Keep mosquitoes at bay this season! This Homemade Mosquito Repellent is made with clean, nourishing ingredients and pure essential oils-no harmful chemicals-just gentle, effective protection. It soothes as it shields, leaving your skin soft, nourished, and bite-free.
As the seasons change and the weather cools, I’ve been noticing a few more mosquitoes buzzing around me in the evenings lately. Homemade bug balm to the rescue! It’s non-toxic, moisturizing, and I actually love the scent. And the best part? It works.
Why You’ll Love This DIY Mosquito Repellent!
This easy DIY mosquito repellent is made with natural ingredients and leaves out the harmful chemicals. It has the loveliest aroma- helping repel mosquitoes and bugs, and may even deter ticks.
- It’s all natural. What we put on our skin can affect our health just as much as what we put in our bellies. I have a passion for creating clean, non-toxic skincare products, because that way I know my family is safe from toxins. Just as we feed our bodies with healthy food, why not care for our skin with pure, beneficial ingredients that support our overall health?
- Adaptable ingredients. Customize the scent to your preferences, and even make it vegan if you like!
- It makes a great gift! It’s fun to make and even more enjoyable to give.
Natural Ingredients in Bug Balm
- Jojoba oil: Moisturizing, non-greasy antioxidant protection suitable for most skin types. It is highly resistant to oxidation, keeping the balm fresh for longer.
- Tallow or Shea Butter: Penetrates deep into the skin, offering lasting hydration, especially for dry or sensitive skin.
- Beeswax: Use a block versus granules. I prefer to grate my own from a block. The scent is heavenly as it is usually unrefined. Beeswax granules or pastilles are refined, have less of a scent, and they are easier to measure and melt quickly. See vegan alternative below!
- Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: Contains p-menthane-3,8-diol, a compound sometimes used in insect repellents. Recognized by the EPA as an effective insect repellent.
- Lavender essential oil: Mildly repellent, calms the skin and the senses, and balances the balm’s scent.
- Rosemary essential oil: Contains compounds like cineole, camphor, and limonene that create a scent to deter mosquitoes.
- Cedarwood essential oil: Creates a protective shield against biting insects.
- Lemongrass and citronella essential oils: Commonly used in repellents, but may irritate the skin in large amounts. They contain citral, which can be harmful in high concentrations. We use a low dose, but you can increase it for stronger protection if desired. Always mix with a carrier oil and never apply these oils directly. This is the best mosquito repellent!
- Peppermint essential oil (optional): Disrupts mosquitoes’ sensory receptors due to its menthol and limonene content, and adds a pleasant scent to the balm.
- Equipment: tin jar or glass jar for storing your balm.
Substitutions & Variations
- Jojoba oil: Instead of only using jojoba oil, you can use it as a combo with olive oil, coconut oil, or a small amount of castor oil.
- Tallow: Shea butter or cocoa butter are great plant-sourced alternatives.
- Beeswax: You can substitute carnauba wax (vegan).
- Other essential oils that are used for repellent: Cinnamon oil, tea tree oil, geranium oil, or thyme oil can be added based on your scent preferences!
How to Make Homemade Mosquito Repellent
1. Grate the beeswax. If using a block, grate the beeswax. Or use pastilles.
2. Melt the base. In a heat-safe glass jar or bowl, add jojoba oil, tallow, and beeswax. Using the double boiler method, set it over a pot of simmering water. Stir occasionally until fully melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
3. Cool and add essential oils. Let cool for a few minutes, not too long. If it starts to solidify, place it back on the pot of water. Stir in the essential oils, mixing well to distribute them evenly.
4. Transfer to tins or jars. Immediately pour the liquid mixture into tins or jars and allow them to cool at room temperature until firm. I like to place a sticker label on top!
How to Use Bug Balm
Press your finger into the balm, allowing your finger to warm it a bit. Apply a thin layer to all exposed skin.
Use for mosquito prevention for all of your warm-weather outdoor activities or simply to enjoy in your backyard-no more mosquito bites!
Expert Tips
- Use lemon eucalyptus oil, not eucalyptus oil and lemon oil. Lemon Eucalyptus is a specific plant species. Do not combine eucalyptus oil and lemon oil. It is not the same thing! Lemon eucalyptus essential oil contains para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), which effectively masks the human scents that attract mosquitoes, making it significantly more challenging for them to locate us.
- Lemon eucalyptus essential oil vs. lemon eucalyptus oil: Lemon eucalyptus essential oil is equivalent to lemon eucalyptus oil (OLE) in terms of repelling mosquitoes. Both terms refer to the same oil derived from the leaves of the lemon eucalyptus tree, which contains the active compound PMD that provides effective mosquito-repelling properties. The lemon eucalyptus refined oil (citriodiol or OLE) will last up to 6 hours, whereas the natural essential oil should be reapplied every hour. I prefer the essential oil as it is less refined.
- Use a low dose of citronella and lemongrass. Traditionally, citronella and lemongrass are important in repellents but can cause skin irritations, especially in large amounts. We use a low dose, but you can increase it for stronger protection if you’re okay with it. Always mix with a carrier oil; never apply these oils directly.
- Use a beeswax block versus granules. Beeswax blocks are typically unrefined and smell heavenly. Granules or pastilles are often refined and have less of a scent, however they are easier to measure and melt quickly.
- Try lotion bars! Pour the ingredients into molds and let harden. Store the bars in tins or containers of choice.
Storage
Store the jars or tins of mosquito repellent in a cool, dry, and dark place for up to a year.
FAQs
Lemon eucalyptus essential oil, lemongrass essential oil, citronella essential oil, and peppermint oil are the best natural mosquito repellents. We prepare them with jojoba oil, tallow, and beeswax to create an easy-to-use balm.
Citronella is one of the best essential oils because its strong scent repels mosquitoes.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus is the strongest natural repellent for mosquitoes. This natural, DEET-free repellent is recommended by both the EPA and CDC.
I am so excited for you to try this recipe for homemade mosquito repellent, free of harsh chemicals! Let us know what you think in the comments!
More DIY Remedies to Try!
Homemade Mosquito Repellent Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 ounces (½ cup)
- Category: DIY, Natural skin care, Gifts
- Method: Stovetop
Description
Keep mosquitoes at bay this fall! This Homemade Mosquito Repellent is made with clean, nourishing ingredients and pure essential oils-no harmful chemicals-just gentle, effective protection. It soothes as it shields, leaving your skin soft, nourished, and bite-free.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons jojoba oil (or use a combination with olive oil, coconut oil, or a small amount of castor oil)
- 3 tablespoons tallow (shea butter or cocoa butter)
- 3 tablespoons (19 grams) beeswax (or carnauba wax) *see notes
- 20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil (see notes for description)
- 10 drops each: lavender oil, rosemary, and cedarwood essential oils
- 5 drops each of lemongrass and citronella essential oils
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil (optional but nice)
Instructions
- Grate your beeswax if using a block.
- Melt the base: Combine jojoba oil, tallow, and beeswax in a heat-safe glass jar or bowl. Set it over a pot of simmering water (double boiler method). Stir occasionally until fully melted.
- Remove from heat once it is just melted and smooth.
- Let cool briefly for a few minutes- not too long. (If it does start to solidify, just stick back on the pot of water.) Stir in the essential oils mixing thoroughly to evenly distribute throughout.
- Immediately pour the liquid balm into tins or jars. Allow to cool at room tempurature until firm.
- To use: press in with your finger allow your finger to warm the balm and apply a thin layer to all exposed skin.
Notes
Lemon Eucalyptus is a specific plant species. Do not combine eucalyptus oil and lemon oil- it is not the same thing. Lemon eucalyptus essential oil contains para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), which effectively masks the human scents that attract mosquitoes, making it significantly more challenging for them to locate us.
Lemon eucalyptus essential oil is equivalent to lemon eucalyptus oil (OLE) in terms of repelling mosquitoes. Both terms refer to the same oil derived from the leaves of the lemon eucalyptus tree, which contains the active compound PMD that provides effective mosquito-repelling properties. The lemon eucalyptus refined oil (citriodiol or OLE) will last up to 6 hours. Whereas the natural essential oil should be reapplied every hour.
Traditionally, citronella and lemongrass are important in repellents but can irritate the skin, especially in large amounts. We use a low dose, but you can increase it for stronger protection if you’re okay with it. Always mix with a carrier oil; never apply these oils directly.
Other essential oils that are use for repellent: cinnamon oil, tea tree oil, geranium oil
Store in a cool, dry place for up to a year.
Beeswax: block versus granules. I prefer to grate my own from a block – the scent is heavenly, as it is usually unrefined. Beeswax granules or pastilles are refined, have less of a scent, they are easier to measure and melt quickly.
You can also make lotion bars. Simply pour the ingredients into molds and let them harden. Store the bars in tins or containers of choice.
