Citronella, geraniol, and neem oil are probably the most effective natural repellents for mosquitos, although they may not be effective as long as commercial products. [2] X Research source Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020. You can purchase essential oils online. You can also mix a variety of essential oils together to create a unique scent.
Wait for the water to cool if you are boiling it.
The vodka or witch hazel acts as an emulsifier and helps bond the water and the oil together.
You can store the repellent to be used later, but keep it out of direct sunlight. Generally the shelf life of essential oils is anywhere from 1-3 years. [7] X Research source Reapply the repellent once every two hours.
Do not expose your repellent to extreme heat or it may melt.
Some people may have an adverse skin reaction to vanilla, so make sure to do a test on a small part of your arm before rubbing it into the rest of your skin.
This repellent smells like garlic so avoid it if you don’t like the odor.
