DIY Citronella & Lavender Body Spray
Note: I am not a medical professional. This recipe is for educational purposes only.
Mosquito bites suck. I’ve been an unwilling recipient of them my whole life.
When I started down my homesteading and traditional lifestyle path, natural bug repellent was one of the first things I experimented with. It took a while to get it right. One thing I learned along the way: not all scent combinations work equally well in every location or on every person. You might need to tweak my formula if it’s not quite working for you.
Why This Spray Is Awesome
This spray is made with just two things: distilled water and essential oils—no harsh chemicals. It’s simple, effective, and gentle on your skin. Essential oils are pretty incredible (you can read more about their history and how they're made in this post I wrote).
The essential oils in this recipe—citronella, lavender, cedarwood, and rosemary—are all aromatic, resinous plants that smell amazing together. People love the crisp, fresh, floral-yet-earthy scent, and, thankfully, mosquitoes don’t really.
Best of all, since it’s water-based, you won’t be left with that sticky chemical feeling that store-bought sprays often leave behind.
Why distilled water? It doesn’t contain microbes or minerals, which means your spray stays fresher longer.
DIY Citronella & Lavender Body Spray
Ingredients:
4 oz dark-colored glass spray bottle
3.5 oz distilled water
50 drops citronella essential oil
30 drops lavender essential oil
20 drops cedarwood essential oil
15 drops rosemary essential oil
Method:
Making this is super easy, but a quick safety note before we start:
Wear nitrile gloves and make your spray in a well-ventilated area (like near an open window). Essential oils are highly concentrated and can irritate skin if undiluted.
Start with a clean spray bottle.
Add your essential oils first. This helps you avoid overfilling the bottle with water.
Pour in the distilled water until the bottle is nearly full.
Cap the bottle and shake well.
Label it with the name and date.
Store in a cool, dark place when not in use.
That’s it! You’re done.
If you make this spray, I’d love to hear how it turned out!
Did you love the scent? Did you tweak the recipe for the bugs in your area?
Drop a comment below and let me know.
