Essential Oils to the Rescue!
Tick and mosquito season definitely is here! If you don’t want to spray your family with some of the harmful chemicals found in commercial insect repellents, we’ve got some ideas on how to make your own. This is an area where essential oils shine!
For basic bug sprays there are several oils that work well. Choose from citronella, geranium, clove, lemongrass, rosemary, tea tree, cajeput, eucalyptus, cedar, catnip, lavender and mint. But don’t put the essential oils directly on your skin. Instead mix up a carrier blend that can be sprayed on your skin or clothes. You can find countless examples of how to do it online. Here’s a recipe from Wellness Mama:
- Fill 8 oz. spray bottle ½ full with distilled or boiled water
- Add ½ tsp vegetable glycerin (to make it stick to surfaces better, optional)
- Add 30-50 drops essential oils (Wellness Mama prefers mixing Rosemary, Clove, Cajeput, Lavender, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus.)
- Add witch hazel to fill the bottle
Others choose to use just citronella or geranium oil with good results. Click here. Some replace the water with vinegar to improve skin pH. Click here. To get even more variations, check out these sites: Don’t Waste The Crumbs, Tasty-Yummies, Primally Inspired, ScratchMommy, Yuriel Kaim.
With all these options to try, it’s definitely time to break out your essential oils and start experimenting!
