Natural Tick Repellant

A simple, customizable essential-oil spray that helps repel ticks (and also works well for mosquitoes) when applied correctly and reapplied regularly.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Course Herbal Remedy

Cuisine American

Servings ounce

Equipment

Spray Bottle

Ingredients

Base

1 oz water distilled if your tap water is funky
Rubbing alcohol Optional preservative base, replace part or all of the water with alcohol (see notes)

Essential Oils

25 drops geranium essential oil
15 drops lemongrass essential oil
10 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops citronella essential oil
5 drops cedar essential oil

Instructions

Use a clean spray bottle with a tight cap. (Small 2–4 oz bottles are great for pockets and hiking packs.). This recipe is sized to make 1 ounce of spray, so multiply accordingly based on the size of your bottle.
Drip all essential oils directly into the empty bottle. Adding oils first helps them disperse better when you add the liquid.
Pour in 1 oz water (or your water/alcohol mix if using a preservative). Or more, if you're making a multiple batch.
Tighten the lid and shake vigorously for 20–30 seconds.
Write what’s in it and the date you made it (especially if you’re experimenting with oil blends).
Shake before each use. Spray lightly and evenly over socks and shoes, pant legs (especially cuffs), waistband area, sleeves and cuffs, and exposed skin (after patch testing).
Reapply every 2–3 hours while outside, and anytime you sweat heavily, swim, or get soaked.

Notes

Most commercial natural tick sprays land around 5–15% essential oils. This 1 oz blend contains 65 drops total, which is in the typical range.

This recipe is sized for 1 ounce to keep it simple, and make it easy to scale the recipe to your bottle size.

2 oz bottle: double everything
4 oz bottle: quadruple everything

Shake every time - Essential oils don’t truly dissolve in water, so the mixture separates. A quick shake makes a big difference.

Patch test first - Spray a little on clothing first, then test a small area on your arm away from your face. Some oils can irritate skin or trigger sensitivities. If anything tingles or burns, dilute or adjust the blend.

Avoid eyes, lips, and close-to-face use (especially with cedar + peppermint) - Peppermint and cedar can be irritating near the face. If you want something for around your head/neck, consider spraying your hat, hair tie, or collar instead of skin.

Water-only version - Best if you’ll use it within a few weeks to a month. Store it in a cool, dark place and shake before each use.

Preservative option (longer storage) - If you want it to keep long-term, use enough alcohol so the finished spray is at least 35% alcohol. Use roughly half high-proof alcohol and half water if your alcohol is very strong (like 90% isopropyl). If using 70% isopropyl, you’ll need more alcohol than water to keep the final mix above 35%. You can also use grain alcohol or witch hazel, but check the alcohol percentage.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!