Bug Off! Homemade natural bug repellent

DIY Mosquito Repellent

It’s summertime, y’all! In between random downpours and thunderstorms, the sun is out and it’s warming up. The next thing to come out, right after those shorty shorts, will be the bugs! If you’re like me, one little glistening sweat droplet will bring them in droves. I’ve tried many natural methods like eating garlic to prevent the attraction, but I found that bug spray is truly the best.

When my friend Dr. E and I went to Costa Rica, we knew we signed up

for no-joke bug territory. We planned on hiking to waterfalls and megaliths in the jungle and hidden cemeteries at low tide (#getoutside and #getweird!), not to mention the surprise adventures of baby sea turtles, hidden beaches, and crazy rainforest detours (yay travel surprises!). We did our research and a few trial runs at home – always field test your gear, y’all! DEET makes him break out anywhere it touches – poor guy gets the worst red rash in one afternoon so there was no way we could use it for 2 weeks. I can use DEET on the outside of my clothes but not on my skin and that’s generally the directed method. Spray DEET on your outerwear like hats and shoes and backpacks to repel bugs but keep it away from direct skin contact.

I’m sure those of you with kids also have issues trying to find a safe and effective bug spray. Well I have your solution! After trying several available natural remedies, I found the very best and easiest to obtain is a homemade bug spray. I’ve made several versions in several different countries with a variety of available ingredients and it is still reliable. So long as you follow the four basic tenants, you’ll be okay. I always recommend to go with what is fresh and available Wherever You Are (you know what I’m saying, Nomad friends!). Dr. E and I would spray ourselves head-to-toe immediately after getting out of the shower and before getting dressed every single day. We’d reapply on exposed skin in the evenings before going out to happy hour, er dinner, and had an enormous success rate with this bug spray.  We found that those little bites under our shirts in the middle of the night were a thing of the past. We started calling this our Tico perfume (Tico being the term for native Costa Ricans). Since then, every spring I start making a jug.

I made a new version in Thailand based on what was available there. I didn’t have easy access to an expat grocery store with the herbs and spices I’m used to. Instead I focused on the Thai ingredients that are easy to find. And again, every morning and every evening after my shower (yeah twice a day showers for sure there!), I would spray it head to toe before getting dressed. I rarely got bug bites and found that I would often get them around my face and neck area where I did not spray as much. I started spraying it into my hand and dabbing around my jawline and neck to keep the critters away. It did not save us from the leeches in the national parks, but that’s another story.

I’ve seen it several different recipes for this bug spray and I started with the version on Wellness Mama. There are as many recipes as there are myths about the origin of the Vinegar of Four Thieves. I’ve made my adaptations and just call it “Bug Off!” 

There are two basic approaches. One is to use fresh herbs and the second is to use dried herbs. I have not found a significant difference between the two and often end up using a mix of both. You will use twice as much fresh as dried. All the dried herbs are easily found in Sprouts Market bulk spice section. I realize not everyone has access to Sprouts, sorry for that, but look for a local health or naturals food store or ethnic market (like Asian or Mexican) with bulk spices or a large selection of packaged dried spices. The weird ingredient is the lavender. Having lived in San Diego for 18 years, all you have to do is walk around the block and someone would have it in their yard. I miss that! It always smells so good after the rain. Living in San Diego, I almost always made it from fresh herbs because lavender, sage, and rosemary were so easy to find growing around.

Recipe for Mosquito Repellant

The important thing is to get one ingredient from each of the four elements.

1. Number one: vinegar. Apple cider is the general recommended vinegar of choice, especially apple cider vinegar with the mother. However, I don’t find the extra expense necessary. Knock-off apple cider vinegar from the dollar store works just fine, as does rice vinegar when you’re in Asia. This recipe is based on the large 32 oz bottle, which would last one person most of the summer. Feel free to make it in bulk as it will keep just fine and you’ll want to be handed out bottles to your friends all summer long!
2. Number two. Fresh garlic. I literally have not been anywhere in the world where you cannot get a head of fresh garlic. You’ll need 4-6 cloves per 32oz of vinegar. Smash them with the back of your knife and don’t worry about peeling.
3. Number three: something lemony. I buy a fresh stocks of lemongrass. That was easy to find in Asia and most markets in the US. If not, look in the dried herb section or in the fresh paste section. An alternative will be your Asian market. Lemongrass lasts for quite a while in your refrigerator vegetable drawer. You can also easily plant one stalk and have your own fresh lemongrass all summer. I usually buy extra so that I can make some lemongrass sun tea along with my bug juice. The alternatives to Lemongrass are other lemony herbs like lemon verbena, lemon basil, lemon thyme, and lemon balm. My mom grows lemon balm which is similar to catnip and mint, but has the distinct citrus scent when you rub the leaves – that’s what we’re looking for here. I used the lemon balm this last round and was ecstatic. Absolute worst case scenario, use lemon zest. One lemon zested will yield about 1 tablespoon, which is good for each 32oz of vinegar.
4. Number four: something minty. Fresh peppermint or spearmint are delightful additions. But there are several options that may surprise you: “[T]hyme, marjoram, oregano, basil, sage, rosemary, savory — along with other ancient herbs with less culinary value, such as lavender, hyssop, lemon thyme, horehound, betony, catnip, lemon balm, bee balm, germander, pennyroyal, and dittany of Crete,” are also in the mint family, according to The Art of Eating. That’s right, fellow cat ladies! You can use catnip for this! I often use several varieties of mint in my mixture as they’ve been readily accessible. I use fresh rosemary, sage, and basil, and I’ll always track down lavender. If you’re rushed or using dried spices, chances are you have thyme and oregano, maybe even marjoram or savory, already in your spice rack. Feel free to use several herbs from the mint family in any combination – make sure you have at least 2 tablespoons (dried) or 4 tablespoons (fresh), but go wild!
5. Lastly and optional, is the scent of your choosing. Some recipes call for clove or cinnamon – I’ve never used either. After reading about various chemical properties and medicinal uses, I don’t find it as a necessity for bug repellent. And it’s not really my scent profile (but if you’re into that warm cookie spice hand soap, get it girl!). I personally like the lemony smell and tend to be heavy-handed with the lavender and sage. I would not add any floral scent to this recipe, as flowers attract bugs and that seems counterproductive, but if you find success with it let me know.

For supplies, you’ll need:

• a cutting board
• knife
• kitchen scissors
• tablespoon
• container: larger than the amount of vinegar you are using with a sealable lid
• spray bottles: when it’s finished

Once you have your four+ main ingredients, it’s time to prep them. If you’re using fresh herbs, make sure to wash them and carefully pat dry. You do not have to remove the leaves from the stems. 

Rough chop and slightly bruise the softer leaves like basil and mint. For lemongrass and rosemary, use sturdy kitchen scissors for smaller pieces. Smash the garlic with the back of you knife to expose the juices.

If you’re using dried spices, you’ll need 2 tablespoons per 32 oz vinegar. If you are using fresh herbs, use 4 tablespoons (roughly 1/4cup) per 32 oz – roughly. I use heaping spoonfuls, err on the side of more than less.

Add to the vinegar (keep the bottle for later!).

Stir, close tightly, and walk away! You should shake or agitate everyday, keeping the mixture out of direct sunlight.

How long it should sit is also Up For Debate. Some recipes say as little as one week, others say up to 6 weeks. I honestly have not found a huge difference between those timelines. I usually make a jar and I’m dipping in it within a week, letting the rest sit for up to 6 weeks when I strain out the herbs.

When your time is up, strain out the herbs using a fine-mesh sieve. Your vinegar should be clear and make sure there are no little particles to clog up your spray bottle. Pour the strained vinegar back into its original bottle and keep in your cupboards or out of direct sunlight and use as necessary. Some people recommend the refrigerator and I’ve done that, but I haven’t found a huge impact on the freshness.

Fill a spray bottle half-and-half. Half with vinegar, half of filtered water. When I’m traveling, I’ll fill my spray bottle full of vinegar and top it off with water as I go.

The other option is to use half of the vinegar and half witch hazel for a refreshing spray.

The vinegar will discolor your cheap plastic bottles. Since I don’t travel with glass, oh well!

I usually make this two to three times a year depending on where I’m traveling and how much I share!

The best part is that this is actually easy to make Wherever You Are. I found everything except lavender in my small town Thailand street market. 

Pro tip for application: after you dry off from your shower, moisturize as usual or get that first layer of sunscreen on. Before getting dressed, get back in the shower or tub and spray yourself all over with Bug Off! It smells like salad dressing at first, but the scent fades quickly, and stays in the tub!

Can I use essential oils? Weeeellll…. yes and no. You could yes, but the result is a less cohesive (read: gross) mixture that stays separated, clogs your bottle, and is unnecessarily expensive to get the good stuff. But you do you! You CAN add a few drops of your favorite oil scent at the end and that’s not as gross.

Super cute idea for sharing: fill a few extra travel-size spray bottles with Bug Off!, adding an extra cute spring of lavender or leaf of sage to the bottle. Then decorate the outside with burlap and lace like a true hipster. Bring them out at the next picnic, bonfire, or evening dranks session and encourage your friends to take one home. Cuuuuute! Sharing *is* caring!

How you do? let me know how you and your family and friends like Bug Off! and what’s your favorite go-to herb combo where you are!

None of these statements have been evaluated by like a doctor or health professional or the fda, obvi.