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DIY Natural Bug Spray

Easy and effective natural bug spray using essential oils. You can customize the essential oils to make the scent exactly what you want! See the notes below to make a spray that's safe to use on your dog, and notes for using on children and pregnant women.
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Total Time:5 minutes
Keyword: body care, bug spray, summer
Servings: 30 uses

Equipment

  • 1 amber glass spray bottle 4 oz
  • 1 funnel
  • 1 glass measuring cup

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup witch hazel
  • 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
  • 10 drops citronella essential oil
  • 5 drops eucalyptus lemon essential oil
  • 5 drops cedarwood essential oil
  • 5 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

  • Add the witch hazel and apple cider vinegar to your spray bottle.
    1/4 cup witch hazel, 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
  • Then add your essential oils.
    10 drops citronella essential oil, 5 drops eucalyptus lemon essential oil, 5 drops cedarwood essential oil, 5 drops lavender essential oil
  • Add the lid back on your bottle, and give it a good shake.
  • Shake before each use.

Notes

- The recipe as written will give you a 4 oz. bottle that is just over half-full. If you want to make a larger amount, increase the ratios as needed.
- The proper dilution rate for essential oils is 12 drops per 1 oz. of liquid for a 2% dilution (the recommended dilution for most people and most applications). The amount in the recipe is a 2% dilution. It is recommended to use a 0.5-1% dilution for young children and pregnant women* (reduce essential oils to half the amount in the recipe for a 1% dilution). *Not all essential oils are safe to use during pregnancy. Exercise caution, use at your own risk, and consult your physician if in doubt.
- You may need to reapply after a few hours of being outside.
- If you will be out in the sun, do not use citrus oils in your bug spray as they are phototoxic.
- Other essential oils that you can use are lemongrass, rosemary, geranium, and peppermint.
- A tinted glass bottle is best to protect the essential oils, but you can use a plastic bottle as well if needed.
- To make a spray that you can use on your dog: take out the citronella oil and use a 1% dilution for the other oils (6 drops essential oil per 1 oz. of liquid). Do not spray near the eyes or sensitive areas. If you've never used essential oils on your dog before, watch for any adverse reactions. You can test first for any sensitivities by applying the bug spray to a bandana or your dog's harness.