If you live in the city or out in the country bugs are EVERYWHERE. They can sometimes make just being outside miserable. In our neck of the woods, the weather has been just right for an increase of insects outside. I am not a huge fan of bugs in general, because of this I have done some research on essential oils and what I found should help you in your effort to ward off any insects that are trying to “bug” you. 😀

DIY Bug Spray

There are quite a few essential oils that have a proven track record of helping to ward off insects. I try to make sure that I keep all of my essential oils in my essential oil storage case to keep them safe and protect them from breakage, spills, and damage from the sun.

Lavender Essential Oil has been used with great success in keeping bugs at bay. Lavender is also effective at warding off fleas. The family pet may like a little Lavender essential oil this summer!

Lemongrass Essential Oil has been shown to be effective at repelling ticks and fleas as well. It is closely related to the citronella plant which is a repellent of many insects.

Vetiver Essential Oil is a known insect repellent for termites, what works well for something as tough as termites are very likely to work well on other insects as well. This essential oil is quite potent and should be kept out of the reach of children.

Patchouli Essential Oil is also known as an effective termite repellent and a mosquito repellent. This essential oil is peppery in its aroma.

There have been studies recently that have shown that eucalyptus essential oil is very effective as an insect repellent even in studies comparing it with name brand repellents.    

There are a number of ways that you can incorporate these essential oils into your daily bug repellent routine. Below are a couple of my personal favorite recipes and ways of applying these oils! One thing, natural bug repellents are absorbed into the skin much more quickly and so they need to be applied more often than store bought brands.

• DIY Bug Spray – in a 4 to 8 oz glass spray bottle fill most of the way with water (or for very thick infestation areas half apple cider vinegar and half water) and then add 8 to 10 drops of lavender, lemongrass, vetiver and eucalyptus essential oils. Shake well before each use. Store in a dark place out of reach of children.
• DIY Bug Oil/ Lotion – in a glass jar, (or reuse a washed jar), combine your favorite natural oil (coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, etc.) and then mix in patchouli, eucalyptus, and lavender. Apply to skin that will be exposed.  

Also, a little-known fact about garlic:

In addition to vampires, garlic is a natural insect repellent! Who knew? Eating more garlic in your everyday meals, taking garlic supplements or applying garlic oil topically could also help aid in repelling insects. If you use garlic essential oil, keep it in a container or EO case because if it spills or breaks, it will fill the place with the aroma of garlic for a while.