Barbecue season always coincides with mosquito season in our area. The good news is that in a pinch you can use some natural items to repel mosquitos.
Natural & Homemade Mosquito Repellents
Did you know that there are many natural mosquito repellents in your garden and pantry?
Plants that Repel Mosquitos
- Lavender
- Lemon Balm
- Catnip
- Marigolds
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Basil
You can pick a few leaves from lavender, lemon balm, catnip, marigolds, rosemary, basil or peppermint and crush them in your hand to release their scent. Then rub the crushed leaves over your pulse points to help repel mosquitoes.
Other Mosquito Repellents
- Citronella
- Vanilla Extract
Citronella Grass can be a skin irritant, so you shouldn’t crush it and rub it on your skin like the other mosquito repelling plants. You can place citronella candles near where you are sitting outdoors to help repel mosquitoes. Here is how to make citronella candles.
If you don’t have lavender or one of the other mosquito repelling plants growing in your garden, you can dab vanilla extract on your pulse points to help repel mosquitoes.
Don’t forget to wear long sleeves and long pants with socks and closed toe shoes when you are in an area with lots of mosquitoes.
If you are going to be in an area with lots of mosquitoes, you will want to use an insect repellent for more thorough coverage. Jody, who lives in very buggy Florida has created this Natural Homemade Insect Repellent.
More Homemade Body Care Products
- How to Make Your Own Lip Balm
- How to Make Sugar Scrubs
- How to Make Your Own Body Lotion
- Homemade Sunscreen Recipes
You can find more Naturally Frugal Tips here. Do you have a Naturally Frugal Tip you would like to share? Send me an email with a link to your post (or the details if you are not a blogger) to [email protected].
Tosh says
Love these tips! I am excited to try rubbing those herbs on to repel mosquitos! Much better than using all that deet.
Amee says
we use citronella, it’s very effective
Heather Hernandez says
So good to know – living in Houston we deal with mosquitoes all year long! Seriously – in December I can get bitten!
Rachel @ Surviving The Stores says
Thanks so much for linking over!
I am so in love with essential oils – I swear there’s an oil for everything!! 🙂
justin goma says
can you make mosquito repellant using ay kind of cream