Mosquitos hate catnip. Ticks tend to avoid scented rose geranium. Many insects are surprisingly sensitive to the aromatic compounds found in plants, and that is exactly why my family starts asking about my bug spray long before summer arrives.
Every year, someone asks when I’m making the next batch. If relatives are visiting, one of the first questions is often, “Where’s the bug spray?”
The recipe is one of the most popular herbal preparations I’ve ever shared. It was always a favorite topic when I taught herbal classes, and after years of use by family and friends, it remains one of my most trusted summer recipes. The combination of catnip and carefully selected essential oils creates a spray that helps keep mosquitoes, ticks, and other unwanted insects at bay while making time outdoors more enjoyable.
Catnip
Catnip (Nepeta cataria), a member of the mint family, is best known for its effect on cats, but it also has a long history of use as an insect repellent. The plant contains a compound called nepetalactone, which researchers have found to be highly effective at deterring mosquitoes.
In laboratory studies, nepetalactone demonstrated repellent activity that was reported to be about ten times greater than DEET in certain controlled tests. While those results involved isolated compounds under laboratory conditions rather than homemade sprays used outdoors, they help explain why catnip has earned a reputation as one of the most promising herbs for natural mosquito control.
Unlike the essential oils in this recipe, catnip is used as an herbal infusion, providing a water-based foundation for the spray. While it is most often associated with deterring mosquitoes, catnip has also been studied for its potential effects on other biting insects. Combined with the essential oils, it forms the backbone of this blend and is one of the primary reasons the spray works so well.
The Essential Oils Behind the Spray
Each essential oil in this recipe contributes its own scent profile and insect-repelling properties. While no single oil repels every pest, combining several creates a broader spectrum of protection.
Citronella
Citronella is one of the most well known natural insect repellent oils and is most effective against mosquitoes. It is derived from certain species of grasses in the Cymbopogon genus, the same plant family as lemongrass, though not the same plant. Citronella oil is primarily used in outdoor candles, sprays, and repellents because its strong aroma helps mask the scents that attract mosquitoes to people. It may also help discourage biting flies and gnats.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass essential oil comes from a different species in the same Cymbopogon genus as citronella. While citronella is typically cultivated specifically for repellent oil production, lemongrass is more widely known for culinary and aromatic uses as well as essential oil extraction. Lemongrass oil contains citral, a mixture of two closely related compounds: geranial and neral, which has most often been associated with repelling mosquitoes, flies, and some ant species.
Scented Geranium (Rose Geranium)
Geranium essential oil, often sold as “rose geranium,” is commonly used in herbal insect repellent blends. It contains naturally occurring compounds such as citronellol and geraniol. In traditional herbal practice, geranium is often included in formulations aimed at warding off ticks, mosquitoes, and biting flies. While research on its effectiveness is limited compared to some other repellents, it remains a popular supporting oil in natural outdoor sprays, due to its strong scent profile and compatibility with other insect repelling essential oils.
Cedarwood
Cedarwood oil has a long history of use as a natural pest deterrent. Its woody aroma comes from naturally occurring compounds such as cedrol, cedrene, and thujopsene. It is commonly used to help deter ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, and household pests such as ants, carpet beetles, and moths, which are known for damaging fabrics and stored materials.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil is often associated with repelling ants, spiders, flies, and mosquitoes. Its strong menthol aroma can disrupt the scent trails many insects use for navigation. While it may not be the strongest mosquito repellent on its own, it contributes to the overall effectiveness of the blend, while adding a refreshing scent.
Clove
Clove oil contains eugenol, a compound that has demonstrated insect repelling activity in several studies, particularly against mosquitoes, and may also discourage flies and other biting insects. The strong spicy scent is one reason many insects avoid areas treated with clove oil. Bees generally prefer floral scents and often avoid concentrated clove aromas, which is why beekeepers sometimes use clove scented products when working around hives.
When combined with a catnip infusion, these essential oils create a multi-layered approach to insect deterrence. Each ingredient contributes its own aromatic compounds, creating a blend that is broader than any single herb or oil alone. The recipe is simple to make, uses readily available ingredients, and has earned a permanent place in my family’s summer routine. Here’s how to make it.
Bug Away Spray
Ingredients
¼ cup dried catnip
4 cups water
8 drops peppermint essential oil
40 drops citronella essential oil
20 drops cedarwood essential oil
16 drops clove essential oil
16 drops lemongrass essential oil
20 drops rose geranium essential oil
Directions:
- Steep the dried catnip in approximately 4 cups of hot water.
- Allow the infusion to cool until warm.
- Strain out the catnip leaves.
- Add the essential oils and stir well.
- Pour into a spray bottle.
- Shake before each use and apply as needed when outdoors.
Because this spray contains water and essential oils, it should be shaken before use to help distribute the oils evenly.
This recipe can be adjusted to personal preference. If you are sensitive to a scent or simply don’t enjoy one of the essential oils, there are several suitable alternatives that can be substituted or added while keeping the overall blend effective and balanced.
Common substitutions include lavender essential oil, which is widely used in outdoor blends for mosquitoes, flies, and general biting insects; lemon eucalyptus, which is well known for its mosquito repelling properties; tea tree oil, which has a strong aroma and is often included in insect repellent formulations for mosquitoes and other biting insects; and patchouli, which is traditionally used in natural blends for mosquitoes and general pest deterrence. If simplicity is preferred, increasing citronella or lemongrass can also work well, since both already play a central role in the formula and help maintain its overall character.
A Balanced Approach
Natural bug sprays are not magic, and no repellent, whether herbal or synthetic, can guarantee complete protection. One of the things I appreciate most about herbalism is that it often encourages us to observe the natural world more closely. The same plants that produce fragrances we enjoy evolved those compounds to protect themselves from insects and other threats. By learning from those plants, we can borrow some of their defenses for our own use.
Every summer, a bottle of this spray finds its way into backpacks, picnic baskets, and garden totes in my family. Whether we’re hiking, gardening, attending outdoor events, or simply enjoying an evening on the porch, it serves as a reminder that sometimes effective solutions can be found growing right alongside us.
This article is intended for educational purposes only. Essential oils should be used with appropriate caution and may cause skin irritation in some individuals. Test any new preparation on a small area of skin before widespread use. This information is not intended as medical advice and should not replace guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.