Summer is here, and so are the bugs, especially in all the fun, hot, woodsy, wet, and sticky places.

If you’ve landed here, you’re likely wise to the toxicity and health issues associated with bug sprays.

Yet you also know bug bites can be bad news, especially from disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks, so we must weigh the risks and the benefits.

Fortunately, studies have shown certain essential oils work as well as many pesticides, minus the dangerous side effects.

However, choosing essential oils that are organic, wildcrafted, and processed without solvents or through plastic tubes is key.

That’s what we’ll discuss today, along with a basic formula to make your own ultra-effective, all-natural, and great-smelling natural insect repellent at home.

Why Skip The DEET?

A growing awareness about the health implications of pesticide exposure has created quite a buzz about the side effects of DEET.

Also known as N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or diethyltoluamide, this petroleum-derived ingredient is widely used in synthetic bug sprays. It is very effective at repelling and killing mosquitoes, ticks, and pretty much anything living.

The problem is that, like most pesticides, DEET is a neurotoxin, meaning it affects the nervous system. This is how it repels and kills bugs.

DEET has also been shown to have the following side effects:[1]

• Skin and eye irritation
  
• Mucous membrane irritation
  
• Crying out
  
• Episodes of stiffening into a sitting position, extension of extremities, flexing of the fingers, and dorsiflexion of the toes
  
• Disorientation
  
• Staggering gait
  
• Slurred speech
  
• Jaundice
  
• Aplastic anemia
  
• Bleeding
  
• Convulsive seizure or death
  
• Coma

Although some of these side effects are rare, it does give a person pause to consider what exactly they are putting on their bare skin, inhaling, and even ingesting as it’s sprayed.

These side effects are particularly concerning for babies and children whose brains, nervous systems, and organs are still developing and not as resilient as adults.

It is interesting to note that DEET is banned in some European countries, while others have restricted its use. The Europeans tend to employ the precautionary principle much more readily to protect the people.

Due to allergic reactions and other risks of pesticide use, most schools and camps require you to sign a form allowing or not allowing bug spray to be applied to your child.

They should also honor your right to have your child bring and apply their own natural insect repellent. If they don’t, insist on it. You’re not the only parent who cares about this, so speak up!

Is Picaridin A Better Alternative To DEET?

Picardin is another synthetic pesticide alternative to DEET, but is it safe?

Picaridin does appear to be less toxic than DEET, and is not considered a neurotoxin, which is a very good thing.[2]

However, it’s still a synthetic pesticide and has only been around since 2005, so we don’t have a lot of data, short- or long-term, to go on.

My advice is to apply the precautionary principle, do your research, and opt for safer 100% natural insect repellants whenever possible.

The Best Natural Insect Repellents Are Plants

Pesticide companies, including those that make bug sprays, want you to believe you cannot keep yourself safe from insects without ingredients like DEET.

Yet, a large body of research has shown the opposite.

The truth is that several plants and natural essential oils are safer and incredibly effective at repelling mosquitoes, as well as the dreaded ticks we all worry about.

In fact, various essential oils have demonstrated comparable bug-repellant properties to those of DEET-containing products.

We wish everybody knew this, so help us spread the word!

Here are the most effective natural insect repellent plants and essential oils based on research:

• Lemon Eucalyptus: The only essential oil recognized by the CDC as comparable to DEET for repelling mosquitoes and ticks. It is a popular ingredient in natural insect repellents.[3][4]
  
• Citronella: An EPA-registered biopesticide since the 1940s, this familiar and effective bug repellent works on mosquitoes on its own, and has been shown to be 91% effective for ticks when combined with thyme essential oil.[3][4]
  
• Geranium: Studies have shown geranium is effective at repelling mosquitoes and ticks. Plus, it smells lovely, similar to a fragrant rose.[5]
  
• Lemongrass: This tropical plant has natural bug-repellant properties and has been shown to be up to 95% effective for mosquitoes and also repels ticks.[6][7]
  
• Spearmint & Thyme To Repel Ticks: Mints, including spearmint, peppermint, and thyme, have long been used as natural insect repellants. One study showed spearmint and thyme, used separately or together, were as effective for repelling ticks as a 20% DEET solution.[8]
  
• Cedarwood: The natural essential oils and phytonicides in cedarwood have been used for centuries to repel bugs. Studies show cedarwood essential oil is also an effective natural tick and ant repellent, although it has not been shown to be effective against mosquitoes.[9][10][11]
  
• Clove oil: Research has shown that strong-smelling clove oil, a classic herb of protection, is effective at repelling mosquitoes.[12]
  
• Cinnamon oil: Cinnamon oil has been shown to be effective at killing and repelling mosquitoes and other bugs.[12][13]
  
• Rosemary: Rosemary plants are used the world over as a plant of protection from negative energy, evil spirits, and unwanted pests. Research supports this traditional use, showing rosemary essential oil is an effective mosquito repellent.[14]
  
• Soybean oil: Although we don’t recommend ingesting it, soybean oil has been shown to be an effective natural insect repellent and is used in many natural brands. If you can find organic, we recommend it as it will not contain GMO soy.[6]
  
• Castor oil: Like soybean oil, castor oil naturally repels bugs by creating a slippery barrier while nourishing the skin.[15]

The Best Natural Insect Repellants: Clean Brands

Having a clean and effective non-toxic bug spray on hand can make or break a summer outing.

The following are some of our favorite brands of natural bug sprays that are free from DEET, petroleum products, and synthetic chemicals and preservatives.

Kinfield Golden Hour DEET Free Repellent

Made with a unique form of citronella sourced from Indonesia, this product has a softer smell than other citronella-based products, is third-party tested to repel mosquitoes, and contains only citronella, lemongrass, clove in a base of isopropyl alcohol, lauric acid, water, and vanillin.

Bubble and Bee Insect Repellent

This is one of the only certified organic natural insect repellants available and contains ingredients that repel mosquitoes and ticks, including organic soybean oil (non-GMO), organic geranium essential oil, organic clove essential oil, organic lemongrass essential oil, organic peppermint essential oil, and organic rosemary essential oil. 

That’s it, and it smells lovely.

Bug Soother Insect Repellent Original Spray

Bug Soother is an excellent and affordable natural insect repellent that works on mosquitoes and ticks. It’s a lemongrass-based formula with castor oil, vanilla, and other all-natural ingredients.

They also have a gallon jug you can use to treat your yard naturally.

Kosmatology DEET-Free Bug Repellent

This is another high-quality organic option that comes in balm form, which may be preferable for adults and children who prefer not to be sprayed.

It’s MADE Safe Certified, cruelty-free, and contains various organic essential oils proven to repel mosquitoes and ticks, including organic rosemary essential oil, organic clove essential oil, organic cinnamon essential oil, and organic rose geranium in a base of coconut oil and shea butter.

It goes on silky smooth and works great.

Looking for more recommendations? Check out: Our Favorite Non-Toxic Skin Care Products for more of our favorite natural insect repellent brands.

Soothing Products For Bug Bites and Summer Skin Irritation

We do our best to always apply bug spray, but sometimes we forget. In those cases, we keep these products on hand to soothe itchy, irritated, inflamed, burned, or stinging skin.

Kindred Relief Balm Anti-Itch Remedy 

This is a convenient balm with soothing turmeric butter, arnica, and colloidal oatmeal for bug bites, rashes, or skin irritation.

Active Skin Repair Kids Spray and Regular Spray

This unique line contains a proprietary non-toxic, FDA-cleared, and pH-stable hypochlorous acid to soothe, heal, and calm irritated skin, cuts, burns, bug bites, stings, you name it.

This is the same medical-grade formula used in doctors' offices and hospitals worldwide for first aid and skin healing.

Now that we’ve covered the best brands, let’s look at a DIY formula for all-natural, non-toxic bug spray.

DIY Natural Bug Spray: A Basic Formula

Before natural bug sprays were available to buy, we made our own!...and it’s so easy.

Just combine your choice of 20-30 drops of the bug-repellant essential oils listed above with 1 cup of water and a quarter cup of witch hazel in a stainless steel or glass spray bottle.

Shake and apply.

If you prefer an oil-based bug spray, follow the same ratios but replace the water and witch hazel with a clean carrier oil like jojoba, sweet almond, castor, olive, or hazelnut.

Want More Help Creating A Low-Tox Lifestyle?

At Branch Basics, we’re about more than just human-safe cleaning products.

We’re on a mission to empower you to create a healthier lifestyle by removing harmful products and ingredients from your home and replacing them with clean and effective solutions.

Our MADE safe certified, human-safe, biodegradable, plant- and mineral-based all-in-one cleaning system is a living example of that mission.

Just one Concentrate plus water in a refillable glass or plastic bottle creates enough cleaning products (All-Purpose, Bathroom, Streak-Free, Foaming Wash, & Laundry) to replace every laundry and cleaning product with harmful chemicals in your home.

It’s a minimalist’s dream!

Our Toss The Toxins Online Course, led by our co-founder and healthy home expert, Marilee Nelson, guides you through the process of eliminating toxins, category by category and product by product, until your entire home is clean and as toxin-free as possible.

*Note: Since we recommend a fragrance-free home, we suggest keeping any bug repellants made with essential oils in a container stored in an outbuilding, detached garage, or a sealed container in an attached garage or within the home.

We also offer an extensive library of resources to get you started for free. Here are some starter articles to check out:

• Our Favorite Non-Toxic Skin Care Products
  
• Our Non-Toxic Makeup Recommendations
  
• Our Non-Toxic Wedding Registry
  
• Our Natural And Safe Baby Registry
  
• Men’s Fragrance-Free Product Recommendations

References:

1. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/4284
   
2. https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P101A0U7.txt 
   
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3059459/ 
   
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28645519/#:~:text=Clove%20bud%2C%20creeping%20thyme%20and,at%20the%20concentration%20of%203%25 
   
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23528036/ 
   
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059459/ 
   
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217679/ 
   
8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31578646/ 
   
9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8858296/ 
   
10. https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2022/pleasant-smelling-wood-oil-not-so-pleasant-for-biting-ticks-other-pests/ 
    
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK552536/ 
    
12. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773078623000274 
    
13. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.4c04910
    
14. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349532100_The_Repellent_Activity_Test_of_Rosemary_Leaf_Rosmarinus_officinalis_l_Essential_Oil_Gel_Preparations_Influence_on_Aedes_aegypti_Mosquito  
    
15. https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/57/2/477/5580737?login=false