Make Your Own Non-Toxic Bug Spray
By Rosemary Fotheringham, FNTP, FDNP. This content first appeared in our Summer 2021 issue.
Summer’s fast approaching which means sun, swimming, barbecues, and—unfortunately—bugs. If the bugs seem to love you, of if you’ve got kids who are prone to mosquito bites, and ounce of prevention in the form of bug repellent is worth a pound of cure.
Unfortunately, most conventional bug repellants contain harmful chemicals including DEET, the common name for N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, also called diethyltoluamide. Studies have shown that DEET can cause neuron death in the areas of the brain involved in muscle coordination, learning, memory, and concentration.
Luckily, it’s easy, quick, and inexpensive to make your own non-toxic insect repellent spray at home using essential oils, which are quite effective at repelling insects. You can enjoy the outdoors with your family without having to worry about getting bitten!
I did exactly this a couple of summers ago when my brother-in-law and his wife got married in an open meadow in western Washington. It was a beautiful location, but it was definitely mosquito season, and they were swarming everywhere. Not only do bugs seem to love me, but I’m incredibly allergic to mosquito bites and get large, painful, golf-ball-sized and unbearably itchy mosquito welts that take days to heal.
I made a dozen small spray bottles of natural insect repellant and placed them on each of the twelve guest tables for the late afternoon and evening reception, and doused myself with spray before and during the event. Even after many hours of being outdoors, I din’t get a single mosquito bite!
While essential oils can be a wonderful natural solution to the problem of bug bites, it’s advisable to take som precautions. Essential oils are incredibly concentrated and shouldn’t be used directly on the skin in their concentrated form; they should first be diluted in a carrier solution. To be extra careful, you may wish to spray it lightly on clothing and gear instead of skin—but if you do this, take care to shake it up thoroughly and not spray too heavily, as it can cause small oil stains on fabric.
Furthermore, some essential oils shouldn’t be used on children. For children, citronella-scented, non-toxic insect repellent bands that can be worn on the wrists and ankles may be a better option.
Most essential oil brands also have blends that work well as insect repellent. A couple I’ve used with success are NOW® Bug Ban™ and DoTERRA On Guard®.
Make Your Own Non-Toxic Bug Spray
with essential oils, a ferw ingredients you might already have on hand, and an empty glass spray bottle:(Adapted from WellnessMama.com)
100 drops essential oils of your choice, such as Bug Ban™
1/2 cup witch hazel
Up to 1/2 cup water (or vinegar)
1 Tbsp vodka or rubbing alcohol
1 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)
In an 8 oz glass spray bottle, using a small funnel, add the vodka and 100 drops of essential oil. WIth the lid on, shake thoroughly to combine.
Add the witch hazel and shake to combine.
Add the vegetable glycerin and enough water to top up the bottle (make sure to leave enough room for the spray nozzle and tube to go back in) and shake thoroughly to mix everything together.
Looking for more? Check out our blog Taylored in Tri-Cities for more!