Defeat Mosquitoes Naturally

Do Florida mosquitoes keep you indoors after dusk?  Do you have a bottle of bug spray on your back porch?  Citronella candles are for more than decoration?  Did you know that many of the bug sprays and repellents that we use are loaded with hidden (and very toxic) chemicals that aren’t safe for us or our children.

Using just a few simple ingredients from your kitchen and bathroom you can make a quick and effective mosquito spray.  Homemade sprays like this can made in small or large batches and it doesn’t require any preservatives.  It’s safe enough to use on even the smallest babies but do use caution when introducing essential oils to babies.

Ingredients needed for the natural mosquito repellent spray:

• Witch hazel
• Carrier oil (like olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil)
• Essential oils (like lemon, lavender, mint, lemongrass, tea tree, rosemary, eucalyptus, or citronella)

Directions to make your own natural mosquito repellent spray:

Mix equal parts witch hazel and your favorite carrier oil.  I used avocado oil which is great for extra dry, cracked skin.  I mix these ingredients in a small travel size spray bottle.  Pick your favorite essential oils from the list above (all known for repelling mosquitoes) and add several drops to your mixture.  For a small 1 oz bottle I would add about 10-15 drops.  You can combine 2-3 of your favorite essential oils to create any scent you prefer.  I like lemon and lavender for a soft, clean scent.  Gentle shake the mixture until all of the ingredients have combined together.

Before heading outdoors be sure to spray the mixture on any open skin where the mosquitoes might munch.  For my daughter and I that is EVERYWHERE!!  We can’t even go outside for 5 minutes after dusk without being attacked, we must be sweet tasting!  We even spray out clothing lightly because they’ve even found a way to nibble on us through our clothes.

If you happen to miss a spot and the mosquitoes still leave you scratching, you can dab a few drops of witch hazel on the spot to take away the itch.

Do mosquitoes like to nibble on you or your kids?  How do you fight them off without adding toxic chemicals to your skin?