Make Your Own All Natural Insect Repellent

Whether it’s ticks and mosquitos or no see-um’s and biting flies, we’re in the season of BUGS! 

Firstly, let me offer some gratitude for these tiniest of creatures who hold a critical role within our ecosystems and without which we wouldn’t enjoy the world we live in today.

Insects are responsible for many elements within our beautiful world including pollination, natural pest control and ecosystem balance, healthy soils, sequestering carbon and digesting plastics, not to mention being an important food source for many other wildlife.  

At the very same time however, the ones that bite can be a real challenge. And if you’re anything like me, you like to use as few products as possible and make the ones you can from scratch so you know everything that’s in them!

Over the years of living and working outdoors, I’ve mostly learned to tolerate bug bites here and there. However, there are certain months (like May) when I love to have a little protection from the critters.

I’ve been working on a bug repellent recipe, fine tuning it over time, crafting a concoction that seems to work quite well to deter and dissuade most biting insects—plus it smells great and is completely environmentally friendly, not harming either them or you in any way.

I hope you enjoy and let me know in the comments how it works for you!

All Natural Insect & Tick Repellent Recipe

3 oz water

1 oz grain alcohol (I use vodka or everclear)

2 tsp Jojoba oil

120 drops Citronella essential oil

30 drops Geranium essential oil

30 drops Cedar essential oil

10 drops Peppermint essential oil

10 drops Eucalyptus Essential oil

Mix all ingredients together in a quart size mason jar . Put the lid on and shake everything together very well until it is all emulsified and incorporated. Pour mixture into a spray bottle. Shake up before each use.