Confused about the best natural mosquito repellent that really works? Repel bugs naturally with essential oils and other ingredients that naturally repel mosquitoes and other bugs. Find easy recipes that really work so you can make your own at home.
It's been summer for about a week, and we finally got the pool cleaned out and ready to use. Of course, the kids wanted to jump in right away.
I prefer my water closer to 80 degrees, so I didn't join them the first few nights.
I prefer my water closer to 80 degrees, so I didn't join them the first few nights.
Instead, I sat on the patio and fed the mosquitoes. After about 5 minutes, I went in to get my bug spray that I made last year and finally got some relief.
We're trying to live a more natural lifestyle, so we're avoiding chemicals as much as we can. I have two kids with autism, and I worry about how the chemicals will affect them neurologically.
I also have pets that I don't want to get hurt because we are using chemicals at home. Nacho is a chihuahua mix. At just over 7 pounds, he's pretty tiny.
The previous owner of the farm also believed in a natural home. He was proud of the fact that he hadn't used chemicals in the 15 years he had owned the place, and we were very thankful.
Although we want to use natural products, we don't want to sacrifice quality. There are a lot of scary diseases being spread by mosquitoes. I don't want my family subject to them either.
Thankfully, there are several natural mosquito repellent products to buy or DIY. And they really work!
Mosquitoes and other bugs love me. I can sit with 5 other people, and I will be eaten alive when they don't get bit.
If I am going to be outside for more than 5 minutes, I have to wear some kind of natural mosquito repellent. My bites get itchy, and they've gotten infected a few times. That hurts. A lot.
I'd heard that essential oils could work just as well as the name brand stuff with chemicals, but I was hesitant. I didn't think it would work for me.
Last year, I was at the store that sells Crafty Bubbles, and he handed me his new Insect Repellent blend. I was actually there shopping for the oils to make my own, but he beat me to it. Rather than buy a bunch of oils, I took his blend home and tried it out.
Y'all. I was shocked. Like I said, I didn't have high hopes for any essential oil or blend. The first thing I made was the spray.
Before, I had to spray bug repellent from head to toe. Now I spray a little on each ankle (because that's where the biting flies get me) and one on each arm. Sometimes I'll spray the back of my neck.
No bites.
None.
Even the brand from the store didn't stop the bites when I was practically bathing in it. So now I keep a bottle of the spray on my patio table and reapply every time I walk outside.
So not only does a natural mosquito repellent work better, but it's not harmful to my body. Commercial bug repellents like DEET are thought to be safe, but they can cause skin irritations, upset stomach, and nausea.
Pets can experience shaking, seizures, loss of coordination, and vomiting. Nacho has a seizure last month (completely unrelated to DEET!), so I'm being cautious with what he's exposed to. (source)
DEET can be absorbed into the body through the skin. It can be found in the blood up to 12 hours after using it.
After it enters the body, the liver breaks it down. It is then expelled through urine. It can take up to 24 hours for it to be completely eliminated.
DEET can also be found in our water system. It's toxic to fish and other animals at high doses, and it can kill the insects.
When the insects die at high rates, other animals lose their food source.
If you need another reason to avoid DEET, a 2009 study showed that DEET can block the enzyme cholinesterase in mammals. This may block messages from the muscles to the brain and affect the nervous system.
Natural mosquito repellent works with essential oils. There are several essential oils that you can use to repel bugs, and they work differently.
Lemon eucalyptus and citronella are the most popular, but there are other oils that can change the scent to a more pleasant one for you or work in different ways.
One thing to note is that essential oils generally don't last as long as commercial bug repellents, so you'll have to apply more often.
You can also use a fixative to help the oils last longer. These help reduce evaporation from alcohol based ingredients, which most natural mosquito repellent sprays are.
Common natural fixatives are:
Lemon eucalyptus is up to 85 percent citronellal, so it's closely related to citronella. It repels several kinds of mosquitoes.
This oil can last up to three hours when applied topically.
Although not a popular essential oil for bug repellent, clove essential oil is effective for about an hour and a half.
Clove has a strong scent and can cause skin irritation, so it's best left to a candle or wax melt. If you use it for a spray, dilute it properly and combine it with other oils.
Peppermint is a natural mosquito repellent at high concentrations, but you won't want to apply it to your skin at high concentrations.
Peppermint can protect you for up to two and a half hours.
Lemongrass is a great smelling herb with a light citrus scent. It protects against mosquitoes, but it doesn't protect against 100 percent of mosquitoes. It's usually mixed with other oils.
Lemongrass can last up to two and a half hours when applied topically.
Eucalyptus is a great natural mosquito repellent. It can repel most mosquitoes, but it should be combined with other oils for more protection.
Eucalyptus lasts up to two hours when applied topically.
Thyme essential oil can repel most mosquitoes when used topically. You can also burn the leaves to repel in a large area.
Thyme lasts for about 80 minutes, so it needs to be reapplied often.
This is what I use in my recipes.
Insect Repellent is a blend of:
I use and like Simply Earth essential oils. They also have their own bug blend called Bug Fighter.
It's a blend of:
Repel Lemon Eucaplyptus is considered a highly effective natural mosquito repellent, and it's available at most big box stores and on Amazon.
It's DEET free and works up to 6 hours. It's safe for children over 3.
We're trying to live a more natural lifestyle, so we're avoiding chemicals as much as we can. I have two kids with autism, and I worry about how the chemicals will affect them neurologically.
I also have pets that I don't want to get hurt because we are using chemicals at home. Nacho is a chihuahua mix. At just over 7 pounds, he's pretty tiny.
The previous owner of the farm also believed in a natural home. He was proud of the fact that he hadn't used chemicals in the 15 years he had owned the place, and we were very thankful.
Although we want to use natural products, we don't want to sacrifice quality. There are a lot of scary diseases being spread by mosquitoes. I don't want my family subject to them either.
Thankfully, there are several natural mosquito repellent products to buy or DIY. And they really work!
THE BEST NATURAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT TO BUY OR DIY
WHY CHOOSE NATURAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT
Mosquitoes and other bugs love me. I can sit with 5 other people, and I will be eaten alive when they don't get bit.
If I am going to be outside for more than 5 minutes, I have to wear some kind of natural mosquito repellent. My bites get itchy, and they've gotten infected a few times. That hurts. A lot.
I'd heard that essential oils could work just as well as the name brand stuff with chemicals, but I was hesitant. I didn't think it would work for me.
Last year, I was at the store that sells Crafty Bubbles, and he handed me his new Insect Repellent blend. I was actually there shopping for the oils to make my own, but he beat me to it. Rather than buy a bunch of oils, I took his blend home and tried it out.
Y'all. I was shocked. Like I said, I didn't have high hopes for any essential oil or blend. The first thing I made was the spray.
Before, I had to spray bug repellent from head to toe. Now I spray a little on each ankle (because that's where the biting flies get me) and one on each arm. Sometimes I'll spray the back of my neck.
No bites.
None.
Even the brand from the store didn't stop the bites when I was practically bathing in it. So now I keep a bottle of the spray on my patio table and reapply every time I walk outside.
So not only does a natural mosquito repellent work better, but it's not harmful to my body. Commercial bug repellents like DEET are thought to be safe, but they can cause skin irritations, upset stomach, and nausea.
Pets can experience shaking, seizures, loss of coordination, and vomiting. Nacho has a seizure last month (completely unrelated to DEET!), so I'm being cautious with what he's exposed to. (source)
DEET can be absorbed into the body through the skin. It can be found in the blood up to 12 hours after using it.
After it enters the body, the liver breaks it down. It is then expelled through urine. It can take up to 24 hours for it to be completely eliminated.
DEET can also be found in our water system. It's toxic to fish and other animals at high doses, and it can kill the insects.
When the insects die at high rates, other animals lose their food source.
If you need another reason to avoid DEET, a 2009 study showed that DEET can block the enzyme cholinesterase in mammals. This may block messages from the muscles to the brain and affect the nervous system.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Natural mosquito repellent works with essential oils. There are several essential oils that you can use to repel bugs, and they work differently.
Lemon eucalyptus and citronella are the most popular, but there are other oils that can change the scent to a more pleasant one for you or work in different ways.
One thing to note is that essential oils generally don't last as long as commercial bug repellents, so you'll have to apply more often.
You can also use a fixative to help the oils last longer. These help reduce evaporation from alcohol based ingredients, which most natural mosquito repellent sprays are.
Common natural fixatives are:
- Amyris
- Balsam of Peru
- Cedarwood, atlas
- Clary sage
- Frankincense
- Myrrh
- Patchouli
- Sandalwood
- Vanilla
There are other fixatives, but they would blend well with the oils that you would find in natural products or DIY natural mosquito repellent recipes.
CITRONELLA
Citronella is probably the most common natural mosquito repellent. It's said to be as effective as DEET for repelling bugs.
Citronella evaporates quickly, so you will need to use a fixative or apply more often. Citronella can last up two 2 hours when applied topically.
For this reason, it's perhaps better suited to a candle. I usually mix it with other essential oils for its benefits and the longer lasting effects of other oils.
LEMON EUCALYPTUS
Lemon eucalyptus is up to 85 percent citronellal, so it's closely related to citronella. It repels several kinds of mosquitoes.
This oil can last up to three hours when applied topically.
CLOVE
Although not a popular essential oil for bug repellent, clove essential oil is effective for about an hour and a half.
Clove has a strong scent and can cause skin irritation, so it's best left to a candle or wax melt. If you use it for a spray, dilute it properly and combine it with other oils.
PEPPERMINT
Peppermint is a natural mosquito repellent at high concentrations, but you won't want to apply it to your skin at high concentrations.
Peppermint can protect you for up to two and a half hours.
LEMONGRASS
Lemongrass is a great smelling herb with a light citrus scent. It protects against mosquitoes, but it doesn't protect against 100 percent of mosquitoes. It's usually mixed with other oils.
Lemongrass can last up to two and a half hours when applied topically.
EUCALYPTUS
Eucalyptus is a great natural mosquito repellent. It can repel most mosquitoes, but it should be combined with other oils for more protection.
Eucalyptus lasts up to two hours when applied topically.
THYME
Thyme essential oil can repel most mosquitoes when used topically. You can also burn the leaves to repel in a large area.
Thyme lasts for about 80 minutes, so it needs to be reapplied often.
CRAFTY BUBBLES INSECT REPELLENT
This is what I use in my recipes.
Insect Repellent is a blend of:
- Lemon eucalyptus
- Citronella
- Lemongrass
- Lavender
- Cedarwood
SIMPLY EARTH BUG FIGHTER BLEND
I use and like Simply Earth essential oils. They also have their own bug blend called Bug Fighter.
It's a blend of:
- Patchouli
- Lemongrass
- Cedarwood
It's safe for kids 10 and older.
MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS BUG BLEND
Mountain Rose Herbs has a blend called Bug Blend.
It's a blend of:
- Cedarwood
- Lemongrass
- Rosemary
- Geranium
- Spearmint
- Thyme
BEST NATURAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT TO BUY
REPEL LEMON EUCALYPTUS
Repel Lemon Eucaplyptus is considered a highly effective natural mosquito repellent, and it's available at most big box stores and on Amazon.
It's DEET free and works up to 6 hours. It's safe for children over 3.
DON'T BUG ME! BUG OFF STICK
SIMPLY EARTH BUG FIGHTER ROLL ON
The Simply Earth Bug Fighter Roll On is an easy to use product that's great for taking with you. It has essential oils in fractionated coconut oil to naturally repel bugs.
It is safe for children 10 and older.
SKY ORGANICS BUG SPRAY
Sky Organics Bug Spray is organic, natural, vegan, and cruelty free. It's safe for both kids of all ages, adults, and even pets.
DON'T BUG ME! BUG REPELLENT
Don't Bug Me! Bug Repellent has natural essential oils to repel bugs, including mosquitoes.
These Deter Insect Repellent wipes are perfect for keeping in the car or in your purse. They don't have DEET and work on mosquitoes, biting flies, gnats, and other bugs.
If you want personal bug repellent but don't want a spray, try these mosquito repelling bracelets. They have citronella to naturally repel bugs.
Each bracelet offers 240 hours of protection. This is safe for children over 2-years-old.
This Bug Off! Citronella candle is handmade by Willow Moon Candle on Etsy. This has essential oils and soy wax.
Simply Earth, one of the two companies I get my essential oils from, also has their own natural mosquito repellent spray.
This is safe for children 3-years-old or older.
Badger Anti-Bug Repellent Spray is one of the more popular natural mosquito repellent sprays. It uses citronella, rosemary, and wintergreen essential oils to repel bugs.
Repel bugs on your patio or backyard with these citronella incense cones. They are handmade by World Incense Store on Etsy.
Take your natural mosquito repellent on the go with these nongreasy lotion bars made with an insect repellent essential oil blend. They won't spill in your purse, so they are great to throw in your purse, leave in the car, or toss in a beach bag.
Get the natural bug repellent solid lotion recipe here.
DETER NATURAL WIPES
These Deter Insect Repellent wipes are perfect for keeping in the car or in your purse. They don't have DEET and work on mosquitoes, biting flies, gnats, and other bugs.
MOSQUITO REPELLENT BRACELETS
Each bracelet offers 240 hours of protection. This is safe for children over 2-years-old.
CITRONELLA CANDLE
This Bug Off! Citronella candle is handmade by Willow Moon Candle on Etsy. This has essential oils and soy wax.
NATURAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT
Simply Earth, one of the two companies I get my essential oils from, also has their own natural mosquito repellent spray.
This is safe for children 3-years-old or older.
BADGER ANTI-BUG REPELLENT SPRAY
Badger Anti-Bug Repellent Spray is one of the more popular natural mosquito repellent sprays. It uses citronella, rosemary, and wintergreen essential oils to repel bugs.
CITRONELLA INCENSE CONES
Repel bugs on your patio or backyard with these citronella incense cones. They are handmade by World Incense Store on Etsy.
BEST NATURAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT TO DIY
BUG REPELLENT SOLID LOTION
Get the natural bug repellent solid lotion recipe here.
BUG REPELLENT FLOATING CANDLES
Set a pretty atmosphere and repel bugs with these bug repellent floating candles. They are easy to make with soy wax and essential oils.
Set them in a mason jar filled with water or use several in a large flat dish and light to repel bugs.
Get the recipe for DIY bug repellent floating candles here.
BUG REPELLENT CANDLE MELTS
These bug repellent wax melts are easy to make since they don't have a wick. They use soy wax and an essential oil blend to naturally repel bugs.
I like these because you can use them for a few minutes to a few hours without worrying about ruining the wick.
Get the recipe for bug repellent candle melts here.
DIY TIKI TORCH FUEL FOR MOSQUITOES
Tiki torches are great for outdoor parties because they provide light. Make your own tiki torch fuel with a bug repellent blend to naturally eliminate pests.
Get the recipe for DIY tiki torch fuel for mosquitoes.
HOMEMADE INSECT REPELLENT SPRAY
This bug repellent spray is very easy to make. It's great for repelling mosquitoes and other bugs. We have a lot of biting flies, but this repels them nicely.
Get the recipe for a homemade bug repellent spray here.
TICK AND MOSQUITO COLLAR FOR DOGS
Make a reusable bandanna collar for your dog to naturally repel mosquitoes and ticks. This is also a great option to take with you if you'll be in the woods or hiking.
Get the recipe to make a DIY flea and tick collar for dogs.
BUG AWAY BUTTER
This bug away butter is a great recipe to make from scratch. It uses several essential oils that are known to repel bugs.
Get the recipe for insect repellent body butter here.
Now you know the best natural mosquito repellent to buy or DIY. Have you tried using essential oils to repel bugs naturally?
Now you know the best natural mosquito repellent to buy or DIY. Have you tried using essential oils to repel bugs naturally?
