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Living Well Mom

I help moms with simple, natural ways to look after their families. Find recipes, fun stuff for kids, and simple DIY ideas. Plus natural solutions made easy peasy!

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All-Natural Homemade Bug Repellent Lotion

By Maura in Natural Homemade Ideas

homemade insect repellent summerThis post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to Recipe
Erika Bragdon is a Certified Essential Oil Coach from the Essential Oil Institute.

Insects can quickly turn a pleasant summer evening or a fun family camping trip into an annoying experience. Luckily you can make your own non-toxic, DEET-free homemade bug repellent for safer relief.

This easy DIY insect repellent lotion uses all-natural ingredients, including essential oils, to repel mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, and other pesky insects. It’s gentle and safe for kids too!

easy homemade bug repellent lotion with essential oils this idea now...

Why should you make homemade insect repellent?

1. When you make your own insect repellent, you know exactly what ingredients are included, unlike many of the ready-made repellents that are loaded with chemicals like DEET.

This essential oil bug repellent recipe is non-toxic with simple ingredients. It’s easy to tweak depending on what essential oils you already have too. Just use the base recipe and try your own essential oil blend.

2. This particular mosquito repellent recipe is great because each essential oil can be used to repel different insects.

Lemon eucalyptus and citronella are great for repelling mosquitos. Geranium oil has been found to repel mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, ants, fleas, gnats, and ticks. Cedarwood repels certain ants.  Tea Tree oil repels mosquitos and can also bring itch relief if one bite does sneak in.

Related: got bug bites? Try these essential oils for mosquito bites

I love using this homemade natural bug repellent lotion for my family (and myself!) because the lotion makes it easy to apply and in my experience, it lasts longer than sprays!

Prefer a spray? I have a natural DIY recipe for that too! Our essential oil mosquito repellent spray takes just a couple minutes to make.

homemade mosquito repellent lotion in a jar

DIY Insect Repellent Lotion

It takes just a few minutes to make a batch of this essential oil bug repellent recipe. You can use a microwave or if you prefer not to, you can make this over low heat on your stove.

Ingredients for the lotion base of this homemade bug repellent:

  • 1/3 cup of fractionated coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup raw extra virgin coconut oil
  • 1 oz of beeswax (which is just one stick from what you can order here.)
  • 1 tsp. of vitamin E oil
  • 2 Tbsp. of Organic Shea Butter
  • 8 oz jam sized mason jar

This amount will fill one 8oz jam sized mason jar.

homemade bug repellent lotion ingredients

The essential oils are the key to turning this into an effective DIY insect repellent lotion.

You will need around 10-15 drops each (a total of 60-75 drops) of the following essential oils:

Note: use fewer drops – a total of 20-30 if you are using with young children.

  • Lemon Eucalyptus – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden
  • Citronella – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden
  • Cedarwood – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden
  • Geranium – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden

This combination has worked well for us (we live in the northeast.) However, it’s helpful to remember that different areas of the county (and world) have different insect species which react differently to various essential oils. 

Tip: mix and match essential oils to find your ideal bug repelling combination!

You don’t have to limit yourself at just these five essential oils.  Other insect-repelling essential oils you might include are:

  • patchouli – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden
  • vetiver – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden
  • eucalyptus – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden
  • catnip – Eden’s Garden
  • lavender – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden

essential oils for DIY insect repellent

PDFs for mosquito bite relief guide featured on blue and white background

essential oil pdf download for moms on blue background

 

How to make Homemade Natural Bug Repellent

1. Add ingredients to a glass measuring cup

If you are using a microwave, use a microwave-safe glass measuring cup. If you prefer over the stove, use a small saucepan over low-medium heat.

Add:

1/2 cup fractionated coconut oil

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 oz beeswax

1 tsp. vitamin E oil

2 Tbsp of organic shea butter

making homemade insect repellent

2. Melt and stir

You will want to microwave the ingredients in 30-second intervals, with stirring in-between, until all of the oils, wax, and butter are fully melted.

Alternatively, melt slowly over the stir stirring occasionally.

The beeswax takes the longest to melt – so breaking it up and stirring more in-between heatings will help to dissolve it faster.

DIY insect repellent lotion ingredients in glass

3. Add essential oils

When your lotion base is fully melted and well stirred, then its time to start adding essential oils.

The liquid should be warm, not hot, so as to not alter the effectivity of the essential oils. If your mixture is hot, let it cool for a few minutes (not too long or it will start to solidify, making it more difficult to evenly stir in the oils.)

Add 10-15 drops each of lemon eucalyptus, citronella, geranium, cedarwood and tea tree oil. (Use 5 drops each for younger children, you can bump to 7-10 drop each for older children, and 15 drops each for teens/adults.)

Bug Repelling Essential ↓

essential oils for repelling bugs ebook offer

adding essential oils to homemade natural bug repellent

Read this post on essential oil safety tips.

4. Pour into a mason jar

Pour your homemade essential oil insect repellent lotion into an 8-ounce glass mason jar.

It will look golden-colored in it’s melted state

Its a beautiful golden color in its liquid stage, but will lighten up as it cools and hardens into a lotion.

homemade mosquito repellent lotion

Let it sit to cool for a few hours before applying.

essential oil bug repellent lotion

5. Optional: apply this pretty “homemade bug repellent lotion” label

I created this label and applied it to my jar using a glue stick.  Wrap clear packing tape around it to make it waterproof.

Click here to save this free printable label, then print to use this for your own homemade bug repellent lotion. Note: if you use the PDF version, you will probably want to resize it before printing. Or you can right click and save this smaller JPG file here.

homemade bug repellent lotion label

Tip: Use two 4 oz mason jars for more convenient on-the-go use instead of one larger 8 oz. You can take one on the go and leave the other at home.

I also recommend this homemade essential oils for bug bites “itch sticks” for convenient bug bite relief.

If anyone is going on a camping trip this summer, this is a must-have for your packing list!

It’s a wonderful feeling to know that when we apply this to our skin, it is moisturizing, natural, and we don’t have to worry about taking a shower before bed to get rid of commercial bug repellent chemicals off!

If you make some of this yourself, be sure to leave us a comment and tell us how well it has worked for you!

kid-safe bug repellent cream with essential oils

For more ways to use essential oils to repel insects, check out these posts:

  • DIY essential oil tick repellent spray
  • Natural tick repellent for dogs (vet approved!)
  • How to make a mosquito repelling bracelet using essential oils
  • Essential oil mosquito repellent spray + roller blend
  • Essential oils for fire ant bites

Which Essential Oil Brand is Best?

For the best results, you will want to choose a high-quality essential oil brand that is 100% pure and offers third-party testing for quality control. Read this post for more info on how to choose essential oils that work for you and your family (beyond the brand.)

My favorite essential oil company is Rocky Mountain Oils, followed by Eden’s Garden, and Ancient Apothecary by Dr. Axe.

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All-Natural Homemade Bug Repellent Lotion

essential oil bug repellent lotion
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This easy-to-make insect repellent lotion uses non-toxic ingredients, including essential oils, to repel mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, and is safe for kids too!

  • Author: Maura

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/3 cup of fractionated coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup raw extra virgin coconut oil
  • 1 oz of beeswax (which is just one stick from what you can order here.)
  • 1 tsp. of vitamin E oil
  • 2 Tbsp. of Organic Shea Butter
  • 8 oz jam sized mason jar
  • Lemon Eucalyptus – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden
  • Citronella – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden
  • Cedarwood – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden
  • Geranium – Rocky Mountain Oils | Eden’s Garden

Instructions

To start making your DIY insect repellent lotion, add 1/3 cup fractionated coconut oil, 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1 oz beeswax, 1 tsp. vitamin E oil, and 2 Tbsp of organic shea butter to a microwave safe glass measuring cup.

You will want to microwave the oil in 30 second intervals, with stirring in-between, until all of the oils and butters are fully melted.  The beeswax takes the longest to melt – so breaking it up and stirring more in-between heatings will help it dissolve faster.

When your lotion base is fully melted and well stirred, then its time to start adding essential oils.  Add 15 drops each of lemon eucalyptus, citronella, geranium, cedarwood and tea tree oil.

Stir until all of the oils are well mixed, and pour into an 8 oz glass mason jar.  Let it cool for a few hours before applying it to your skin.

PDFs for mosquito bite relief guide featured on blue and white background

natural bug repellent lotion for mosquitoes and ticks

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    Filed Under: Natural Homemade Ideas, Natural Living, Seasonal, Summer Tagged With: homemade, insect repellent, summerPublished on May 8, 2019

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    About Maura

    Maura, her husband and 2 daughters live in upstate NY. She is a former high school biology teacher turned into a work at home mom. She loves to have fun and find a great deal. As well as writing for Living Well Mom, she shares her frugal tips and DIY projects on happydealhappyday.com.

    Comments

    1. Andrea says

      August 3, 2019 at 1:46 pm

      I made this and, while I’m very happy not having toxic chemicals in my home, it’s really, really greasy and doesn’t absorb into my skin – like, at all. I certainly have enough ingredients to make another batch or add to this one (melt it down and add whatever is needed). What can I add to make it less greasy – or what can I omit or reduce to make another batch less greasy? The only difference I made was using pure Vitamin E as opposed to the one you linked, which is Vitamin E plus other oils. I didn’t use a full tablespoon, too. Thanks, in advance, for your help!!

      PS. Since it stays on my skin, it makes a great shave oil in the shower!! LOL!! 🙂

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        September 12, 2019 at 8:15 pm

        Heyyy , unfortunately coconut oil is one of the greatest but is very greasy & doesn’t absorb into the skin so well … you can add a little Arrowroot powder or tapioca starch to a melted mis which will help stop that greasy feeling on your skin but it may become more of a cream than an oil but would still be effective … good luck 🙂

        Reply
    2. Sam says

      August 18, 2019 at 6:56 am

      Did NOT try this yet. But i would use the two coconut oil only as the base. Use more or less fractionated coconut oil to adjust the thickness maybe?

      Reply
    3. Karen Urbanski says

      May 24, 2020 at 3:38 pm

      Okay not seeing how this is a lotion. I ended up with 5 oz instead of 8. And in the beginning of recipe you state 1/3 cup of fractionated coconut oil then later it states 1/2 cup.Was this supposed to be whipped to get the continsency like in the second picture. Mine I would say is a salve.

      Reply
      • Erika says

        June 22, 2020 at 12:31 pm

        The correct amount is 1/3 cup fractionated coconut oil however you may choose to use a little more (1/2 cup) if you prefer a thinner consistency. We did not whip the lotion, it tends to get thinner in warmer temperatures.

        Reply
    4. Liz says

      June 7, 2021 at 11:43 am

      This works incredibly well, thank you! Your instructions are well written. I used oils I had at home and didn’t have to buy anything. We traveled to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and live in Iowa! It works well everywhere we visited! People love it and have asked for your recipe!

      Reply
      • Erika says

        June 25, 2021 at 1:26 pm

        I’m so glad to hear that, Liz! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Myriam says

      March 5, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      Hi!
      I really want to try this recipe but not sure if my skin can handle coconut oil (I have had mild unpleasant reactions to it before) so what other oil would you suggest I replace it with? I read that you said coconut oil is the best but then what would be the 2nd best?

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Erika says

        March 9, 2022 at 1:55 pm

        You could try melting beeswax or even shea butter. The consistency will be different and you’d have to play around with quantities. We haven’t tried it so I can’t say how well it would work.

        Reply

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