DIY Bug Spray: How to Make All-Natural Insect Repellent

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If you’ve ever sat down with a glass of iced tea to enjoy a summer evening—only to be immediately eaten alive by mosquitoes—then you know the vibe shift. One second you’re living your best porch life… the next you’re swatting like you’re in a karate movie and wondering how fast you can get inside.

I don’t know about you, but the store-bought stuff has always made me hesitate. I’ve got kids. I’ve got skin. I like to know what I’m spraying all over both. So we started making our own bug spray—and friends, it works. Plus, it smells good enough that I don’t mind keeping it in my bag or handing it off to a sweaty child mid-chicken chores.

Here’s how we make it.

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Why We Ditched the Store-Bought Stuff

Most bug sprays on the shelf are full of ingredients I can’t pronounce, and some of them are honestly kind of terrifying (DEET, anyone?). I’ve heard stories of sprays that melt plastic—and I don’t know about you, but if something dissolves a phone case, I’d rather not put it on my child’s arms.

So we leaned into natural ingredients. Things like spearmint, lavender, and catnip (yes, catnip)—herbs and oils that actually repel bugs but don’t make you feel like you’re prepping for chemical warfare.

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What You’ll Need

This blend is super simple, skin-friendly, and safe for kids:

• 1 tbsp spearmint – fresh and cool, bugs hate it
• 1 tbsp lemongrass – like citronella, but smells better
• 1 tbsp catnip – oddly powerful, and yes, we grow it
• 1 tbsp lavender – calming and soothing for the skin
• 1 cup boiling water – for steeping the herbs
• 1/2 cup witch hazel – preserves and soothes
• (Optional: a few drops of essential oils—see below)

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How to Make It

1. Steep your herbs
Toss your herbs into a mason jar (any combo of fresh or dried works), then pour in the boiling water. Cover it and let everything steep for about 30 minutes. You’re basically making a strong tea that smells way better than chamomile and tells mosquitoes to take a hike.

2. Strain it out
Once it cools a bit, go ahead and strain out the herbs using cheesecloth, a fine strainer, or whatever you’ve got on hand. Compost the herbs or toss them to the chickens—just save that golden liquid. That’s your base.

3. Add the witch hazel
Stir in about half a cup of witch hazel. This helps the spray stick and gives it a longer shelf life. If you want to get fancy, you can also add a splash of apple cider vinegar—it gives it a little extra staying power and bugs really don’t love it.

4. Bottle it up and give it a shake
Pour it all into a spray bottle (glass is great, but use what you’ve got). That’s it! Just give it a good shake before each use because the ingredients tend to settle.

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Want to Make It Your Own?

This works great as-is, but a few drops of essential oil can level it up and make it smell like a summer spa day. Just keep the total to around 20 drops per batch so it stays gentle on skin. Some favorites around here:

• Lavender (because yes, always)
• Peppermint (cooling and refreshing)
• Cinnamon (bugs hate it, smells like dessert)
• Lemon eucalyptus (even the EPA approves)
• Tea tree or rose geranium (if ticks are a concern)

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How to Use It

• Spray on exposed skin and clothes (avoid eyes and face)
• Reapply every couple of hours, especially after sweating or swimming
• Test on a small patch first if you have sensitive skin
• Store in a cool, dark place
• Shake before each use

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Final Thoughts

This spray’s become a summer staple around here. It’s easy to throw together, safe for the kids, and smells like actual plants instead of a chemical storm.

What I love most is that it’s just one more way we get to live a little closer to the way we were made to—teaching the kids how to care for their bodies with things God already gave us. And let’s be honest… it’s cheaper than the store stuff and way less gross to spray on your skin.

If you try it, let me know how it goes! And if you’ve got a favorite summer remedy or homemade bug trick of your own, I’d love to hear it. We’re always learning over here.

Here’s to summer nights, scratched-up knees, and not smelling like bug spray.

Shop this post:

• Spray Bottles
• Witch Hazel Extract
• Spearmint
• Lemongrass
• Catnip
• Lavender

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