Homemade Bug Repellent Spray with Essential Oils

QUICK SUMMARY

Essential oils that repel bugs are a simple, family-friendly way to enjoy warm weather without making harsh chemical sprays your first line of defense.

Research shows that several essential oils and plant-derived compounds can repel mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects, including clove, cinnamon, geraniol, peppermint, geranium, lemongrass, citronella, catnip, lemon eucalyptus, patchouli, and other aromatic oils. The key is formulation. Most DIY essential oil bug repellents need to be reapplied more often than synthetic repellents, especially when you’re sweating, swimming, gardening, or spending hours outside.

Use these homemade bug repellent recipes as practical tools for backyard play, family walks, gardening, patio time, and everyday outdoor living. For high-risk tick exposure, travel, or mosquito-borne disease areas, use wisdom and follow current public health guidance.

Warm weather brings sunshine, barbecues, gardening, pool days, family walks, and, unfortunately, plenty of bugs. Instead of spraying your family with harsh, chemical-laden repellents every time you step outside, you can turn to essential oil insect repellents as part of a safer, lower-tox outdoor routine.

These bug-repelling oils work because aromatic plant compounds can interfere with how mosquitoes, gnats, flies, ticks, and other biting insects locate us. God designed plants with remarkable protective compounds, and we can use those same gifts wisely in our homes, gardens, and daily lives.

Let’s explore how to make your own DIY bug spray and protect yourself from mosquito bites and other insects naturally. We give you a few variations to explore here.

The Problem with Conventional Bug Repellents

Many conventional bug repellents and pest-control products rely on chemicals such as DEET, permethrin, and malathion. These products can be effective, and there are times when stronger protection is wise, but they are not the only tools available for everyday outdoor living.

This is important: the biggest safety problems with conventional repellents usually happen with misuse, overuse, accidental ingestion, high exposure, or combining multiple pesticides. The ATSDR toxicological profile for DEET notes that serious effects reported after oral or dermal exposure to products containing DEET have included neurological effects, and animal research has examined effects from repeated dermal exposure to DEET alone or in combination with permethrin. (1, 2)

That does not mean every occasional use of a conventional repellent will harm you. It means families who are working to reduce toxic burden have good reason to ask better questions: Do we need the strongest chemical option for a short evening on the patio? Is there a lower-tox choice for gardening? Can we use clothing, fans, screens, standing-water control, and essential oils before reaching for harsher sprays?

To mask chemical odors, many products also add synthetic fragrances. The word “fragrance” can hide a long list of undisclosed ingredients, which is one more reason we love simple, transparent DIY options when they make sense.

Why Essential Oil Repellents Are Safer

Essential oils are volatile organic compounds that plants naturally produce for protection, communication, and defense. When we use them properly, they can help us create homemade bug sprays, patio diffuser blends, garden sprays, and outdoor routines that reduce our dependence on harsher chemical products.

Research shows that several essential oils offer topical repellent activity, but their protection times are generally shorter than synthetic options like DEET. A 2023 study tested 20 active ingredients at 10% concentrations and found that clove oil, cinnamon oil, geraniol, and 2-phenethyl propionate offered the longest protection from Aedes aegypti mosquito bites, exceeding one hour. Peppermint, geranium, lemongrass, citronella, spearmint, and garlic offered protection for more than 30 minutes. Under the same study conditions, 10% DEET protected for up to six hours. (3)

Reality check: most DIY essential oil bug repellents will not last as long as a well-formulated synthetic repellent. That does not make them useless. It means you need to reapply them more often and use them as part of a broader plan.

The CDC currently recommends EPA-registered repellents for protection against mosquito-borne germs and lists DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD, and 2-undecanone as active ingredients in registered repellents. The CDC also says not to use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD on children under 3 years old. (4, 5)

Application: For everyday backyard play, gardening, patio sitting, family walks, and lower-risk outdoor time, homemade essential oil bug spray can be a wonderful non-toxic living swap. For high-risk tick exposure, heavy mosquito-borne disease areas, or travel where insects carry serious illness, use a stronger protection plan and follow current public health guidance.

To get the most out of your DIY essential oil bug repellent:

• Choose a blend that fits your body chemistry
• Use a good carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, or neem for improved staying power on the skin
• Reapply every 60 to 90 minutes, or more frequently if sweating or swimming
• Avoid eyes, mouth, hands of young children, cuts, and irritated skin
• Do not spray these body recipes on pets

You can also create a diffuser blend for your patio area to help repel bugs in the environment, and not just through topical application.

Best Essential Oils That Repel Insects

The effectiveness of essential oils can vary depending on the species of insect, concentration, formulation, weather, body chemistry, and how often you reapply. That is why one family may love a citronella-heavy blend, while another gets better results from peppermint, patchouli, catnip, or geranium.

Scientifically supported essential oils that repel bugs include:

Bergamot: Bergamot is one of the oils studied for mosquito repellency and may be useful in blends, especially when you want a brighter citrus aroma. Because bergamot can be phototoxic unless it is bergapten-free, use caution with sun exposure.

Catnip: Catnip contains nepetalactone, a natural compound with exciting mosquito-repelling activity. A 2024 study found that catnip essential oil with more than 95% nepetalactone repelled Aedes aegypti mosquitoes at concentrations as low as 2%, with effects lasting one to four hours depending on the test conditions. (6)

Cedarwood: Cedarwood contains sesquiterpenes and makes a wonderful base note in bug-repelling blends. It helps anchor lighter oils and gives DIY sprays a grounding, woodsy aroma.

Citronella: Citronella is one of the classic natural repellents. It has a strong lemony aroma and is commonly used in candles, patio blends, sprays, and outdoor products. Research shows citronella can repel mosquitoes, though protection time varies by formulation and concentration. (3, 8)

Clove (very effective): Clove is rich in eugenol and performed very well in recent repellent research. In the 2023 study, clove oil was one of the longest-lasting essential oils against both mosquito bites and tick crossings when used in a 10% lotion emulsion. (3) Use it carefully because it is a hot oil and can irritate skin.

Cypress: Cypress contains compounds such as alpha-pinene and can add a fresh, evergreen note to outdoor blends. It is a good supporting oil when paired with citronella, peppermint, eucalyptus, or tea tree.

Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus oils are often used in outdoor blends for their fresh, sharp aroma. Lemon eucalyptus is the most notable repellent-related option, but standard eucalyptus essential oil can also be useful in DIY blends.

Lavender: Lavender contains linalool and linalyl acetate. It is not usually the strongest repellent by itself, but it blends beautifully with sharper oils and is often well tolerated by the skin when diluted properly.

Lemon Eucalyptus (very effective): Oil of lemon eucalyptus and PMD are listed by the CDC among EPA-registered repellent active ingredients. (4) Here’s the thing: EPA-registered oil of lemon eucalyptus products are not the same as casually using any bottle of lemon eucalyptus essential oil from your shelf. For regulated protection time, follow the product label.

Lemon Myrtle: Lemon myrtle is high in citral and has a bold lemon aroma that can fit well into bug-repelling blends. It is strong, so use it in modest amounts and dilute well.

Lemongrass: Lemongrass contains citral and is a staple in many outdoor blends. In the 2023 study, lemongrass was one of the oils that provided more than 30 minutes of protection in a 10% lotion emulsion. (3)

Patchouli: Patchouli is more than a perfume oil. A 2026 ACS Omega study reported that a patchouli essential oil cream protected against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes for up to three hours in laboratory testing and performed similarly to a commercially available DEET formulation in that test. (9) Patchouli is also a great fixative in blends because it helps slow down evaporation.

Peppermint: Peppermint is cooling, fresh, and useful in bug-repelling formulas. In one study of herbal essential oils, peppermint oil showed strong complete-protection time against Anopheles dirus, while the 2023 study found peppermint provided more than 30 minutes of protection in a 10% lotion emulsion. (3, 7) Avoid peppermint near the faces of babies and very young children.

Petitgrain: Petitgrain performed impressively in a 2022 study, with high complete-protection time against Aedes aegypti and strong activity against Culex quinquefasciatus. (7) It has a beautiful green-citrus aroma that works well in outdoor blends.

Tea Tree: Tea tree is a cleansing powerhouse and can be useful in outdoor sprays and home pest-control blends. It is usually a supporting oil rather than the star repellent.

Thyme: Thyme contains thymol and other strong aromatic compounds. It can be useful in extra-strength blends, but it is potent and should be used sparingly on skin.

Here are some combinations and findings that have been studied for mosquito bites and natural pest protection:

• Clove and Cinnamon oils were among the strongest performers in a 2023 study of 20 essential oil ingredients tested against mosquitoes and ticks. (3)
• Geraniol also showed strong protection in the 2023 study and can be useful when formulating floral-smelling outdoor blends. (3)
• Petitgrain, Peppermint, Basil, Coriander, Patchouli, Sage, Anise, Bergamot, Rosemary, and Vetiver were evaluated in a 2022 study against multiple mosquito species. (7)
• A combination of Sage and Patchouli prolonged complete-protection time against Anopheles dirus in the 2022 study. (7)

Research suggests that essential oils can provide meaningful protection, but without synthetic binding compounds and commercial formulation systems, you’ll want to reapply your essential oil bug-repelling blends more often.

Here are a few example recipes we’ve tried with our family that you can use as a base and customize to fit your family’s needs and preferences. As you can see, there are many possibilities depending on the biting insects in your region, what activities you’re participating in, and the time of year.

First up is our go-to recipe when headed to the pool, family walks, or sports, the typical times we get bitten by mosquitoes! Because of the carrier oil, this recipe is great for your body, but not outdoor spaces…unless you want to create a slip and slide!

Easy Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent Spray

Author Mama Z

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Quantity

2x4x6x

Ingredients

• 1 ounce carrier oil (mixture of neem, fractionated coconut oil, and/or organic jojoba)*
• 15 drops essential oils**

Supplies

• 2-ounce glass spray bottle

Instructions

 

• Drop essential oils into a glass spray bottle.
• Add carrier oil and shake vigorously.
• Spray and rub onto exposed skin before going outside.
• Reapply every 60–90 minutes.

Notes

*No matter what allergies you may have, there’s a carrier oil that’s right for you.  You can use any or a combination of these:  Avocado, Fractionated Coconut, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Sweet Almond. These are our favorite carrier oils; to see a full list of options, click here.

**Try blends using oils such as:

• Cedarwood
• Citronella
• Clove
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Lemon eucalyptus
• Patchouli
• Peppermint
• Thyme

Our favorite blend for mosquitoes is 5 drops each of citronella, eucalyptus/lemon eucalyptus, and peppermint essential oils.

Our Homemade Bug Repellent Spray is a comprehensive recipe that deals with all types of seasonal pests. It’s great to apply before a long hike in wooded areas. We even make body creams with the essential oil blend! It’s a great combination of essential oils that keep bugs away and help you smell great. Again, because of the carrier oil, this is not a good spray for outdoor spaces, as it makes them slippery.

Deet-Free Bug Spray

Author Mama Z

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Quantity

2x4x6x

Ingredients

• 1 ounce organic jojoba OR fractionated coconut oil*
• 3 drops citronella essential oil
• 3 drops cypress essential oil
• 3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 3 drops lemon myrtle essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 drops tea tree essential oil

Supplies

• 1-ounce glass spray bottle

Instructions

 

• Add essential oils and oil base to a glass spray bottle.
• Replace the top and shake to blend.
• Spray all over the body before going outside (avoid eyes).
• Reapply every couple of hours. Store in a cool, dark place.

Notes

*No matter what allergies you may have, there’s a carrier oil that’s right for you.  You can use any or a combination of these:  Avocado, Fractionated Coconut, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Sweet Almond. These are our favorite carrier oils; to see a full list of options, click here.

Some people use citronella tiki torches on their deck, but we do a combined approach because we don’t use chemical bug spray. We light our citronella tiki torches and utilize our Summer Bug-Repelling Outdoor Blend. We love using this long-lasting outdoor blend in a diffuser to set the mood, but you can also use it in a continuous spray bottle around the grill and outdoor areas. Here’s a video showing how we multiply the blend and make it into a grill spray. This recipe is great for outdoor spaces and baseboards.

I always keep a bottle of this Gardener’s Essential Oil Bug Spray in my shed. It includes long-lasting essential oils that keep you pest-free during your entire gardening session! Due to the carrier oil, keep this recipe as a body spray, and avoid spraying it on outdoor spaces. I love this combination because it smells like my garden! I would consider this my “extra-strength” formula.

Gardener's Essential Oil Bug Spray

Author Mama Z

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Quantity

2x4x6x

Ingredients

• 1 ounce Mama Z's Essential Oil Base OR carrier oil of choice*
• 1 tablespoon witch hazel
• 1 teaspoon organic aloe vera gel
• 5 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 4 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 1 drop thyme essential oil

Supplies

• 2 ounce spray bottle

Instructions

 

• Mix essential oils, aloe, and witch hazel in a spray bottle.
• Add carrier oil. Fasten the lid and shake vigorously.
• To use, spray onto arms and legs and any other skin open to the air before working in the garden.

Notes

*No matter what allergies you may have, there’s a carrier oil that’s right for you.  You can use any or a combination of these:  Avocado, Fractionated Coconut, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Sweet Almond. These are our favorite carrier oils; to see a full list of options, click here.

A Word on Consistency and Customization

Just like perfumes interact with your body chemistry, so do essential oil repellents. If one blend doesn’t work for you, adjust the oils or ratios. With a few variations on hand, you’ll always be prepared.

Your region matters, too. Mosquitoes in Georgia may not behave exactly like mosquitoes in Michigan, Florida, Texas, or Uganda. The oils that work beautifully for your backyard barbecue may need tweaking for a wooded hike or a humid evening in the garden.

To get the best results:

• Shake your bottle before every use.
• Apply to exposed skin, not under clothing.
• Reapply every 60 to 90 minutes, or sooner if sweating or swimming.
• Keep essential oils away from eyes, mouth, cuts, and irritated skin.
• Use extra caution with hot oils like cinnamon, clove, oregano, and thyme.
• Avoid peppermint and eucalyptus near the faces of babies and very young children.
• Do not spray DIY essential oil blends on pets unless your veterinarian has approved the exact product and dilution.
• Use fans, screens, protective clothing, and standing-water control along with your sprays.

Looking for home pest control options? Check out how we personalized our floor cleaner with essential oils for pest control to keep out creepy crawlies.

What if you did get mosquito bites, insect stings, or ants? These anti-itch essential oils for bug bite relief will be a huge help, and we show you how to make a simple roll-on for travel-sized convenience.

Homemade Bug Repellent FAQs

What essential oils repel mosquitoes best?

Clove, cinnamon, geraniol, citronella, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium, catnip, patchouli, and lemon eucalyptus preparations all have research supporting mosquito-repelling activity. The best choice depends on the insect species, formulation, dilution, and how often you reapply. (3, 6, 9)

How often should I reapply homemade bug spray?

Most homemade essential oil bug sprays should be reapplied every 60 to 90 minutes. Reapply sooner if you are sweating, swimming, wiping your skin, or noticing bugs landing again.

Is homemade bug repellent as strong as DEET?

Usually, no. In a 2023 study, several essential oils provided meaningful short-term protection, but 10% DEET lasted longer under the same test conditions. (3) Homemade repellents can still be helpful for everyday outdoor living when you use them consistently.

Can I use essential oil bug spray on children?

Use extra caution with children. Keep sprays away from eyes, mouths, hands, cuts, and irritated skin. Avoid hot oils like cinnamon and clove on sensitive skin, and avoid peppermint or eucalyptus near the faces of babies and very young children. CDC guidance says products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD should not be used on children under 3 years old. (4)

Can I spray these recipes on pets?

No. Do not use these body spray recipes on pets. Cats, dogs, and other animals metabolize essential oils differently than humans. Use only pet-safe products recommended by your veterinarian.

Can I spray oil-based recipes on my patio or deck?

No. Oil-based body sprays can make outdoor surfaces slippery and may stain. Use the Summer Bug-Repelling Outdoor Blend or the outdoor grill spray option for patios, decks, baseboards, and outdoor spaces.

What should I do when bugs are really bad?

Use a layered plan. Wear loose long sleeves and pants, use fans on patios, dump standing water, repair screens, apply homemade repellent consistently, and choose an EPA-registered repellent when exposure risk is high.

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