Are the Mosquitoes eating you alive?! Are the No-See-Ums making your life miserable? Then make your own essential oil mosquito repellent. This essential oil insect repellent is easy to make and very effective!
This site contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission. Please click here for more information about cookies collected and our privacy policy.
Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent
It’s that time of year again! The mosquitos are here trying to carry us away like the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz! lol
However, I can not in good conscience douse my family in chemicals to prevent this!
So, how do you protect the ones that you love without dousing them in chemicals that are more dangerous than the bugs they are supposed to repel?
I have the ultimate solution!
An insect repellent that not only works great, but is actually nourishing to your skin at the same time!
A repellent that nourishes the mind, emotions and the body!
A repellant that’s ingredients have been historically shown to boost the immune system!
Sounds like a mom’s dream come true doesn’t it?! It is!
Let me share with you the recipe that I not only use for my own family, but the recipe that I use as an Aromatherapist for my clients as well.
You are going to love it!
Also if you would like to learn more about repelling mosquitoes then be sure to read: 13 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes, and 10 of the Best Essential Oils For Mosquitoes!
If you are already suffering from mosquito bites then be sure to read: 5 Essential Oils For Mosquito Bites.
Essential Oil Bug Spray
I don’t know about you, but I don’t feed my kids organic foods so that I can douse them in pesticides!
If I’m not willing to eat something, it’s not going on my skin!
Anything that you apply to your skin will be absorbed into the blood stream.
So when you spray yourself, or your children, with store bought insect repellent that contains harmful ingredients such as DEET, you might as well be eating it! Scary right?!
Scientists believe that DEET, along with other insecticides, can affect the nervous system!
And have you seen the long list of side effects that are associated with taking bug spray internally?!
We’re talking seizures, vomiting, difficulty breathing and much more!
Now, while not eating your bug spray should be a no brainer, I’m a mother! I know that little kids put their hands in their mouths!
And if you’re a mom, I’m sure that you have used the words “Get that out of your mouth!” Or “Don’t put your hands in your mouth!” Or in the case of my five year old, “Get your toes out of your mouth!”
As moms we have enough to stress and worry about!
And I know that, while we don’t want to put poison on our kid’s bodies, we also don’t want to see them eaten alive or carried off by mosquitoes! Is anyone else picturing the flying monkeys carrying Dorothy to the witches castle?! No, just me?
Anyways, I have a solution to both problems!
Essential Oil Insect Repellent.
The oils in this essential oil mosquito repellent have historically been shown to repel bugs.
I also use it on my own family with great success!
We live in south Florida. And as some of you know, we also raise dairy goats, chickens and guineas. So, we are outside a lot!
About a month ago the mosquitoes arrived! They were everywhere! When we went out to feed and milk the goats, especially in the evening, we were swarmed!
My daughter, who bottle feeds our baby goats, was beside herself. Freaking out was an understatement!
So, I quickly mixed up a bottle of this essential oil mosquito repellent.
The results were AMAZING!
I sprayed my daughter down liberally with the essential oil mosquito repellent before she went out to feed the babies in the evening. She didn’t get bitten by one mosquito while she was outside! NOT ONE! How awesome is that?!
I even sprayed it on my kids before bed because some mosquitoes had gotten into the house (thanks to the kids continually opening the back door!).
It is a safe spray that is also full of ingredients that I would use for many other reasons. So I know that when I apply it to my kid’s skin that not only is it keeping the bugs away from them, but it is nourishing their bodies as well!
Essential Oil Bug Repellent
Now, I will say that if you are outside for a long period of time that you might need to reapply it periodically to maintain full protection. I also spray it on clothes, hair, everywhere! It also smells really good:)
This recipe is awesome! And, while I would love to be able to say that I created it, I can’t.
Jennifer Hochell Pressimone, my aromatherapy instructor, is the creator of this extremely effective insect repellent.
The recipe is so effective, that I continue to use her recipe instead of creating my own. And she has graciously given me permission to share her recipe with you! Thank you Jennifer!
Jennifer is an Aromatherapist, herbalist, author & international educator. She is also the owner of JennScents inc. and JennScents University.
This is where I studied and obtained my certification as an Aromatherapist. Jennifer has a lot of knowledge and some amazing recipes!
Her new recipe book- JennScents Holistic Aromatherapy Comprehensive Guide, contains not only the insect repellent that I am sharing with you today, but a wealth of information!
It includes information about history, folklore, doctrine of signatures, safety, quality, application methods, over 100 essential oil profiles, over 35 carrier profiles, chemistry, blending techniques, over 65 recipes and more!
This is definitely a resource that every essential oil enthusiast should own!
Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent
I have included links for each of the ingredients in the recipe notes below the recipe for your convenience. These are all of the ingredients that I use to make my insect repellent.
I hope you enjoy it!
And please, after trying the spray come back and comment below with your experience and results!
I know you are going to love it!
If you would like to more amazing recipes for yourself then be sure to check out the Essential Oil Recipes for Beauty & Body Care Binder! It contains this recipe plus so many more that, as an Aromatherapist, I have been asked to create for clients over and over again. Trust me, they will change your life!
Cautions and disclaimer:
For topical use only; avoid contact with eyes, use with caution during pregnancy and with serious health conditions.
The information provided on this site is for educational purposes only. I do not prescribe, diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Please consult your health care provider before implementing any of the information provided on this site.
The information provided on this site is completely my own opinion and does not reflect the opinions or beliefs of any other entity.
Any statements or claims regarding health benefits of foods, supplements or essential oils listed on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.
You can read my full disclaimer here.

Essential Oil Insect Repellent!
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz. Plant Enzymes
- .5 oz. Unscented Massage Oil I use Grapeseed Oil
- 5 Drops Thyme Essential Oil
- 4 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 5 Drops Geranium Essential Oil
- 5 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- 5 Drops Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil
- 5 Drops Citronella Essential Oil
Instructions
- In a 4oz. glass or PET spray bottle, combine essential oils and massage oil. Shake well. Add plant enzymes and shake well.
- Dir: Apply to exposed skin surfaces 5-10 minutes before going outside to repel mosquitoes and insects. Reapply as needed. Safe for babies.
Recipe Notes
You can find the Plant Enzymes that I use here.
You can find the Grapeseed Oil that I use here.
Find the Thyme, Lavender, Geranium and Peppermint Essential Oils that I use here.
You can find the Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil that I use here.
You can find the Citronella Essential Oil that I use here.
Can you use something other than the plant enzymes?
I’ve never made the recipes with anything other than the plant enzymes, but you could try it with filtered water. Shake it really well before each use, as I do feel that everything mixes a little better with plant enzymes versus water. But the oils will mix into the carrier oil that the recipe calls for.
If you are able to get the enzymes I highly recommend it though. They are very nourishing to the skin and assist in breaking down bacteria!
Is this recipe safe to use on my dairy goats that are in milk now
This recipe is formulated for people. I do have a fly and insect spray recipe for goats that is in the Natural Goat Care Recipe Book. You can learn more about it here: https://raisinggoatsforbeginners.com/natural-goat-care-recipes/
I was desperately trying to make your natural mosquito repellent before going to South Africa. I have all the ingredients but I am having a difficult time in trying to convert the amounts for the plant enzymes .5 oz and the carrier oil 3.5 oz into the appropriate measurements. Can you please help me?
Does this help? 0.5 oz (ounce) is 15 ml (milliliters). 3.5 oz would be 105 ml.
Can’t wait to try this! My family and I just moved to Southeast Florida 3 months ago from Southern CA. Definitely not used to the bugs and amount of mosquitoes! I’m a homeschooling mom too, we eat organic, non GMO and avoid chemicals. My husband is a chiropractor. I’d love to connect with you and learn about your homesteading skills!