How to Make Natural Mosquito Repellent
There are dozens of different mosquito repellents on the market today, and many of them are quite effective. The problem is, however, that most of them have unhealthy chemicals in them. In addition, in the event of a catastrophic disaster, stores would no longer be around. Whether you’re looking to save some money, make sure you’re not spraying chemicals on your skin, or you just want to be prepared for anything, it is a good idea to learn how to make all natural mosquito repellent.
Controlling mosquitos is extremely important not only because they are a nuisance, but also because they can be very hazardous to your health. Mosquitos can transmit many different types of diseases. In addition, mosquito bites can cause irritation which can put you at risk for infections.
How to Make Natural Mosquito Repellent
Making your own natural mosquito repellent really isn’t too difficult, as long as you have the ingredients. In most cases, you can make them using things you’ll find around your house. If not, you can pick them up in a variety of different stores. The basic concept involves diluting essential oils that the mosquitos don’t like the smell of, so they will stay away. These oils don’t mix well with water, so you’ll have to mix them together with another oil or an alcohol that is safe enough for your skin.
Choosing an Essential Oil
The following essential oils work well to repel mosquitos. The smell is unpleasant to the bugs, so they will stay away. You can choose the oil which you find most pleasing so that you won’t mind spraying it on yourself.
- Cinnamon Oil
- Citronella Oil
- Castor Oil
- Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
Choosing what to Dilute the Essential Oil In
The following oils and alcohols are excellent for diluting the essential oils into. You can choose which one you feel will work best with your skin type.
- Olive oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Any Cooking Oil
- Witch Hazel
- Vodka
Making Your Natural Mosquito Repellent
Once you’ve chosen the essential oil and what you want to dilute it in to, it is time to make your own all natural mosquito repellent. You’re going to want to take the base oil or alcohol, and place it into a container that will be where you store the repellent. Measure out exactly how much you are using. The essential oils should make up between 5-10% of the total repellent, so if you use 10 tablespoons of olive oil, for example, you would use between ½ and 1 tablespoon of the essential oil of your choice. You can adjust the recipe to make any size batches you want.
Once you’ve mixed the two things together, put a lid on the container and shake it well so everything is mixed up. Make sure to keep the container sealed when not using it so that it doesn’t evaporate. To apply, you can use either a spray bottle top or just dip your fingers in and spread it around on your skin. Remember, after swimming or working out, you’ll have to reapply the mixture.
