Aromatherapy Insect Repellent Recipe

[Seraphin]

Aromatherapy is a popular healing art and holistic medicine that uses natural distilled extracts from aromatic plants. But did you know that it is also very effective in repelling harmful insects such as roaches, mosquitoes, flies and bedbugs?

So I'm currently exploring some herbs, roots, flowers, oils, incenses or perfumes that can be use to repel those crawling and flying little creeps and how to prepare and use them. Any thoughts and suggestions will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Firebird]

I think Citronella is the go-to oil for mosquitoes, but I really hate the smell of Citronella. Lemon Eucalyptus is technically better at repelling the little vectors, but it also smells quite similar to Citronella. So if you can stand either of these they work...eh, ok.
I make a blend of those two with Lavender, Patchouli, Vetivert and other things which are presently slipping my mind, ...I'll try to get back to you soon on that one.
BB, Firebird

[Seraphin]

Thanks for your wonderful suggestions Firebird! I'm going to try all of them and see what will work.

[Winter Wren]

Mix a splash of water into wormwood and turn it into a mash with a mortar and pestle. Place inside gauze/cheesecloth/old stocking and swipe over skin. Safe for humans and pets.

[Holdasown]

I make bug spray out of witch hazel and eucalyptus.

[Sakura Blossom]

These are good to know now that I'm putting food on my altars. Haha. Don't want any bugs to come after the sweet things. D:

[AnaisStar]

This was posted on my FB feed today (from the Herbal Academy of New England, where Im doing my Herbalist training currently) and I found it helpful. Im trying to find a good way to keep spiders away. Im terrified of them and they always build webs in the hallways outside our apt door during the summer. I dont want to kill them or have them go away completely, but I dont want them building right over the door, so I have to walk under the web.

I want something to spray around just the door to keep them from making webs there. I think I read that they dont like mint?

[Echo_of_shadows]

Thanks for the list, AnaisStar. I think I'll try peppermint for the mosquitoes. Here's a link for some natural spider repellents. I'll be trying some of these myself since spiders are starting to hang around in my bathroom.

[Silus7]

One of my personal favs is combining cedarwood,cinnamon,eucalyptus,lemongrass, and sunflower oil. It is a very effective combination against any biting insects. Coming from the New England area, Im always coming up with some natural alternatives to keep insects from making a meal of me. Peppermint is excellent to keep spiders away. I keep one growing by my kitchen and cinnamon is good for keeping ants away. Another surprising and interesting combination of oils to keep bugs away is rosemary, vanilla, and sandalwood. It wasnt something i intended on being an insect repellent, but it actually works! Lavender is also very useful as well and very easy to mix with to help keep those mosquitoes away. If I come up with any other ones, ill be sure to add them into this post

[AnaisStar]

Echo thanks for that link.

I tried one for spiders that was Lavender EO and Ylang Ylang EO mixed in water with a few drops of liquid dish detergent. I sprayed it one day but the spider came back, then sprayed it a second day and it still came back. So I gave up.

I wouldnt mind it being outside since it keeps other bugs away, but its literally right over the entrance to my house, so I have to duck to avoid it. and its HUGE!!!

[Echo_of_shadows]

Let me know if you find a real good spider repellent recipe, AnaisStar. I'm starting to see them in my kitchen. I personally escorted a couple out myself, though I'm usually terrified of them. It's odd, but I don't mind the daddy long legs.

[YanaKhan]

Let me know if you find a real good spider repellent recipe, AnaisStar. I'm starting to see them in my kitchen. I personally escorted a couple out myself, though I'm usually terrified of them. It's odd, but I don't mind the daddy long legs.

I second that. That's why I don't really like the summer - spiders and mosquitoes. And the mosquitoes are as big as sparrows

[AnaisStar]

Sprayed three times and she keeps coming back. I gave up, named her Bertha.

I just hope she doesnt drop on me one day. She is only in her web at night, so I only see her when I take the dog outside before bed.