• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Recipes with Essential Oils

Powering your Essential Oil Living

  • Get Started
    • Order Essential Oils
    • Strategies & Tips for Using Essential Oils
    • Getting to Know Your Essential Oils
    • Videos
    • Blog
  • Essential Oil Recipes
    • Beauty Recipes
    • Diffuser Recipes
    • Household Recipes
    • Cooking Recipes
    • Search Recipes
  • Shop
    • Amazon Shop
    • Recommended Supplies
    • eBook: Essential Oil Recipes for Toddlers to Teens
    • eBook: Healthy Hair and Skin Care
    • Make & Take Party Sets
      • Make & Take Party Set #2: Moisturizing Beauty, Ready for Romance, and Kitchen & Laundry
      • Make & Take Party Set #3: Natural Beauty and Household Cleaning
      • Make & Take Party Set #4: Emotional Support Roller Blends
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Store
    • View Your Shopping Cart

Homemade Outdoor Spray

August 26, 2015 Updated on June 17, 2022 By Beth K 15 Comments This post contains affiliate links.

741 shares

My favorite way to avoid outdoor annoyances is to stay inside…in the air conditioning…drinking citrus water. But since I want to enjoy the outdoors with my kids, going outside is pretty much on the agenda. This Homemade Outdoor Spray is all-natural, safe for the whole family, and works to help you enjoy the great outdoors.

homemade outdoor annoyance spray

As an outdoor lover, I’ve tried lots of over-the-counter sprays for deterring pests. The main active ingredient in these sprays is DEET (N, CN-DIETHYL-M-TOLUAMIDE). DEET works by forming a barrier on your skin so the bugs can’t “smell” you.

Unfortunately, this ingredient can cause skin and lung irritation, so I wanted to look for good outdoor protection without the irritant factor. This led me to a search to find a more natural solution.

After a little research online, I found that you can make your own outdoor spray with essential oils. Awesome! And, even better than that, I had all the ingredients already! Double awesome!

safe and natural bug spray

Here’s how this Homemade Outdoor Bug Spray works:

The witch hazel is necessary because it delivers the essential oils to the skin and evaporates quickly. So it gets the oils dispersed and then it gets out of the way.

The vegetable glycerin creates a protective barrier for the skin and can absorb moisture from the air to smooth and moisturize your skin. True story! Here in Texas, there is plenty of moisture in the air so I love the idea of beautifying my skin while protecting it from pests.

The Purification essential oil blend is where the magic happens! Purification contains Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavandin, Rosemary, Tea Tree, and Myrtle essential oils. 

Lavender essential oil is added for its comforting and fresh aroma. It has a strong scent that is thought to repel bugs

These dark amber bottles are perfect because they protect the recipe from UV light. They’re small enough for packing in your purse or backpack and provide great coverage for a misting spray.

Useful Tips:

  • Apply this spray before going outdoors and reapply regularly to maintain that layer of protection on the skin
  • As with any essential oil recipe, make sure to keep away from the eyes and mucous membranes and wash your hands after use. You don’t want this stuff in your eye!

New to essential oils? Learn more about how we use them and why you should use them as well.

natural insect spray essential oils

Homemade Outdoor Spray

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces witch hazel
  • 1-1/2 ounces of water
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
  • 20 drops Purification Essential Oil Blend (where to buy)
  • 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil (where to buy)
  • 4-ounce amber spray bottle

Directions

  • Combine all ingredients in a dark, glass spray bottle. Shake to combine.
  • This spray recipe will last for at least a year. The essential oils and witch hazel will keep it fresh.

To Use: 

  • Spray evenly over exposed skin, avoiding contact with clothing
  • Reapply as needed
  • Apply before you head outdoors for a picnic, hike, campout, or anytime

Lavender Purification Insect Repelent

Not the DIY type? Young Living makes an Insect Repellant that is an all-natural, essential oil-infused alternative to traditional bug repellents. Get it here. 

More essential oil recipes you might enjoy:

  • Soothing After Sun Spray
  • Sore Muscle Soak
  • Overnight Deep Conditioning & Spray-On Conditioner
  • Grilling Marinades
741 shares

Filed Under: Household, Kids, Outdoor Living, Recipes Tagged With: lavender, purification

Previous Post: « Invigorating Shower Bomb
Next Post: 6 Best Carrier Oils for Essential Oils »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauri says

    March 29, 2016 at 11:05 am

    Hi! Love your website!
    Would you happen to have a recipe for tic spay for dogs?
    Thanks for sharing.

    Lauri

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      March 29, 2016 at 11:13 am

      Thanks for visiting, Lauri. We don’t have pet recipes right now. We’d love to hear if you find something that works. Have a great week!

      Reply
  2. Adria Flannery says

    May 16, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Hi! I love your website! Have you had “real” results with the outdoor spray? I have a friend who is expecting and looking for an alternative option to keep mosquitos off of her. Any help is greatly appreciated. I’ve seen other recipes that contain way more EO’s.
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      May 16, 2016 at 2:52 pm

      Hi Adria! This is the outdoor spray that we use on our entire family (children aged 3 – 18). Purification is a blend which contains several wonderful essential oils including Citronella. You might look up the benefits of Citronella essential oil to see if it meets your needs.

      Reply
  3. Irene says

    September 29, 2016 at 9:32 pm

    I am looking for a recipe to keep mosquitos from entering our house through our back door.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      October 1, 2016 at 12:00 am

      Hmmm, I’m not sure about that, Irene. Let us know if you find something that works.

      Reply
  4. Sheila says

    February 21, 2017 at 6:45 am

    What does the glycerin do?

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      February 21, 2017 at 8:57 pm

      It moisturizes the skin and helps the essential oils to be dispersed throughout the mixture and stay on the skin longer.

      Reply
  5. Shea says

    February 21, 2017 at 8:55 pm

    My daughter is going to Ecuador in a couple weeks. She has been twice already, both time has been eaten alive by mosquitos. I am hoping this will work on the “jungle mosquitos” out there. 😉

    Reply
  6. Michelle says

    April 3, 2017 at 1:38 pm

    Does this work spraying on clothes or do you only spray on skin?

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      April 3, 2017 at 9:22 pm

      I spray it on my skin for best results.

      Reply
  7. Michelle says

    April 3, 2017 at 1:48 pm

    What witch hazel do you use? Alcohol free?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      April 3, 2017 at 9:24 pm

      This is a great unscented, alcohol-free witch hazel option!

      Reply
  8. Karla Fernando says

    May 13, 2017 at 10:41 am

    It’s hard to find vegetable glycerin where I live. Can I use aloe Vera gel instead?

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      May 19, 2017 at 10:21 pm

      It’s worth a try. Let us know how you like that variation.

      Reply

Related

Essential Oils Seasonal Allergies
Essential Oils for Seasonal Allergies
May 7, 2022
Tags: copaiba, lavender, lemon, peppermint
Categories: Basics
Top 10 Best Essential Oils for Cleaning
April 2, 2022
Tags: citrus fresh, eucalyptus radiata, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, orange, pine, purification, tea tree, thieves
Categories: Basics, Recipes
Natural Dryer Ball Spray
Fresh & Clean Dryer Ball Spray
February 26, 2022
Tags: lavender, purification
Categories: Household, Recipes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Essential Oil Recipes Hair and Skin Care
Essential Oil Storage and Supplies
Essential Oil Make and Take Party Packs
Join Young Living

Looking for a particular recipe? Search here:

Hi! I'm Diana. I'm a naturally minded mother of two and essential oil educator. Oils don't have to be complicated! Let me show you how to use essential oils in real life, in your home, every day. I share tried-and-tested recipes to help you live a more natural life.

YL Independent Distributor

Copyright © 2023 · Recipes with Essential Oils · Design by SharonHujik.com

Privacy Policy and Disclaimer

Recipes with Essential Oils is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.