2 Easy Recipes that Work Wonders! : Homemade Natural Mosquito Repellent

2 Easy Recipes that Work Wonders! : Homemade Natural Mosquito Repellent

2 Easy Recipes that Work Wonders! : Homemade Natural Mosquito Repellent

Are you ready for all the summer outdoor fun? Making your own natural mosquito repellent is going to make this summer even better I promise! They are more effective than citronella candles, and you can take them on outdoor trips with you!

Both of these easy recipes use essential oils and other all natural ingredients. They smell amazing, and are super effective at repelling insects such a mosquitoes! We have tested them in mosquito country during our trip to Florida visiting gorgeous gardens and hiking through the vast Everglades National Park. In this tutorial, I will share these 2 proven effective natural mosquito repellent recipes without any harsh chemicals:
  1.  2 ingredient mosquito spray that takes 1 minute to make. It works amazingly well!
  2. A natural mosquito balm recipe that has skin moisturizing benefits, and you can use it as a lotion or lip balm too!
We will also compare the pros and cons of homemade natural mosquito repellent and conventional store bought bug sprays at the end. 

Here is another good reason for homemade bug repellent: one of the most widely used active ingredients in conventional bug sprays is DEET, which has been linked to neurological problems. It is also toxic to birds and aquatic life. Conclusion: homemade natural mosquito repellent is good for you and good for the planet!

Through some research, I learned that the best all natural mosquito repellent often contains some of the following essential oils you can easily find on Amazon: Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil ( which I have found to be the most effective, and always a key ingredient in the best mosquito repellents ) , Tea Tree oil ( which is also very effective as insect repellent ), Citronella oil, and / or Lavender essential oil. 

Recipe 1: Two-component mosquito spray that takes 1 minute to prepare. Super effective!

We used a high quality 2 ounce glass spray bottle that is convenient to carry. Fill approximately 90% with drinkable quality water and add 10 drops of lemon eucalyptus essential oil and 5 drops of tea tree essential oil or lavender essential oil. 

Note: Lemon eucalyptus oil is not a mixture of lemon oil and eucalyptus oil. Lemon eucalyptus oil is derived from the Corymbia citriodora tree. You can also just use water and 15 drops of Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil, or substitute the 5 drops of tea tree or lavender oil with other essential oils you love such as Citronella, Lemon or Lemongrass, basil or rosemary. I love the smell of lavender, so I use Lavender essential oil often!

Recipe 2: A natural mosquito balm that has skin moisturizing benefits

I also made this natural mosquito repellent balm because it is easier to carry on a hike or camping trip, and it stays on longer especially when we are sweating a lot in the heat. This balm worked beautifully, and it is like a moisturizer with all the goodies in it: essential oils from herbs, Shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax . Yum!
 
UPDATE: A BIG thankyou to our reader Lorie who shared a great tip: “many Essential Oils list their “Flash Points” this being the maximum temperature each should be exposed to. (Similar to different cooking oils) I would caution that many Essential Oils have low “Flash Points”. It may be advisable to stir the melted balm mixture for a bit to let it cool before adding the Essential Oil. This preserves the properties of the more delicate essential oils.
 
With the right proportions of beeswax and oil, you get the right consistency of a firm butter lotion. If it is too soft, it can become watery in the heat. It can be made with bees and oils such as coconut oil, olive oil and almond oil, omitting shea butter. 

The ratios I used are: In addition to 1 tablespoon of bees (chopped or pelleted) and shea butter, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, a total of 15 drops of essential oil blend as in Recipe 1. Create a double boiler by bringing some water close to boiling in a small saucepan, and place a glass or metal dish inside the pan. Add the oils, butters and bees wax. The beeswax will melt in about 5 minutes. Add the essential oils, pour into a container and let cool. The mixture will harden in about 20 minutes. If you do not like the consistency, just return the mixture to the double boiler. Add more bees wax for a firmer consistency and more coconut oil for a softer balm. 

Additional tips, pros and cons:

  1. Essential oils are potent concentrates. It`s important to know the basic safety guidelines. There are two excellent articles from hippie home maker Christina: General Safety and Child Safety
  2. Store these in a cool and dark place when not in use. 3. Homemade natural mosquito repellents are much more effective and healthier than the insect repellent sprays purchased at regular stores. It also costs less. 
The only drawback is that you need to shake the spray before each use and reapply every 24 hours if you sweat. And, of course, if you have a lot of mosquitoes in your garden, it's a good idea to use the following preventive tips: B. Remove accumulated water to prevent mosquitoes from spawning and plant mosquito repellents such as basil, lemongrass and lavender!