Homemade Bug Spray Without Essential Oils, 3 Options!

There’s nothing worse than walking outside to throw burgers on the grill, and then walking back in with mosquito bites all over your legs. The great news for you is, it doesn’t have to be that way! These three homemade bug sprays are all that you’ll need to get through the bug season this spring and summer. Not only is this the best homemade bug spray without essential oils, but one of the options is safe for kids and even most pets! You’re just a few ingredients away from a spray that will keep the bugs away, so you can get back to outdoor fun again!

Vanilla Mint Bug Spray (For Skin)

Not only does this bug spray work beautifully, but it smells absolutely amazing! The ingredients work together seamlessly to repel those pesky insects. Both the peppermint and the vanilla extract give off smells that bugs don’t like, and therefore stay away from. The witch hazel helps to keep it shelf stable! If your skin isn’t sensitive to with hazel, this is going to be the best combination that you can make for a long-lasting homemade bug spray that works, even without essential oils.

Ingredients

• 5 tbsp. witch hazel
• 3 tbsp. distilled water
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tsp. peppermint Castile soap or peppermint extract

Directions

1. Combine all three ingredients into a glass spray bottle.
2. Swirl to combine.
3. Spray on skin as needed! Avoid the face and eye areas. The shelf life of this bug spray is about 3-6 months.

Ways to Use

• Before going outside, spray directly onto skin to repel bugs
• Leave a bowl of this in the middle of the table to help repel bugs at a picnic
• If you omit the vanilla extract and use peppermint Castile soap for the last ingredient, then this combination is safe for use on most pets

Sensitive Skin Bug Spray (For Skin)

This homemade bug spray is very gentle on the skin, and can also be sprayed on clothes for extra bug repelling benefits! It’s almost as potent as the vanilla mint option above, but this one does not have as long of a shelf life. You’ll want to use the mixture within 1 month, and then discard any remainder. You may choose to make small batches of this at a time to prevent waste. You may optionally store it in the refrigerator to maintain the best shelf life.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 2 tsp. peppermint Castile soap

Directions

1. Combine both ingredients into a glass spray bottle.
2. Swirl gently to thoroughly combine. It may foam, but this is normal.
3. Spray onto skin and/or clothes as needed! Avoid the face and eye areas. The shelf life of this bug spray is about 1 month.

Ways to Use

• Before going outside, spray liberally onto skin and/or clothes to repel bugs
• Spray liberally on outdoor fabrics to deter bugs from hanging out on the furniture
• This bug spray recipe is safe for use on most pets

Around the House Bug Spray (For The Home, Not Skin)

This homemade bug spray recipe is perfect for regular and even everyday use around the house. It’s too acidic to use on the skin, so stick to using it in the home instead! It’s non-toxic, and works wonders to keep the bugs at bay. This is especially helpful at repelling insects around entrance areas, such as doors and windows. It works best if it is undiluted, and can be sprayed inside and even outside the home. It also works as an on-contact insect killer.

Ingredients

• 2 cups distilled white vinegar
• 1 bunch of fresh mint leaves (found in the herb and produce section of your local grocery store)

Directions

1. Roughly crush the fresh mint to help it begin to release its natural oils.
2. In a glass jar, submerge the mint completely into the distilled white vinegar.
3. Allow the vinegar to steep for a bare minimum of 24 hours, but preferably about 2 weeks so that the mint can thoroughly infuse into the vinegar.
4. Strain the infused vinegar through a cheesecloth to remove all of the mint leaves.
5. Pour the infused vinegar into a glass spray bottle, and use as needed. You can keep the rest of the vinegar in the jar for later use. The shelf life is about 6 months.

Ways to Use

• Spray directly on pests for an on-contact insect killer
• Spray along the edges of carpeted floors, but avoid hardwood floors due to the acidity of vinegar
• Use around windows and doorways
• Spray along the exterior of the home
• NOT recommended for use on skin because of the vinegar content

Are these bug sprays safe for kids?

The Sensitive Skin Bug Spray is generally safe for kids! It’s always best to patch test new products to make sure they aren’t sensitive to the ingredients, before applying all over. If they have ultra sensitive skin, you may choose to spray it just on their clothing, rather than their skin.

Once dry, the Around the House Bug Spray is safe for kids.

Are these bug sprays pet friendly?

For the Vanilla Mint Bug Spray, if you omit the vanilla extract and use peppermint Castile soap for the last ingredient, then this combination is generally safe for use on most pets. Similarly, the Sensitive Skin Bug Spray is safe for most animals.

Can I add essential oils to homemade bug spray?

You may optionally add essential oils to any of these bug spray recipes if you’d like. Just be aware of which oils you are using, and if they are safe for the skin or not.

Which insects do these homemade bug sprays repels?

These three homemade bug sprays without essential oils all repel a variety of bugs and pests. Though some bugs are still persistent enough to ignore the spray, most bugs will flee rather than stick around. This includes but isn’t limited to these insects:

• Ants
• Spiders
• Flies
• Mosquitos
• Fleas
• Moths
• Lice
• Beetles
• Aphids
• Caterpillars
• Roaches
• and more!
  

More Like This…

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• Castile Soap Uses
• Beeswax Lip Balm Recipe

Be sure to pin the recipe for later!