DIY Bug Repellent — Hallie Sawyer

I'm convinced mosquitos have it out for me. They come from miles away to get a taste of what must be the only type O blood west of the Mississippi. I don't remember getting bit this much as a child but that may be due to getting hosed down with DEET or some other noxious product fit for the 70's and 80's. I mean we rode without seatbelts while our parents smoked cigarettes with the windows rolled up. What's a little bug spray in grand scheme of things?! Our poor parents. They hadn't a clue nor did they have the choices we have now. So I've chosen a less destructive to the DNA route for my kiddos and thought I'd share in case you're into avoiding toxins whenever you can.

Unfortunately, my children have been cursed with tasty blood as well and it was about four years ago when I was in the hunt for a natural bug spray that I learned about essential oils. A friend had sent me some small bottles to use for relaxation and mood lifting but I found that there were lots of other ways I could use these oils, one of them being homemade bug spray! I purchased a few suggested oils from my now favorite brand, and made some my own spray bottles with the "recipe" I had found. We've been using it ever since!

Here are a couple of ideas for you if you'd like to try something a little, no scratch that. A LOT more "au natural" that won't kill your children's DNA, one buggy summer at a time.

Recipe 1:

20 drops lemongrass essential oil
20 drops lavender essential oil
20 drops geranium essential oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil
Equal parts Witch hazel and fractionated coconut oil (stays liquid at room temp)

Mix all together in small spray bottle. Shake before use.

Recipe 2:

10 drops cedarwood essential oil
10 drops arborvitae essential oil
25 drops TerraShield, repellent essential oil blend from dōTERRA
25 drops Purify, cleansing essential oil blend from dōTERRA
Equal parts Witch Haze and fractionated coconut oil

Mix together in small spray bottle. Shake before use.

Another option is to make a bug repellent body butter if you're heading out to an outdoor event and don't feel like whipping out your bug spray in the middle of conversation. :)

Body butter recipe:

Ingredients
½ cup shea butter
½ cup cocoa butter
½ cup coconut oil

Instructions:

Measure all butters and place in glass jar.
Fill a large skillet/saucepan with one to one and a half inches of water. Bring to a boil.
Once boiling, add the glass jar to the center of the saucepan to melt.
Stir every few minutes until the ingredients are melted and combined. (10–15 minutes)

*Tip: Use a popsicle stick to stir for easy cleanup.

Once everything is melted, remove from heat and let sit for 5–10 minutes. Add desired essential oils.
Once essential oils are added, let it rest in a cool place (such as the refrigerator) until it has set.
Once chilled, take out of refrigerator. With a stand or hand mixer, start on low and slowly turn the speed higher until the lotion becomes light and fluffy (around 3–5 minutes).
{Note: Store mixture in a glass jar and keep in a cool place. If needed, re-fluff the body butter by whipping it back up to the desired consistency with a hand mixture.}

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(If you'd like to purchase any oils or oil blends from dōTERRA, just comment below and I'll totally hook you up. Again, can't stress enough about getting essential oils from a very reputable company. Quality, sourcing, integrity...it all matters. Pinky swear.)