Natural Tick Repellent Recipe

Heather Dessinger

This post contains affiliate links.
Click here to read my affiliate policy.
Natural Tick Repellent - Safe for kids and pregnant/nursing mamas

Ticks can really suck the fun out of a beautiful morning spent planting elderberries, taking a walk by (or rather, through) the creek . .

tick-repellent-recipe

Or watching my four year-old swoon over my husband’s newest acquisition.

mommypotamus-farm

And of course I literally mean suck. Because ticks are more than just a nuisance – they can carry serious illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

As part of our plan to wipe them off the face of the earth create a safe space for my kids to play, my husband and I are in the process of adding diatomaceous earth and garlic spray to their play area. (About 1 pound DE per thousand square feet of yard, in case you were wondering!)

We’re also adding to our flock of tick terminators – aka guineas and chickens – and because there’s no way even two dozen birds will catch every single tick, we’re making good use of our homemade tick spray as well.

Why Not DEET?

N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) is the usual go-to for commercial bug spray. It’s incredibly controversial, and for good reason. Recently Dr. Abou Donia, a Duke University pharmacologist, found that “rats treated with an average human dose of DEET (40 mg/kg body weight) performed far worse than control rats when challenged with physical tasks requiring muscle control, strength and coordination.” (source)

In the same study, Dr. Abou Donia found that DEET caused “neurons to die in regions of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory and concentration.” (source) The pharmacologist says that children are at a higher risk for brain changes after DEET exposure because their skin absorbs it more readily.

Fortunately, there’s a natural alternative. This study found that geranium oil works comparably to DEET in repelling ticks. The species used (Pelargonium graveolens) comes from a French island and is only produced in very small quantities, but another species (Pelargonium x asperum) is easy to find and widely regarded by aromatherapists as helpful for repelling ticks.

Additional essential oils that repel ticks

If you search on the EPA’s guide to insect repellents, you’ll find that when you specifically search for repellents for ticks it lists three oils as active ingredients that can be selected –catnip (Nepeta cataria), citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) and lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora).

Is this recipe safe for kids and pregnant/nursing mamas?

Yes, geranium bourbon (Pelargonium x asperum), catnip (Nepeta cataria), citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) and lemon eucalyptus essential oils are kid-friendly and also safe for pregnant and nursing women. However, I will say that catnip is pretty stinky so I’ve never used it. I’ve primarily used geranium bourbon and citronella up to this point, but have also ordered some lemon eucalyptus to try since it was mentioned by the EPA.

For more information, check out this article on safe essential oils for babies and children and this one on safe essential oils for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Also, leftover citronella oil can also be used to make outdoor candles – here’s how.

Should I mix my essential oils with oil or water?

It’s really up to you. Water-based formulas can be sprayed on skin or clothing without causing oiliness. On the other hand, oil-based formulas require fewer applications than water-based versions because they last longer. Lotion lasts longer than water-based formulas and is less oily than oil-based formulas, but it’s not as easy to apply. I’ve included options for all three below.

TICK SPRAY - Contains an essential oil that one study found to be comparable to DEET in repelling ticks. It's safe for kids over two and pregnant/nursing mamas.

Natural Tick Repellent Recipe

This recipe is targeted specifically toward ticks, but is also helpful with mosquitos. Like my all-purpose homemade bug spray, it’s safe for children over two and pregnant/nursing mamas. (Note: Though I don’t apply this directly to my 16-month olds skin, I do spray his clothes when we are going outside.)

Water-Based Version

Ingredients

To Make

Because essential oils don’t mix well with water, start by adding your geranium oil to the apple cider vinegar, witch hazel or vodka. Add a squirt of castile soap if desired and allow it to sit for a couple of minutes before giving the mixture a stir. This will disperse the essential oil in the liquid. Add water and pour into a spray bottle, preferably one made of glass or PET plastic. (Essential oils can leach chemicals from some plastics, and we don’t want that!)

To Use

Shake well before use. Spray on skin or clothes before going outside.

Lotion-Based Version

Ingredients

To Make

Mix oil and essential oils together and add to a spray bottle, or better yet an oil mister that is less likely to clog. Store in a cool, dark area when not in use. Should last 2-3 months.

To Use

Spray directly on skin before going outdoors.

Oil-Based Version

Ingredients

To Make

Mix oil and essential oils together and add to a spray bottle, or better yet an oil mister that is less likely to clog. Store in a cool, dark area when not in use. Should last 2-3 months.

To Use

Spray directly on skin before going outdoors.

Want more research-backed natural remedies?

No problem, I’ve created a free ebook for you – Kitchen Apothecary: 25+ Natural Remedies Using Ingredients From Your Pantry – as a gift for signing up for my newsletter. You’ll also get updates when I post about safe essential oils for pregnant/breastfeeding mamas, exclusive gifts and coupons (I was able to give away a jar of free coconut oil to anyone who wanted it recently!), plus other goodies.

Sign up using the form below.

Related Posts

About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world. 

Leave a Comment

123 thoughts on “Natural Tick Repellent Recipe”

  1. Will this also work to repell biting flies, the no see-ums, chiggers and mosquitoes? If not, what other essential oils can I mix in to repel these annoying things as well?

    Reply
    • I have tried everything out there an I found that 50/50 alcohol and mineral oil sprayed on my entire body keeps the chiggers and ticks off of me. Ill see if it works on mosquitos this year cause this is our first year with mosquitoes around..

      Reply
      • Please don’t use essential oils on dogs. Their bodies do not handle the concentrated strength as well as humans do. It can cause serious illness or death in dogs and cats.

        Reply
        • many vets use essential oils on dogs, there has been a lot of research, the problem lies not with pure essential oils but synthetic adulterated oils

          Reply
    • Hi Heather! Love all you do and have taught me so much, but I am confused as to last years Tick recipe on your site, I believe used PT “Shield Me”?? Do you no longer recommend the “shield me” product?? I am very worried about ticks where we live. Thanks so much!

      Reply
    • Hi, I have used essential oils including geranium on my dogs and haven’t had any problems so far. Geranium oil helped repel some ticks but I’m still having to remove ticks from them daily.

      Reply
        • In the article it said, geranium bourbon essential oil, citronella essential oil, lemon eucalyptus essential oil, or catnip essential oil (Or a mixture of any of these essential oils as long as the total amount used is 20-40 drops. I don’t personally recommend catnip because it doesn’t smell awesome.) Hope this helps

          Reply
  2. What is the youngest age you would recommend using this on? I have a 5 month old and we certainly have ticks in our area all Summer (and longer). Thanks!

    Reply
  3. i read that ticks go a lot of the time in places you wouldn’t think of and aren’t usually covered such as the scalp so is this a false sense of security or would this also repel them from going in your scalp even though it’s not applied there? Would love to be able to go on long forest hikes again.

    Reply
    • Hi! Id like to comfirm what you have asked. Recently my 8 year old became infested with head lice. It was very bad. After a few days of treating her I combed her hair to check for any remaining lice and as I pulled the comb away from her scalp I spotted a tick. I was going nuts. I thought to myself “this can’t be” thank god it was only one and I proceeded to finish her hair treatment. But yes ticks do hide in the scalp.

      Reply
      • Olive oil worked great for me to kill lice safely when my kiddo was young. I slathered it on and left it on two hours to smother the creepy crawlers and combed through with lice comb. Repeated again a week later to kill any nits that hatched and no more problems. So cheap and so much better than buying poison to put on my child’s head.

        Reply
    • I live in the most tick infested areas in the states. Including myself, several family members have had limes disease . Trust me, they attach any place on the body!

      Reply
      • They tend to crawl up, though, so if you apply to the body they should be less likely to crawl up into the hair. They do not fly, so they latch onto you when you walk by a leaf or a plant, and crawl up. You can, however, definitely spray the water-based recipe on the hair.

        Reply
        • They definitely drop down off trees. I’d put on head, hat and everywhere to be safe. Went to lake and walked path with trees and one dropped down on me, a teeny baby one, too, i never even thought about worrying about teensy ones, then another dropped on me while we were eating picnic lunch under a tree. Then… found one that must have crawled up onto my calf. So, making this asap before going to the lake again!!!

          Reply
    • where do we find the answers to these questions everyone is asking here?? I do not see your answers. Thank you for your information!

      Reply
  4. Would love answers to these questions as well if this will help repel other insects like Mosquitos and at what age can this be used we have a 12 month old and a 4 1/2 yer old and it is that time of yer where we will be hiking and camping as much as possible 🙂 thank you for your time!

    Reply
    • Brittany, I know you posted your question years ago, but I just stumbled on it and thought I may be able to help (if not you, maybe someone else). I am terribly allergic to mosquito bites and have found that clove oil works better than anything else I have ever tried. I make a spray like the oil one above, but I use clove oil, sweet almond oil and add some alcohol (this makes it thinner so it sprays from a normal spray bottle). My husband usually resists using it until we are sitting outside and the mosquitos start attacking him and not me. Then he says, “where’s the spray?” I also put some in a little roll-on bottle that is easy to carry in my handbag. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  5. I am curious about how to naturally avoid ticks and all other nasty bugs, etc. from my dog and cats. I hate having to use the chemicals the vet recommends but am worried about the illnesses the animals could get from the bugs if I don’t use something strong enough. Any suggestions? Also, I live in Florida so I mean LOTS of bugs!!

    And if anyone has suggestions for how to keep them out of the house without chemicals that would be lovely!

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Kaitlin, I just want to warn you about new flea/tick dog chews. Both Bravecto and Nexgard are linked to very bad reactions, and death. It seems a lot of the dogs who have died are smaller breeds, but larger have been effected. I came to this site looking to find some natural repellents. We have loads of ticks here in Maine, and my sheltie has had Lyme twice, despite having the Lyme vaccine and the use of Frontline. Advantix worked good last year, but after giving her Nexgard at the start of the summer (trusted my vet) I don’t dare give her anything.

      Reply
      • I just made this recipe as a tick repellent because my dog had a bad reaction to the pyrethrins in K9 Advantix -strange neurological like symptoms of numbness and weakness in the limbs, not listed on their package. I just saw a story on the news about a natural yard spray being used that contains rosemary and peppermint oils because ticks hate those smells, so I used ten drops of each in addition to the geranium oil. I am hoping it works. I also used Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap to blend the oils and add more fragrance.

        Reply
        • Please check the safety of peppermint with dogs. I am pretty sure it is contraindicated for cats. I am afraid if I leave this site to confirm I won’t find my way back.

          Reply
        • I don’t recall the name but I found a garlic oil concentrate that was a huge help with mosquitoes. It’s safe for all critters and plants.

          Something to consider.

          Reply
        • Can u please tell me if u’ve found a recipe that works really well for ticks! I have 3 toddlers and so far in the last month i have gotten between 20 and 30 ticks off of them and it scares me that theyre gonne end up gettin lyme disease considering the amount they are being exposed to

          Reply
      • We have to be careful using Essential Oils on dogs. Please check to see if the ones used are safe for them. I use Cedarcide Cedar oil on my dog and it works very well. They also have an cedar oil for cats that is safe for them.

        Reply
    • When we lived in La Mesa, Ca we had carpet and lots of fleas…..I would sprinkle baking soda routinely on the carpet, let it set for a bit and then vacumn. No fleas….come to think about it…..no ticks either. It also deodorizes the carpet. After vacumning you can sprinkle a light amount and just let it sit until the next cleaning day. Doesn’t hurt anyone either.

      Reply
    • Yes, you can buy a bug spray that is not going to harm people or pets,
      you can find this in Lowes or Home Depot. I spray the liquid on the
      bottom of my dust mop and do all the floors and walls, especially in
      the garage. I do not have any bugs of any kind in my house and I have
      three dogs and live in the country, I do this at least once a month and
      extra in the warm summer season. Good luck

      Reply
    • I don’t know the complete contents of it, but Skin-So-Soft is a great bug deterrent! I’m very allergic to many things, this works for me! Only the old original OIL! But like I said, I don’t know what all is in it. Diatomaceous earth works on pets, carpets and internally, for Worms! (You mix it in moist food) Cedarwood Essential oil on cotton balls, placed where children & pets can’t get to them, repels household pests like spiders & such! You can put them in boots too!

      Reply
  6. I already have some geranium oil in another brand, will that work? Or is there something special about the geranium bourbon extract? Can’t wait to try this as I pick ticks off myself and my dogs DAILY when I don’t use deet, no natural spray I have purchased has worked very well.

    Reply
  7. Hello Heather,
    I am so happy to see this article. My interest in ticks has grown while we prepare to relocate to the KY/TN area. Is it still possible to get bit by a tick in the area the oils or sprays are applied? If bitten what is your suggestion. I have seen some saying it’s best to get a round of antibiotics if you notice a bulls eye around the bite area. This whole tick thing has me nervous!! 🙁
    Thanks so much for ALL your helpful information!

    Reply
    • Angela, if you see a bulls eye you have Lyme disease. If you don’t get a bulls eye, but know you had a tick attached and blown up, you still might have Lyme, or the other infections that ticks carry. Get antibiotics in both cases, for at least 3 weeks.

      Reply
  8. Hey Heather,

    Have you heard about the transmission of the Lyme bacterium through raw milk? I have a number of chronic health issues, one of which is Lyme. One of the doctors that I really look up to (Dietrich Klinghardt) has stated that Unpasteurized Milk is a way to get Lyme. This doctor is very alternative and nutrition oriented so he isn’t the typical doctor hating on raw milk. I was just curious what your opinions were if you had any. We live in Virginia and Lyme is widespread here. I am reluctant to even post this because I don’t want to worry people needlessly. But I figure it’s worth some research and conversation.

    Best,
    Natalie

    Reply
  9. We live in PA in an area reported to have one of the highest rates of Lyme in the country. My husband and two sons have both had it. Thankfully we were able to overcome it naturally with no antibiotics. We live in the country and want to encourage an outdoor lifestyle for our kids, but it’s frustrating when you know the risk of Lyme is high for them. I make my own bugspray that has geranium essential oil as well as cypress, cedarwood, lavender, peppermint and doTERRA’s Terrashield. So far it’s been working great. I cover them with it including their head/hairline area. I use it on them even as infants because I figure EO’s are less harmful than Lyme, but everyone would have to determine their own comfort level with that. You might want to also look into Tick Tubes as a way to keep your property free of ticks. You can buy them or make your own. Mice are actually one of the biggest carriers of deer ticks and we’ve found the mice definitely take the cotton out of the tubes and are hopeful that it’s helping. Nightly tick checks are part of the bedtime routine for all the kids in the summer! That’s the best we can do and we trust God with the rest!

    Reply
    • I live in NY, but right on the border of PA. I live in with an intense anxiety about ticks, and would love to know more about how your family dealt with lyme without antibiotics! thanks!

      Reply
    • My husband was recently diagnosed with chronic Lyme after a very scary fall of intense sickness and no answers. Do you have any websites you may have used to keep your family healthy or deal with the Lyme effects? Anything would be helpful, I never want to go through that again :)! Thank you! And we recently got the Tick Tubes, we burn wood in the winter so we have them in the wood where we find most of the mice.

      Reply
    • I would love this recipe (Ann—“I make my own bugspray that has geranium essential oil as well as cypress, cedarwood, lavender, peppermint and doTERRA’s Terrashield.”) and to know if ok for dogs? cats?

      Reply
      • Using EOs Safely is a great website- they also have a FB page. Very informative with what is safe or not for cats, dogs, children and pregnant women. Some EOs are actually quite hazardous to certain animals and certain ages of children so please do your due diligence before using! Essential Oil Safety by Tisserand (foremost expert on EOs) is an excellent resource. Plant Therapy formulates kid safe oils that are approved by Tisserand.
        Lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary among many others are NOT safe for cats! Cats are more susceptible to the oils than dogs. I have no idea what’s in Terrashield so can’t comment on that.

        Reply
    • We live in PA as well and two of my children have had Lyme…..what did you do to treat it naturally? Is there a dr. You recommend? Thanks….

      Reply
        • I’m going to try this for my husband, who has suffered drastically from chronic lyme. Thank you for the info! I’ve never heard of monolaurin before now. Thank you!

          Reply
      • Maybe try the Zapper Method. Dr. Cebulskie in Dubois, PA could possibly recommend a doc in your area. This method has been successful for every one that I know of who has tried it.

        Reply
  10. Hi,

    I can’t wait to try this & the other bug spray you posted about using ban the bugs. I’m wondering if anyone has every tried combining them to make a bugspray that can be used for both ticks & other biting bugs at the same time. Thanks for all of your great posts.

    Reply
    • The tick spray can be used for biting bugs in general, but you could certainly blend the two. I’m not sure how it would smell, but it doesn’t hurt to try! 🙂

      Reply
      • Do you need to add a preservative to this blend? Some say I should, and some say no. What do you say? If it is yes, what kind of preservative and how much?

        Reply
  11. I have the dr. bronner’s citrus castile soap. might this have adverse reactions to the other ingredients? thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
  12. Would really like to know the difference between the Geranium Bourbon essential oil and a normal Geranium I would have on hand? Are they interchangable?

    Reply
  13. I am the caretaker of a wilderness retreat center and am surrounded by woods. I live on site and am constantly pulling ticks off. It freaks me out and although I love the woods I find myself afraid to go outside or anywhere off the pavement driveway. Please help me as I don’t want to be a house prisoner anymore. I love gardening but am even neglecting those now.
    I have sensitive skin and would like something that would last long and not smell of pesticide. I have heard that garlic works but who wants to go around smelling like a giant garlic…HELP ME.

    Reply
  14. Hi there! Ticks are my dear! Will make the spray! Shelf life? Through the summer? I’m sure it’ll be all used up but wanted to check. Thanks!

    Reply
  15. I’m so happy for having found your website! I was looking for a natural tic repellent and found your article about repellent made with geranium bourbon. I have been using rose geranium for my dog. I apply a drop to the top of the neck and another on the base of the tail. It seems the tics have a hard time attaching, but he always returns with a tic riding up on his legs or back which I promptly remove. I was wondering if you have experimented with rose geranium as well and found that the bourbon variety is better. Any observations? After finding your article, I’ll try the bourbon variety right away and will also prepare spray solution for the whole family. Thank you so much for all the information available here.

    Reply
  16. I don’t know if this was mentioned above (didn’t read all the posts), but I use tea tree essential oil with witch hazel. Ticks cannot STAND the smell of tea tree. I know this for a fact.

    Reply
  17. I can’t discern from the abstract referenced above (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23528036) which geranium oil is the most effective one? I’d always heard Rose Geranium was the best one for ticks, but here MommyP recommends geranium bourbon, because of this study. I tried to see where the study references that, but I can’t. If someone could point me to where in the study article it says geranium bourbon, I’d appreciate it!

    Reply
    • I have access to the entire article and it never mentions that specific type of geranium oil.

      “Two essential oil samples (S14 and S15) were
      obtained by steam distillation of the in-house authenticated plant
      materials collected by the NCNPR, University of Mississippi,
      University, MS. The commercial oil samples (S1−S10) were
      purchased from different sources. The essential oil samples S1, S4,
      and S8 originated from Egypt; samples S3, S5, and S7 originated from
      France; sample S2 originated from China; sample S9 originated from
      South Africa; and sample S6 originated from China/France/Morocco
      as per the label. No information is available on the country of origin
      for oil S10”

      Reply
  18. Hello! I really appreciate your Tick Repellant recipie! We just recently found a tick on our DS, and have been searching for answers to protection in the future (we live in the city, they were just playing in the backyard!)! I do have one question though: I also looked up your Bug Repellant recipie, and I was wondering what the diffenece would be? Could I combine the Geranium and Shield Me oils to make one spray? Right now the mosquitos aren’t a problem, but I know it will be a different story here in a couple weeks! Thanks for your help and sharing your great ideas!

    Reply
    • Great question. My source is Essential Oil Safety, which took 10+ years to write and contains over 4,000 citations, mostly to clinical studies.

      Reply
  19. My regular whole foods employee who helps me wasn’t there and now I have geranium oil or pelargonium graveolens, not rose geranium or geranium bourbon, wondering if anyone has experience with those working?

    Also, since I’m putting it in my kids adventure backpack, I was going to use plastic. Not ideal but, I thought this info conflicted- http://www.babygreenthumb.com/p-122-safe-plastic-numbers-guide.aspx. The natural bugs party we bought last year is 2 or hdpe. Fingers crossed.

    Reply
  20. Your links that are on the Vanilla Extract page regarding non-GMO vodka are no longer good, so I was hoping you’d share what brands are non-GMO and/or what you use? Seems pretty difficult to search and get a straight answer on this just by googling it and I trust you way more anyway 🙂

    Reply
  21. In response to all the people who have Lyme. I was diagnosed in 1997. I was treated with antiobiotics by Dr. Joseph from Hermitage Pa. for a year. I then went to natural means. I detoxified my system witha an all natural powder drink of every vitaman for two years. I also took olive leaf extract in pill form for two years. By 2001 I was symptom free. I hope by my testimony this will help those who are ill.

    Reply
  22. Rose Geranium v Bourbon Geranium…
    I noticed there are a lot of questions on this post about which EO is better. The problem is, the common names are often interchangeable – which is why aromathearpists are required to use the latin botanical names in their case notes – as there can be a huge variation in terms of chemical constituents. If you are concerned about getting a pure oil you should ask the supplier to give you a chemical breakdown of the oil, which if they are any good they will be able to do. The basic difference I have read of so far is that the Pelagonium Graveolens – the most common Rose Geranium – is not quite AS effective as the Pelargonium capitatum x radens, which is in fact a different species. The slight difference in components as far as I can tell is the compound a-Guaiadene. Don’t think that anyone has done any scientific research around this, but anecdotal evidence seems to be pointing in this direction. When looking for capitatium x radens I only came across it under the common name Geranium Bourbon. Grown mainly (there are varieties grown in South Africa these days too) on the Reunion Islands, bourbon geranium oil is considered to be of superior quality to the oil produced by pelargonium species grown elsewhere in the world. While its theraputic properties are the same as other pelargonium graveolens flowers, bourbon geranium it is believed to be more potent and more effective. If not cut and has a more rosey smell… which may be down to the Guaiadene and hence be the reason ticks really dislike it. Hope this answers some of the questions.

    Reply
  23. How often do you need to re-apply please? My parents live in an infested area and it’s really easy to get one. Would be great to enjoy the countryside without fears Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  24. Why I did NOT spray my yard with DE to deal with ticks when I lived in a rural county that was in the top 5 for tick borne disease. DE will kill ticks, and ants and spiders and any insect with a hard shell. These other critters are necessary for healthy soil. I want my kids playing in healthy soil and creating a healthy overall biome. Guinea fowl, wearing long sleeves, long pants (tucked into socks) and hats when outside and checking every single time (in addition to this lovely spray!) is what will help. If you have pets that go outside, putting DE on *them* and on their bedding indoors. Sweep across wood floors, sprinkle into carpets. Those are great strategies that won’t have unintended, negative impact on the health of of your soil outside.

    Reply
    • Also, any tips on getting guineas to roost in a safe place? My first batch were smart and roosted on the electric line, but subsequent batches roosted in trees and got picked off by coons or my dog killed them:(

      Reply
  25. I’m from PA, our guineas all got killed off:( I already make a spray using witch hazel and plant therapy’s shield me. I will have to try to spray my kids every time they go outside because we all got ticks last year, even without going in the woods. My daughter has Lyme’s. I took her to a natural doctor who uses the Zapper Method to kill off the Lyme’s. This worked very well, but she was either reinfected or is having a flare up a year later. But this treatment is quite inexpensive and has been successful for every one that I know of.

    Reply
  26. Hi!
    I am researching Lyme and safe alternatives to conventional synthetics for an article I’m writing. I have a lot of academic research supporting the use of essential oils and am now delving into what EOs are safe for children, pregnant women and animals. According to the Environmental Working Group- Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus should not be used in children under 3 or pregnant women at all and recommended lower concentrations of DEET instead! I saw that your tick spray recipe uses Lemon Eucalyptus- is this the same or different? I had also read on UsingEOsSafely that Eucalyptus was not recommended on children under 10. I guess I’m just confused about the conflicting information- would you be able to provide an explanation or supply a link? Thank you! I’m also personally interested as I have a 2 year old and live in the woods of NH-so am desperate to find an alternative to chemicals to repel/prevent ticks this summer.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Hi Phoebe, I’m glad to see you mentioned Using Essential Oils Safely in your other comment because it’s a great resource. According to Robert Tisserand and Lea of Using EO’s Safely, lemon eucalyptus is child-safe and has no known contraindications for pregnancy/breastfeeding. Lea actually reviews many of the recipes on my site before they are published because safety is my top priority. As you can see on this page (http://www.usingeossafely.com/essential-oils-hydrosols-for-bug-repellents/), she mentions the safety of lemon eucalyptus and actually recommends this recipe 🙂

      Reply
  27. I love this! I live in the North woods of Upper Michigan and I’ll definitely be making some of this spray! Thank you for the great information!

    Reply
  28. I have a question about spraying “water/witch hazel, rose geranium oil and glycerin” on my clothes. Won’t this stain them? Just want to know before recommending this recipe to friends and family. Thank you!

    Reply
  29. Another question: what is the purpose of the vinegar, witch hazel or vodka ? Just in case someone asks me after I make it! Thank you

    Reply
  30. Is there a difference between Geranium Egyptian essential oil & Geranium Bourbon essential oil ? Can they be interchanged or is there a specific reason one is used over the other such as efficacy or safety ?

    Reply
  31. Hello, I noticed you have a 2-3 month shelf life listed for your oil based tick repellant. What would you say the expected shelf life would be of the water based repellant?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  32. I read that Citronella is a skin sensitizer. Have you heard about it? Thoughts? From EPA’s website: Oil of citronella derived from “Ceylon type”oil is a weak dermal sensitizer while citronella oil derived from “Java type” is a non-sensitizer. Looking into making a bug spray for our family. Thank you!

    Reply
    • I used the dilution ratios from Robert Tisserand’s Essential Oil Safety, which take into account sensitization factors when making recommendations.

      Reply
  33. Thanks for all the great info.

    I spend a lot of time at a retreat center in Hudson Valley which is known for deer ticks and would love a natural repellent. The article refers to geranium repelling the lone star tick. Do you know if this would also work with deer tick?

    Best
    Nicole

    Reply
  34. I just want to let everyone know that they should check the ASPCA list of plants that are poisonous to cats and dogs. All of the essential oils that are in this natural tick repellent spray are on the list for toxic plants

    Reply
  35. Hi Heather, I bought eucalyptus oil by accident instead of lemon eucalyptus oil, can I mix lemon essential oil into the mix with the eucalyptus essential oil to produce a similar effect to lemon eucalyptus for protection from ticks? Thanks.

    Reply
  36. We recently moved back to the US in AR and our backyard is FULL of ticks. Spring of last year we tried putting diatomaceous earth down and while it worked it was a pain to spread and we only ended up doing 1/4 of the yard. I was wondering how you spread yours ? We want to do it again this year but not sure I can convince my husband to do it again if I can find a better way to spread it! (We have about 1/2 acre ). We used a Manuel fertilizer/seed spreader but the powder just clumped up.
    We also plan to get chickens or guinea pigs (which ever are easiest to take care of 😄 as long as allowed in city limits) and put cedar chips along the perimeter.

    Reply
  37. My husband wants to put lime in the yard…he said it is good for the soil and will help with ticks too. I’m uncomfortable with this as I don’t know if this is safe for children and we have a 16 yr old, 10 yr old, 7 yr old and 2 yr old. Does anyone know if liming a yard is safe to do with children AND if it’s effective with tick control/prevention?

    Reply
  38. Can you please format the tick spray recipe into a printable form (like all of your other fabulous recipes?) Thanks!

    Reply