How to Make a Super Easy DIY Bug Spray (2 Recipes—for Kids + Adults)

Don’t Bug Me! DIY Bug Spray That Works!

The beauty of spring and summer is spending more time outdoors enjoying the beautiful warm weather. But that also means more bugs and insects. Learn how to make a super easy DIY bug spray using essential oils and all-natural ingredients.

Summer is finally here! Officially, and I’m loving it! That means the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the flowers are blooming. Warm weather is here to stay! And of course, with warm weather comes the nuisance of…bugs, bugs, and more bugs!

There is nothing more annoying than going for an evening walk in the woods or going for a hike and being attacked by creepy crawlies. Bug bites come along with spending more time outdoors.

But don’t worry, you don’t have to spend all summer dodging and swatting at these annoying pests.

Instead, check out this super easy DIY bug spray that uses essential oils to get rid of pesky bugs! No chemicals needed!

It’s true there are loads of bug sprays and insect repellents on the market but if you ever looked at the ingredient list on the back, you’ll be amazed that a bunch of them are loaded with toxic chemicals!

Did you know that most of the active ingredients in bug sprays are pesticides? You probably don’t want to be anywhere near these chemicals, let alone spray them all over my body!

And if that wasn’t bad enough, commercial insect repellents and bug sprays can get a little pricey, especially if you have to buy multiple bottles to last you all summer long. You can save money and be safe by making these DIY bug spray and salve recipes for you and your kids!

Fortunately, the essential oils in this DIY bug spray can effectively repel bugs.

I used four essential oils in my DIY bug spray—lemon eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, and patchouli essential oils for kids 3 years and over, and eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, and patchouli essential oils for adults. Each of these essential oils has wonderful properties for keeping bugs at bay.

Lemon eucalyptus essential oil is a popular insect repellent choice because of its refreshing scent. It has several beneficial properties that make it an ideal essential oil to stave off mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and similar insects. It’s actually reported by the CDC to be a good natural substitution for DEET, but it is not recommended for use on children under 3 years.

Just like lemon eucalyptus oil, eucalyptus essential oil is a natural insect repellent that’s great for keeping mosquitoes and other blood-sucking pests at bay. It has a distinctly earthy aroma that repels insects plus it can help drain your sinuses if you suffer from spring allergies and you’re out and about.

Lavender essential oil acts as a repellent for mosquitoes and most insects, and heals their bites. It provides relaxing effects while keeping you protected. And unlike some essential oils, lavender is considered safe to use on kids. So if you have little ones and you want them to be protected from bug bites, keep a bottle of this wonderful essential oil handy to keep the bugs away when you use it in this DIY bug spray.

Lemongrass essential oil is another all-natural insect repellent due to its pleasing aroma and overall effectiveness. It’s closely related to citronella so it repels a greater variety of insects, making it great on a camping trip. And when combined with lemon eucalyptus oil in this DIY bug spray, it creates an even stronger insect repellent, one that can protect you for 5 to 6 hours per application.

Patchouli essential oil is a strong and effective natural insect repellent. It possesses a distinct musky, deep and earthy fragrance that works to drive away pesky bugs such as mosquitoes, moths and ants as well as lice, bed bugs and fleas. It provides a natural way to get rid of these pests.

Note: Citrus oils such as lemongrass and lemon eucalyptus essential oils cause UV sensitivity, so you need to be careful and use them on skin that will be exposed to the sun. To be safe and to reduce the risk of a negative reaction, it’s best to use this DIY bug spray under clothing or when the sun has set.

Plus of course, always remember to use sunscreen—even if you use the spray under your clothing. If you want to substitute another oil for the citrus oils, you can use peppermint, rosemary or thyme essential oils instead.

Don’t Bug Me! DIY Bug Spray Recipe

Ready to make your own super easy DIY bug spray? Get your supplies ready and just see for yourself what a breeze it is to whip up!

Ingredients:

DIY bug spray for kids age 3+:

1 ounce witch hazel
8 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
8 drops lavender essential oil
7 drops lemongrass essential oil
7 drops patchouli essential oil
1 ounce spray bottle (glass spray bottles are best when using citrus oils)

DIY bug spray for adults and kids age 10+:

1 ounce witch hazel
8 drops eucalyptus essential oil
8 drops lavender essential oil
7 drops lemongrass essential oil
7 drops patchouli essential oil
1 ounce spray bottle (glass spray bottles are best when using citrus oils)

Note: Substituting witch hazel with sunflower oil will make the DIY bug spray stay longer on your skin.

Directions:

Fill your spray bottle with about 0.5 ounces of witch hazel (or sunflower oil if using).
Add 8 drops of lemon eucalyptus for kids’ formulation or 8 drops of eucalyptus for adults’ formulation, 8 drops of lavender, 7 drops of lemongrass, and 7 drops of patchouli essential oils.
Fill your spray bottle with the remaining half of the witch hazel or sunflower oil. Just be sure that it doesn’t overflow and that you leave a small amount of room at the top unfilled so you have space for your sprayer.
Place the lid on the spray bottle, and shake well before each use.

How To Use

Shake well before each use.
Mist onto your skin generously anytime or anywhere to keep bugs and insects away. Do not spray directly on face. Spray on hands then apply to face.
For kids under 2 years of age, spray onto their clothes (and not on their skin).
If you have bug spray on your hands, avoid touching your eyes and mouth.
Apply as often as needed.

Don’t have time to DIY?

If you don’t have time to DIY or you don’t really feel like making your own spray, you can purchase these pre-made bug repellent sprays from Angels n’ Dudes. Along with bug-repelling essential oils, these bug sprays are infused with African wild cucumber, an herb that’s widely used for its antibacterial properties and effectiveness in getting rid of body odor.

Enjoy your summer nights free of pesky bugs!

Benefits

Whether you’re camping, hiking, at the beach, pool, barbecuing, or just hanging out in your backyard, this super easy DIY bug spray will keep biting insects away and all your summer adventures will be bug-free.

With bug-repelling eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, and patchouli, this DEET-free natural insect repellent mist is the perfect way to repel mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and ticks for up to six hours, keeping you fishing, camping, and hanging out in comfort.