/ without adding of alcohol?
Tracy Ariza, DDS
Hi Elynn,
I’m actually planning on updating this post this summer and suggest that alcohol always be used, just in case. If made with only oils, though, and no water, it should keep for a very long time, but it’s much messier to apply.
Kandi
Can I use witch hazel instead of water ? Will it have a longer shelf life ?
Tracy Ariza
Hi Kandi,
I don’t see why you couldn’t use witch hazel.
As for the shelf life, it really depends on the witch hazel you use. There are witch hazel formulations with alcohol, which would probably give a longer shelf life. There are also distilled versions without alcohol, which would actually give a shorter shelf life because you are adding botanicals to a water mixture without any sort of preservative.
You can definitely add more alcohol to the mixture, or a stronger one like, to help preserve better.
Jaime Scott PHD
Yes, It’s true. That works perfectly fine..
The fact of the matter is..
Most people use commercial products to prevent mosquitoes and other defenses for their safety due to mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Malaria,
Chikungunya, Yellow Fever, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) , LaCrosse Encephalitis (LAC), West Nile Virus (WNV).
But the problem with commercial products can be harmful to the environment or to the children because of the chemicals.
Instead, they decide to do Natural Mosquito Repellent by planting herbs plants around or inside the house..
It’s really works. thanks for sharing. 😉
Jaime Scott PHD
Health and Wellness Advisor
Tracy Ariza
Hi Jaime,
Thanks for your comments!
I agree, but understand how people are desperate to protect themselves sometimes. It’s hard to always know what’s going to be best.
I like to at least try the natural route first, and resort to commercial products if I must when the others don’t work. For me this summer, this worked well for me. 🙂
CC~
I am really loving ypur straightforward ans simple recipes and their directions! One of the reasons i have never delved into soapmaking was because the instructions i always founs were obtuse at best, and incomplete, at worst. Your liquid soap recipe ( then the matching bar soap recipe ) are what made me decide, at last, to try my hand at making soaps for our family.
Because i am now reading and rereading all your DIY goodness, i saw this in the blog entry with the bug repellent spray recipe and just had to comment:
“Lemongrass has a citrus like scent that I happen to love, but the strength of its smell is highly unattractive to bugs of all kinds, especially mosquitoes and flies.”
While i can’t speak on any but the ones i know, i will tell you that this informarion is not quite correct and is, and may wcwn be unsafe to assumr, given that the insect that is partial to lemongrass essential oil is also capable of causing death in people with sensitive immune systems. Anaphylactic reactions can be deadly if an allergic reaction occurs when a single honey bee is squashed. Additionally, special pheromones that “call in the troops,” are released when the bee dies, wvwry molecule bringing more angry bees to the site where the initial dead bee was killed. More will show up as subtle scent is dispersed, and i believe this is a common trait amongst stinging insects, as well as some bugs that fly *and* sting AND bite, lile some hornets (who eat meat, as well)!
Like i said, i would love to hope i was perfectly wrong since i really LOVE the lemony clarity and the warm familiarity of the lemongrass’ heady aroma. Please note: there are MANY fragrances whose components are considered flying stingerc attractive/attractant, or for whom the chemical makeup of the smell molecules is an irresistable draw-in.
I love honey bees, but i certainly wouldn’t want to find myself with an allergic child in tow, both of us drenched in yummy lemongrass/lavender bug repellent spray that was made with the attractant essential oil i used when i was hiving my honey bee colonies. Lemongrass oil apparently soothes and attracts honwybees, and was initially recommended to me by an old-skool beekeeper to encourage the bees to stay in the hive, and not abscond into the wild!
Anyway, while i can’t attest that lemongrass oil (or anyrhing else, for that matter!) scientifically accomplishes anything at all, i will say I wouldn’t want to risk being the object of an irritated honeybee’s attentions simply for wearing a particular scent or essence, especially if anyone were allergic
You know, being able to control the contents of barsoap is a powerfully good thing. Soap is one of those things that should be tailored to each individual’s personal chemistry, IMO – you put the chemical compound on your skin EVERY time you bathe, if you need to get clean!! Now imagine if we all had our own personal chemical line, from lip balm to toenail fungus remover/killer, and being free of the allergies, inconveniences, and outright misery that chemical allergies didn’t have to put up with ANY of the unwanted side effects that invariably accompany “one size fits all” personal [chemical] products, since they can only safely contain ingredients that are safe and desireable to ANY human being, which narrows down the list of natural, readily (and legally) available additives for both scent and service qualities to a much more manageable, but still considerably diverse list of posssible candidates. Thank you!
Finally, i could not agree with you an iota more, if i had it to wager: “PLEASE tell me what to do – just this one [first] time?” The recipes for youe homemade personal products are calling my name, anx i so aporeciate the time ypu spentmalinf sure “fumblefingers” people like me wil wnjoy this video endlessly!
Following your trail,
CC~
Thank you again – my dry skin is dying to know if the soaps will bring is some relief. See you then!
Tracy Ariza
Hi CC,
Thanks for your comment.
I have updated the post to add the note that lemongrass, while it tends to repel most insects, may attract bees. That said, it is usually used in a combination of oils, along with oils like spearmint, to try to recreate the queen’s pheromones, when it is used to try to attract them.
I have been wearing this spray whenever I go outside for most of the summer, and haven’t noticed that bees find me any more attractive than usual. (With all of the fruit trees in my yard, I tend to be around a lot of them.)
Lemongrass is used in many skin care products, and is generally considered safe. I found another post that covers this topic. You may find it interesting. (They find the probability of attracting a swarm of bees with lemongrass oil is slim to none.)
That said, I did add the note so that those with allergies to bees (or fear of them) can switch out that particular oil and use a different one instead, if they choose.
For most people, I don’t think adding lemongrass is going to be a problem.