Make Natural Bug Spray and Get Through Summer

A natural bug spray with no harsh citronella scent

Patchouli, Juniper, and Lemongrass essential oils in a Frankincense hydrosol base keep mosquitoes away, with a warm, earthy scent instead of a sharp citronella smell.

In every aspect of my life, I consider how products will affect my vital energy. Bug spray can support vital energy too, if the right ingredients are used in the blend. I avoid over-the-counter bug sprays, and it's so easy to make your own.

I tested out this recipe by going in search of mosquitoes. I sprayed one arm and left the other unprotected. The mosquitoes landed, bit the unprotected arm, and when they circled around, landed and took right back off on my sprayed arm. So I know this works.

Plants and bugs have a love-hate relationship. Plants need certain insects for pollination, but other insects cause plant harm. Some plants are better at creating their own natural bug repellents, like Citronella Java (Cymbopogon winterianus), which has a distinctive, sharp scent.

Patchouli oil, from the leaves of the plant (Pogostemon cablin), is another plant oil that's so good at keeping away pests that we use it as an ingredient in natural bug repellent. It has been used to eliminate moths, mosquitoes, ants, bed bugs, flies, and lice.

Recipe: Summer Relief Bug Spray

This effective bug spray keeps away pests and has a warm, fresh, earthy scent.

Ingredients

• Just under 2 oz (60 ml) Frankincense hydrosol (Boswellia carterii)
• 16 drops Patchouli essential oil (Pogostemon cablin)
• 10 drops Juniper essential oil (Juniperus communis)
• 4 drops Lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon citratus)
• 1 tsp Aloe Vera Gel
• 4 ml Solubol dispersant

Equipment

• One 2 oz (60 ml) PET plastic spray bottle

Directions

Pour the Frankincense hydrosol into your spray bottle. Add the essential oils, Aloe Vera Gel, and Solubol, then tighten the cap. Gently shake the bottle to combine.

Shake it up, then spray it. I don't spray it on my face. It's in a water base and not preserved, so make this product fresh every few weeks. If your skin is sensitive to essential oils, spray this around you and on your clothing instead.

Side benefits of this blend

Frankincense hydrosol and Patchouli oil are also excellent ingredients in skin care blends. Lemongrass is calming to the nervous system, so much so that I've used it in insomnia blends, and Frankincense helps still the mind's chatter so it can rest.

This blend is a must-have if you tend to get bit a lot. Just be ready to pass it around when everyone else asks to use it.

Build this skill further

Substituting one essential oil for another, the way this recipe leans on Patchouli instead of citronella, is a skill you can build on purpose. Our Component Blending course teaches exactly that.

Questions people ask

Can I substitute plain water for the hydrosol?

Yes. Frankincense hydrosol adds its own skin-care benefits, but water works as the base in a pinch.

How long does this bug spray stay effective?

Make it fresh every few weeks. It's in a water base with no preservative, so it doesn't keep like an oil-based product would.

Is this safe to spray directly on skin?

Avoid the face. If your skin is sensitive to essential oils, spray it on your clothing instead of directly on your skin.

Why isn't there any citronella in this recipe?

Citronella Java has a distinctive, sharp scent that not everyone enjoys. This blend uses Patchouli, Juniper, and Lemongrass instead, for a warmer, earthier smell that still keeps bugs away.

For more options, see our 3 Natural Bug Repellent Recipes for Different Skin Needs.