DIY: A Natural Way to Get Bugs to Buzz Off

As much as I love being outdoors, I hate getting bug bites!

There are lots of commercial bug repellants out there, but most of them contain chemicals I don’t want to put on my body or my children’s bodies. Instead, I use essential oils to get bugs to buzz off.

Listen to my Green Divas DIY podcast segment to hear about a bug spray that works! Then read on for the recipe…

Buzz-off Balm:

Warm 1/3 – 1/ 4 cup of coconut oil and pour into a small, closeable container. (I love to repurpose containers I have from other products, like the tins from Bach Flower Remedy lozenges.)

Add 10 drops of each of the following essential oils: citronella, lavender and peppermint.

Mix slightly and allow to cool and solidify. In warmer weather, you may want to keep this in the fridge or a cool, dry place to keep it from liquifying.

Take a little of the balm and run between the palms of your hands and then over exposed skin before heading outside.

Note: sometimes essential oils (particularly citrus oils) can make the skin photosensitive or more likely to burn. Be sure to use a non-toxic sunblock in addition to this bug repellant.

Listen to the latest Green Divas Radio Show:

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Green Diva Kate

Kate Bartolotta is the owner and editor-in-chief of Be You Media Group. She also writes for The Huffington Post, elephant journal and The Good Men Project. She is determined to change the world—one blog at a time. Connect with Kate on Twitter, Facebook and Google +. View all my posts

Comments (4)

Pingback: Buzz-Off Bugs! DIY Natural Bug Repellent | Care2 Healthy Living
Daniel Ogana (reply)

July 4, 2014 at 2:28 pm

Please note that coconut oil is itself one of the best sunscreen we have. I wouldn’t follow your advise and add an non-natural sunscreen to the mix, the whole idea being ‘naturalness’ of the concoction. Thank you. Daniel.
- Kate (reply)
  
  July 4, 2014 at 11:55 pm
  
  Actually, your response is only partially accurate. Coconut oil adds about a 20 SPF, and for many people that isn’t sufficient, especially if they are spending time in direct sun and have something on their skin that increases photo-sensitivity (like a citrus essential oil). Also, my suggestion was not for a “non-natural” sunblock, merely something more than sunscreen. There are so many wonderful mineral based and natural sunblocks available!
delmetria millener (reply)

July 8, 2014 at 7:11 am

Thanks for this!

Coconut oil is too oily for my skin. Is Vitamin E cream just as effective? And would sun screen need to be added to it as well?