Skip The Chemicals With These 11 DIY Insect Repellents
Warm weather means we’re soaking up rays all day working on our tan, but when the evening comes, it’s time to trade in that sunblock for a little insect repellent. And aerosol mosquito spray is not only bad for the Earth, it’s also toxic enough to make you read that warning label twice. So, what we realized is that we needed to get the buzz on non-toxic homemade repellent options. From sprays to scented candles, here are our top 11 ways to avoid those bugs without disrupting the ecosystem.
1. DIY Mosquito Repellent: We’ll kick things off with our very own mix of citrus, citronella and eucalyptus. (via Brit + Co)
2. All-Natural Repellent: This chemical-free recipe can be made organic. It combines several essential oils with witch hazel to make a spray that will keep you safe without the Deet. (via Love Life Naturally)
3. Vanilla-Scented Insect Repellent: Aside from the fact that this stuff actually smells good, the cost of putting together a bottle is a major bonus. It’s less than $1 per container once you’ve gathered your main ingredients! (via Popsugar)
4. Insect Repellent Soap: By combining Castile soap and a few drops of essential oils, like lavender or lemon balm, and washing up before and after you spend time outdoors, you can help keep pesky bugs at bay. (via Good Housekeeping)
5. Lavender Insect Repellent: This one’s super simple and keeps both flies and mosquitos at a distance. Plus, lavender. Yes, please. (via WikiHow)
6. Homemade Bug Repellent: Combine, shake, spray. Rumor has it, this one’s strong smell fades quickly, leaving a powerful bug deterrent in its wake. (via The Princess and the Frog)
7. Essential Oil Spray: Full disclosure — this one’s for your furry friends only, because Fido isn’t a fan of bugs either. This recipe will help keep all kinds of pests away from his glossy coat. (via Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer)
8. Homemade Citronella Candles: Here’s a little something to keep mosquitos from crashing all the outdoor dinner parties you have planned this summer. (via Stop To Smell The Hydrangeas)
9. Scented Citronella Candles: This simple DIY takes your basic candle recipe to the next level with the addition of eucalyptus oil, which helps cut back the sometimes overpowering scent of citronella. (via Free People Blog)
10. Bug Repellent Balm: By combining beeswax, olive and coconut oils and a selection of dried herbs and essential oils, you can create a lemon-yellow salve with some pretty impressive insect-warding properties. (via Gardenista)
11. Bug Bite Relief Stick: Because sometimes, no matter how much citronella, catnip or witch hazel we enlist, bug bites happen. This recipe will calm irritated skin and help keep the itch away. (via Fresh Picked Beauty)
Are you over your traditional bug spray? Do you have a homemade insect repellent tip you want to share with us? Let us know in the comments below!
