I’ve been spending a lot of time in my garden lately, which is great, but also means I’m around a lot of mosquitos. While I encounter mosquitos during many outdoor adventures, I find it extra annoying to get all bit up when casually enjoying my backyard. However, I also don’t want to put on DEET or any smelly repellent when I’m just trying to relax in my garden. So, I decided to experiment with making simple, homemade mosquito repellent. I was honestly surprised with how well it worked! I went from getting all bitten up to being totally left alone by mosquitos. Yay!
Easy, Homemade Mosquito Repellent:
+ One cup water
+ Seven drops peppermint oil
+ Spray bottle for application
Just spray yourself down with the mixture above et voilà!
Alternatively, if you don’t have any peppermint oil but have peppermint in your garden, you can simply crush up peppermint leaves and rub them over your skin. (Seriously!)
Things to Keep in Mind:
+ Like with all topicals, it’s wise to first test out the spray or peppermint leaves on a small area of skin before applying it all over.
+ If you have sensitive skin, be extra careful as peppermint can cause a tingling sensation on the skin.
+ For maximum effectiveness, reapply the homemade repellent every 15-20 minutes.
+ While this repellent worked for me, I can’t guarantee it’ll work for everyone. What I can say is that mosquitos typically LOVE me, but after using my homemade peppermint repellent, the skeeters wanted nothing to do with me.
+ I recommend this homemade mosquito repellent for short, casual adventures outdoors. Mosquito repellents with DEET are still my sprays of choice for long hikes in mosquito-infested areas.
Get in Touch
If you try this DIY mosquito repellent out, let me know if it worked for you! Feel free to comment below or email me at emilykeenphotography@gmail.com.
Emily Keen Photography 