DIY recipe: A natural mosquito repellent that works even better than chemicals!

Hello, summer.

Hello, mosquitoes. 

Hello, itching.

Hello, mosquito-borne sicknesses like malaria, dengue, Zika and the West Nile virus.

Hello, chemicals. Loads of them.

Like DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Which is a staple in commercial insect repellants and has been known to have harsh side effects, including rashes, skin irritation, dizziness, headache, nausea, disorientation, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, headache, muscle weakness and fatigue, shortness of breath and joint pain. It’s also toxic to birds and aquatic life.

AND it doesn’t even seem to work as well against certain malaria-carrying strains of mosquitoes. 

So, instead: Hello, natural mosquito repellent. Sans the harmful chemicals.

Because in a world seriously overloaded with toxic chemicals, why would you want to add to the burden on your bodies with noxious bug sprays? When you can easily make a homemade mosquito repellent loaded with all kinds of clean, green and good stuff right in about 10 minutes? For a fraction of the price?

This DIY mosquito repellent is based on a 15th century French recipe called Vinegar of the Four Thieves, which was said not to repel just bugs but also several kinds of virus. Legend says thieves used it to keep the Black Plague at bay, along with flies and other pests. So, if it worked for them… !

DIY mosquito repellent: You will need

30 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
25 drops cinnamon leaf oil or citronella oil
15 drops rosemary or tea tree essential oil
2 ounces distilled or boiled water
1.5 ounces witch hazel or vodka
1 teaspoon jojoba oil (optional if you want moisturising benefits as well)
Clean spray bottle

DIY mosquito repellent: The method

1. Fill the spray bottle with the distilled or boiled water
2. Add the witch hazel or vodka
3. Add the jojoba oil, if using
4. Add all the essential oils
5. Shake the mixture well so all the ingredients are well blended
6. Spray on clean skin and gently rub in as and when needed; shake well before every usage

Why this homemade mosquito repellent WORKS

These natural botanicals are potent insect repellents. In fact, studies hold that these may be even more effective than DEET in keeping bugs at bay.

For example, a study conducted by Consumer Reports show that a natural mosquito repellent made from essential oils was able to keep mosquitoes and ticks away for at least seven hours!

What’s your beat-the-bugs secret?