Natural Anti-Mosquito Body Oil and Spray Recipes

Mosquitoes are a nightmare! The problem is that most mosquito repellents are full of chemicals, smell unpleasantly or don’t work effectively. The truth is it’s actually really easy to make your own natural mosquito repellent thanks to essential oils! I prefer buying good quality organic essential oils that you can find in most organic or health stores as well as in pharmacies.  It’s recommended to store them in a cool and dark place (that will retard the oxidation of the oils) and make sure you always keep them securely closed. You must always follow the diluting instructions and never use them straight on the skin (with the exception of lavender and tea-tree essential oils). Also beware that certain essential oils are forbidden during pregnancy (and during the first three months it's best to avoid all of them), so when you are not sure, you should ask the advice of a specialist. Below you’ll find two easy-to-make recipes, which can also be suitable for young children, when you adjust the doses of the essential oils.   Cedarwood, lemongrass, geranium and basil essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy, so don't use these recipes while pregnant!

Anti-Mosquito Body Oil
80 ml almond oil or jojoba oil (for more oily skin types)
25 ml grape-seed oil 
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil 
10 drops cedarwood essential oil  
5 drops tea-tree essential oil 
5 drops basil essential oil 
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
 
Blend all the ingredients well and keep your mosquito repellent oil in a dark glass container. I use spray bottles (the dark blue or brown ones), which make the application on the skip much easier and it’s handy to carry around. Just be careful not to stain your clothes! This oil blend, apart from being 100% natural and effective, it also nourishes and hydrates the skin!
Important note:
If you want to make this oil suitable for children aged 3 years and over,  then you must keep the amount of base oil and use half the quantity of essential-oil drops given in the recipe above.
If you want to make it for babies or children up to 3 years old, then again you must keep the base oils as they are and use ¼ of the quantity of essential-oil drops given in the recipe.

Anti-mosquito body spray
½ cup vegetable glycerin (I prefer organic)
½ cup vodka
2 tablespoons calendula oil
20 drops cedarwood essential oil
10 drops tea-tree essential oil
10 drops mint essential oil
10 drops geranium essential oil

Mix all the ingredients well and store in a dark-glass spray bottle.
Important note:
If you want to make this oil suitable for children aged 3 years and over, you must keep the quantity of glycerin and vodka given in the recipe above, and use half the number of drops of the essential oils.