Summer is approaching, which means walks in nature, trips, swimming, camps... and also encounters with bedbugs, mosquitoes, ticks and other nasty insects. That is why we are here today with a recipe for a natural repellent that does not contain unnecessary chemicals and is also suitable for sensitive or children's skin.
Why homemade?
As we have already indicated, you will not find the chemicals that are mostly contained in purchased repellents in the homemade bug spray. Unfortunately, these have a negative impact on the natural environment, and in addition quite often cause eye or skin irritation and various rashes.
Simple, cheap, no waste
A significant plus of homemade repellent is its relatively low purchase price and the fact that you can mix it without equipment, simply and in a few minutes. You can also adjust the recipe according to your needs and the ingredients you have in your pantry. You can make as much of it as you need and you can pour it into bottles of different sizes that can be used repeatedly, and go on a trip with as much repellent as you need.
And because we are sure that everyone should have a homemade natural repellent at home, we present several options for how to use it!
Insect spray with essential oils
Essential oils are a great help when it comes to fighting insects. So this natural repellant is very effective, but some essential oils can cause discomfort on very sensitive or baby skin, so be sure to test beforehand, or just spray this repellant on your clothes, it still works great.
Essential oils repel insects in general
Any combination of these oils works well against mosquitoes and other insects: citronella, geranium (nutmeg), tarragon, lemon, thyme, cedar, lavender, star anise, lemon eucalyptus, cajeput, rosemary, mint .
All these essential oils work great, so if you want to try a homemade repellant, but you are missing one of the oils we used, don't be afraid to replace it with another of the above.
What will be needed?
- 30 drops of Geranium essential oil
- 30 drops of Citronella essential oil
- 20 drops of lemon Eucalyptus essential oil
- 20 drops of Lavender essential oil
- 10 drops of Rosemary essential oil
- 1 tablespoon of vodka or alcohol
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) fairy water
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) of water or vinegar (the latter is stronger)
- 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin (it doesn't have to be, but it will ensure a better mixing of all the ingredients)
How to do it?
Drop the essential oils into the selected spray bottle. Add vodka or alcohol and shake well. Add elven water to the essential oil and alcohol mixture and shake again. Then add glycerin and shake. Finally, add water and shake again. Also, shake well before each use (water and oils will naturally separate over time).
Homemade herbal repellent
You can make homemade bug spray without essential oils. This variant is cheaper and gentler, but at the same time a little less effective than the one with essential oils.
What will be needed?
- Distilled water
- Fairy water (or alcohol)
- Dried or fresh herbs: lavender, peppermint, cloves, citronella, lemongrass, rosemary, thyme, cat's wort.
How to do it?
Boil a cup of water (240 ml) with 3 or 4 tablespoons of herbs in any combination. A proven mixture consists of a spoonful of peppermint, a spoonful of lavender, a spoonful of rosemary, a spoonful of catnip and a few cloves. Mix everything, cover and let it cool (it is important to cover the container so that volatile substances do not escape). Then strain and mix the herbal decoction with elven water. Pour into a suitable bottle and store ideally in the fridge, the spray cools nicely in the summer.
TIP: If you have time, make a more effective version of this repellent and make a tincture from herbs and alcohol (40%).
More simple insect repellent ideas
If you don't have all the ingredients, you can make a good repellent with other ratios, win! In general, for homemade repellants, you need vinegar, vodka or alcohol (40%), witch hazel and vegetable glycerin or maybe coconut oil in combination with the mentioned essential oils, herbs or garlic (but be careful with this, it can burn the skin).
Vanilla also works great. Add vanilla extract to our recipes or mix elf water with water and vanilla extract to use as a quick repellant. A simple but effective option is vanilla macerate spread directly on the skin.
Apply laurel oil or lavender essential oil to hot parts of the body (behind the ears, neck, armpits). If you have, crushed fresh lavender rubbed into these parts of the body also works great.
Grow insect repellent herbs in your garden or flower pot. And when you need to act quickly, just knead them and rub them into the skin. Mint and basil are great, and almost everyone has them at home!
Comment
Take the repellent with you on trips and spray yourself every 2 to 3 hours. Small spray bottles are perfect for this, like this one, which doesn't take up any space in your backpack.
He first tests his manufactured repellent, like other home preparations, on a smaller part of the skin, for example on the leg.
Do not be afraid to adjust the recipes according to your ideas and according to the requirements of the environment in which you are moving!
