Summer is here, which means we’re enjoying spending more time outside in the nicer weather. Unfortunately, so are the bugs! At best, blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes and ticks are an annoying nuisance, and at worst, they can carry dangerous illnesses like West Nile virus and Lyme disease.
If you’re looking for easy ways to keep the bugs from biting, but you want to protect your skin from the harsh chemicals (and gross smells) in DEET bug sprays, you can make your own natural mosquito repellent using a few simple ingredients.
What Makes Bugs Bite?
Blood-sucking insects are attracted to CO2, since all vertebrates produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct of breathing. This means that the simplest all-natural way to keep bugs from biting is to stop breathing — but that price seems a little high.
How to Make Your Own Natural Insect Repellent
Fortunately, it’s easy to make your own natural mosquito repellent using all-natural ingredients. To start, you have to:
1. Choose your base
- Apple cider vinegar
- Witch hazel
- Or both!
2. Infuse with essential oils
Some essential oils smell bad to both bugs and people. These include:
- Tea tree oil
- Eucalyptus
Others smell terrible to mosquitoes, but great to people! We recommend:
- Vanilla
- Citronella
- Lemon grass
If you’re mostly worried about keeping ticks away, you should reapply the insect repellent more often, and make sure to add:
- Bergamot
If you’re really desperate, you can also apply garlic topically — but this will probably repel your friends along with the mosquitoes.
3. Put it in a bottle!
Fill an empty spray bottle with your new mixture, and your all-natural insect repellent is ready to be used!
Find More Natural Remedies at Fast Track to Health
If you’re interested in discovering more easy DIY natural remedies, be sure to check out our Youtube channel and stay up-to-date with our healthy living blog. Fast Track to Health is a New-Jersey-based wellness center with a focus on functional medicine and natural health. If you’d like to know more about us, or if you have questions about our natural remedies, feel free to get in touch today!