I think we would all agree that bugs are the worst part of summer. If only there were no mosquitoes to bite us, Japanese beetles to eat our gardens, and ticks to spread horrible diseases, summer would be perfect, right?
Well, I am not one to deprive birds, bats, spiders and countless other creatures their food, so I'm happy to have insects around -- as long as they keep their distance from me! Read on for my best tips for keeping them away, as well as tips for soothing stings when you do get bitten.
I know that I have sent this recipe out before, BUT you may not have saved it, and I don't have a proper archive of my recipes. Whether you are trying to enjoy your backyard, a game of golf or an evening at the cottage, this recipe will help you keep bugs at bay.
Oddly enough, finding a good spray bottle can be challenging. One of the best places to shop for one is actually a hardware store or a nursery. The empty spray bottles they sell for cleaners or gardening are very good for use with essential oils, although they are quite large. dōTERRA sells 2 sizes of spray bottles: one is 60 mL (2 oz) and the other is I think 6 or 8 oz, so you can add either or both of those to your order. And of course you might find something suitable on Temu or Amazon.
Modify the recipe according to the size of your bottle.
Geranium is renowned for its use in skincare, but did you know that it is a very effective tick repellent too?
You could add some drops to the recipe above if you need to repel ticks. Or, you can make a separate spray just for ticks.
Two other essential oils that are good tick repellents are Vetiver and Cedarwood, In fact, you can combine all three into a blend that is very effective. Use 2 parts Geranium, 2 parts Cedarwood and 1 part Vetiver. Combine with water using a ratio of 4 drops essential oil blend to 1 ounce of water.
This blend is safe and effective for pets and children, as well as adults. Spray feet and lower legs especially. For dogs, spray legs, feet and tail, then apply with your hands to the head and ears. |
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There are also MANY other essential oils that repel insects -- after all, one of the reasons plants produce essential oils is for that very purpose! Here is a list of the all-star repellent oils. Get ready to customize your repellent blend to your EXACT specifications!
Arborvitae Cedarwood Citronella Clove
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| Geranium Lavender Lemon Eucalyptus Lemongrass
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| Patchouli Peppermint Rosemary Spearmint TerraShield blend
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If you do get bitten, there are plenty of oils that will help with soothing the sting, too.
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Many of these soothing oils can be applied directly to the skin in an emergency, but it's always recommended to dilute with Fractionated Coconut Oil especially for young, old and sensitive skin. Use the recipe here as a guide, but always know you can switch oils around to your preferences. Tip: save empty roller bottles for remedies like these!
Are you missing a few oils to make the recipe you want? Log in to your dōTERRA account to place an order. If you don't have an account yet, let's fix that! Get 25% off plus loads of other benefits with a wholesale account.