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I created this very easy yet highly effective and safe homemade repellent for mosquito recipe with only two ingredients, soybean oil, and lemon eucalyptus essential oil. Mosquitoes love me but I am afraid this kind of love is not reciprocal!
The next time you plan a trip to the countryside or to an exotic location (yes, I do have hope that one day we will be able to travel again!), carry this DIY bug spray with you, and hopefully; you’re going to thank me for it!
Homemade Repellent For Mosquitoes Ingredients
- Soybean Oil
A common ingredient in manufactured insect repellent, soybean oil can provide protection from mosquitoes to up to 4 hours, more info here. Furthermore, soybean oil has a vitamin-rich content that makes it a great emollient, leaving the skin nourished. You can read more on this page. - Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil
The use of lemon eucalyptus as mosquito repellent dates back to 1940s. It’s known to provide protection against mosquito bites for up to 2 hours. Lemon eucalyptus essential oil comes from Australia. Based on this 2015 study, a lemon-eucalyptus oil showed that it had similar efficacy compared with DEET repellents.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup soybean oil
- 35 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
Instructions
- Blend all the ingredients together in a dark colored glass bottle container.
- If you are traveling, make sure you use a max 3 oz /100ml bottle so you can keep it in your carry on!
- Rub the homemade repellent for mosquitoes onto your skin, using care to avoid sensitive areas such as the face.
- You'll need to re-apply this DIY mosquito repellent every two hours or after swimming or exercise.
How to use this homemade bug spray
Apply generously anywhere mosquitoes can possibly bite you – arms, hands, legs, feet, even your neck and behind the ears (I am sure you would agree that these suckers can literally find even the most impossible places to bite you…).
Apply every 2 hours during the day or as needed, and before going to bed.
What is this DIY bug spray effective against?
If I told you the number of mosquito species that exist in this world, you’d probably hide under a blanket and never want to come out. Luckily, this homemade bug spray is effective against all type of mosquitoes.
What is the most effective DIY bug spray with essential oils?
During my travels in Asia and the French countryside, I was displeased by how many mosquitoes there were, and how especially annoying they were. The only thing that worked in keeping them away was this homemade repellent for mosquitoes blend of soybean oil and lemon eucalyptus essential oil at a dilution of 3%.
The danger of using DEET
DEET is the active chemical ingredient found in most bug sprays. As with any chemical, it’s not the safest thing for you, but DEET is especially known to have severe harmful effects on your health, such as adverse dermal reactions and even negative effects on the central nervous system.
Manufacturers advise that DEET should not be used under clothing or on damaged skin. The fact that manufacturers had to mention these careful instructions should raise an immediate red flag in your mind.
The Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University states that “Everglades National Park employees having extensive DEET exposure were more likely to have insomnia, mood disturbances and impaired cognitive function than were lesser exposed co-workers”.
So if this 100% natural and safe DIY bug spray can do the same job, why expose yourself to the possible harmful effects of DEET? It’s definitely not worth it in my opinion.
Best essential oils for homemade bug repellent
- Citronella essential oil
it’s a popular ingredient in insect repellent. Citronella oil is an essential oil made from the distillation of lemongrass. It as a floral, citrus-like aroma. More info here. - Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil
As mentioned above, this is one of the most effective essential oil that can be used as an insect repellent. I mean, why else would I include it in my DIY bug spray, right?
Does Vitamin B1 work against mosquito bites?
A study conducted in the 1960s showed that taking vitamin B1 could help keep mosquitoes away. The underlying theory is that vitamin B1 produces an odor that female mosquitoes (they’re the only ones that bite) seem to find offensive. Therefore, intake of excess vitamin B1 will allow the body to excrete it via urine, sweat, and skin, which will result in your body releasing the odor that’ll repel the mosquitoes.
Although this was definitely an unusual theory, I decided to try it out in Thailand and to my delight, it actually was not bitten by mosquitoes!
If you’re as popular as I am in the mosquito community, I’d suggest you try this too. And if you don’t want to, my homemade repellent for mosquitoes will help to protect you!
I hope you have enjoyed my recipe, please share the love and rate ***** in the comments below!
I’m Eve, a DIY organic skincare recipe creator since 2010 that loves to make a big mess in the kitchen!
I’ve embarked on a journey to empower women to ditch all the chemical-filled commercial beauty products and to share how to make your own organic beauty recipes at home towards a healthier lifestyle.
Homemade face & body creams, body butter, lips balms, face masks, shampoos, and all-natural perfume will have no more secret for you!
I am self-taught, read many books, and spend many hours in the kitchen creating brand new homemade beauty recipes. All my recipes are unique and are tested on humans!
In 2016, I studied Aromatherapy and became certified by the School of Natural Health Sciences.
Hi folks! 🙂
Can I ask how much B1 you were taking? My son goes bikepacking a lot & Ontario mosquitoes are legendary predators. The amount of bug spray he has to use to keep them off is horrendous, so I know he’d be interested in trying this. I’ll be making up a bucket full of your soy/eucalyptus repellent too. Many thanks!
Author
It depends on the brand and mg, I follow the dosage on the instruction of the bottle. So for example, I took vitamin B1 from Jamieson https://amzn.to/39vsXgC 3 weeks prior to my trip 1 tablet per day as indicated on the bottle.
Several years ago I tried taking B1 to keep the mosquitoes away, since I am one of those people that they particularly LOVE. It worked great. Unfortunately, I also develop allergies easily and became allergic to the vitamin. You will probably have to take the B1 for about a month before it kicks in fully, but it does work!
Author
thanks for sharing Nell and sorry to hear you are allergic now 🙁