Natural Bug Repellent

A few years ago my family and I went on vacation to Michigan for 10 days. From past trips, I remembered one thing very well – BUGS. The first summer that we went to Michigan I came home with so many bugs bites that I couldn’t even count them! This time, I knew that I was going to be prepared. I did a bit of research to find essential oils that would repel bugs and I am happy to say this I found a winner! Not only is the combination of Grapefruit, Citronella, and Lemongrass effective, it also smells so good! Before going outside, I applied the repellent to the inside of my wrists, behind my ears, behind my knees, and on the inside of my ankles. Just a quick swipe of the roller to each area and I was set. I kept the roller in my pocket or backpack and reapplied a few times throughout the day, just to be safe!

Grapeseed oil is often my carrier oil of choice. It’s light, odorless, and perfect for my sensitive skin – or really any skin type.  It also absorbs quickly into my skin.

For this repellant, I opted to use a glass roll on applicator because I knew we would be traveling between several locations and the small size was perfect. I bought the glass applicators on Amazon and they were very easy to assemble. As you can see in the picture above, you fill the applicator and then close it with the roller ball stopper.

If you want to make a bug spray instead, you can purchase the amber spray bottles on Amazon also. I have several of my essential oil remedies in these bottles and have been very pleased with them. The spray bottle just isn’t easy for travel, which is why I used the roll-on applicator here.

Ingredients for 10ml Roll-On:

• 1 tbsp carrier oil (I used grapeseed oil)
• 2 drops grapefruit oil
• 4 drops citronella oil
• 8 drops lemongrass oil

Ingredients for 2 oz Spray Bottle:

• 4T distilled water
• 1T witch hazel
• 10 drops grapefruit oil
• 15 drops citronella oil
• 20 drops lemongrass oil
• a few drops of vegetable glycerin (optional, this is used as a preservative)

Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not meant to offer specific medical advice, nor is it meant to be used as a substitute for competent medical advice from a licensed professional physician. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.