Make Your Own Non Toxic Mosquito Repellent

There are many suggestions out there for making your own natural non toxic mosquito repellent --- and quite frankly many of them don't work. I remember reading once that consuming Vitamin B on a regular basis will make you unattractive to mosquitos. So before I went on vacation I diligently took lots of Vitamin B. I think the only thing it did (besides giving me a boost of energy) was to make the mosquitos healthier. However, given how toxic DEET is, it is worth trying different natural methods until you hit upon the one that will work for you.  

I have always had the good luck of attracting all the mosquitos while my husband remained "biteless". So if I could bottle his smell, I would make a fortune. But until then, here is a formula that has worked great for me. I hope it helps you too. You will note that it does not contain any citronella oil and that is because I really dislike the smell of this oil on my body.

Rachael's BUG OFF :
Apply to Skin - avoid the eyes

What you will need :

• 20 drops Lemon Tea Tree Oil  (Leptospermum petersonii) ( There are approx 100 drops in a 5 ml bottle )
• 2 ounces Vegetable oil  (olive, sunflower, jojoba)

Mix together well.

About the Ingredients :

 

Lemon Tea Tree Essential Oil is the most powerful natural insect repellent that I know of and it smells much nicer than citronella.
Important note : This is a different oil than tea tree oil - I find tea tree oil too strong for this use

If you don't like the feel of vegetable oil, you can use Aloe Vera Gel or a scent free lotion. Just be sure it is SCENT FREE.   

Optional : The following oils also work great to repel mosquitos  : Lemon Eucalyptus and Atlas Cedarwood. If you want to add these oil to the above recipe for a super jazzed Bug Off ---  just use 10 drops of each of the three oils for a total of 30 drops per 2 ounces of vegetable oil.

 

How to Use :

Apply around ankles, wrists, neck and wherever else mosquitos like to bit you. Avoid the Eyes.
You will need to reapply every few hours. If you are camping out, you can also apply a few drops of the Lemon Tea Tree oil directly on your tent and sleeping bag.

If you want to use this on children under 3, then dilute it by only using 10 drops total of essential oil in a vegetable oil or lotion base.

Happy Summer !