DIY Herbal Insect Repellant - Cheap and Easy!

Everyone hates getting bit by mosquitoes but they still avoid using insect repellants. Insect repellants contain multitudes of nasty chemicals and can feel very sticky on the skin and smell terrible to boot. You can make herbal insect repellant at home. It is easy to make, nearly free, and just as effective as drugstore insect repellants.  

Herbal insect repellant can easily be made at home. All you need is spray bottle, which you may already have lying around if you use body sprays. If you have a body spray bottle which is nearly finished, you can whip up herbal insect repellant and pour it into the bottle. You can choose to mix it with the remaining body spray if you enjoy the fragrance, or you can wash it out if you prefer the natural smells of lemon, mint and witch hazel.  

Herbal Insect Repellant Recipe  

Ingredients: 

• Lemon zest  

• 1 teaspoon crushed mint leaves  

• 2 tablespoon rubbing alcohol

• 1 teaspoons witch hazel

• 1 spray bottle with nozzle  

• 1 cup of water

Directions:  

Bring the water to a boil and add the lemon zest and mint leaves. Let them soak for a strong tea. Let sit overnight in a covered pan so that the mint and lemon can really soak in the water and release their fragrance and active ingredients for the herbal insect repellant. Drain out the lemon shavings and the mint leaves the next morning, saving the tea. Add two tablespoons rubbing alcohol and 1 teaspoon witch hazel powder. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and tighten the nozzle. Shake well before each use and spray on before leaving the house in the evening. The best times to spray it onto your skin is sunrise and evening.   

Origin of witch hazel

Witch hazel is found in the northeastern States. It blooms with yellow flowers in the fall. The Native Americans were the first ones to use witch hazel by boiling the twigs to get a clear liquid. They used it for its naturally astringent properties and made salves for the relief of cuts, bruises, inflammation, minor scratches and even dry eyes. The Native Americans introduced witch hazel to the colonists and missionaries began to grow it for its beneficial properties. These days witch hazel is still used in a wide variety of personal hygiene products, skin care, hair treatments, and herbal insect repellents.  

Benefits of witch hazel

Witch hazel is a natural component of many herbal remedies and is also used as the active ingredient in herbal insect repellents. It is derived from the bark of the witch hazel shrub and its many beneficial effects come from the compound tannin. These tannins reduce vasodilation and tighten skin, making clearing up inflammation, rashes, and allergic reactions.

It is often used for the treatment of acne. It's disinfectant and astringent properties help to cleanse skin, reducing breakouts. It also fights free radicals, fighting ageing and minimizing pores and carcinogens.

Make your own herbal insect repellant at home today and stay bugs-free!