DIY Tick Repellent for Humans

Ticks are more than just a nuisance; they pose a serious health risk, spreading diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. While commercial tick repellents are widely available, they often contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin and harm the environment. Fortunately, there’s a natural alternative that you can easily make at home.

Ticks are one of the most horrible creatures. Not only are they creepy-looking, but they also carry and transmit various diseases.

The CDC reported in 2018 that tick-borne diseases have more than doubled over the last 13 years.

Common Tick-Borne Diseases

One of the most common tick-borne diseases is Lyme disease, which can be transmitted from the bite of an infected deer tick.

Lyme disease can cause flu-like symptoms and can lead to more severe symptoms if left untreated.

Another common disease transmitted by ticks is Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Early symptoms include headache, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever can also become life-threatening if not treated properly.

Babesiosis is another tick-borne disease that is commonly transmitted through black-legged ticks.

Most people who become infected with babesiosis do not experience symptoms until about a week or two, or sometimes even months after infection. Common symptoms include body aches, chills, sweats, fever, and fatigue.

Babesiosis can even be life-threatening for those with weak immune systems.

Those are just a few of the diseases that can be transmitted through ticks. You can click here to learn about all the different tick-borne diseases that can make you really sick.

Just reading about these diseases gives me the heeby-jeebies and makes me never want to step out into nature again. But we can’t live our lives in fear.

So, what can we do to prevent tick bites?

How to Prevent Tick Bites

The best way to prevent tick bites is to avoid contact with ticks as much as possible.

Ticks commonly live in grassy, brushy areas, so try to avoid them whenever you are outside. Also, if you have indoor dogs or cats that occasionally go outside, try your best to prevent them from entering grassy, brushy areas.

If you cannot avoid grassy, brushy areas when you are outdoors, make sure you are wearing clothing that protects most of your skin.

When you spend time outdoors, you should always check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks when you return home.

A lint roller works really well for this. Roll the lint roller from head to toe, and it should grab any ticks on your clothing or skin.

Also, according to the CDC, showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease.

The CDC also recommends using a powerful, toxin-filled insect repellent to keep ticks away. However, I am not a fan of toxin-filled products, so I prefer to repel ticks naturally.

How to Repel Ticks Naturally

The best way to repel ticks naturally is to use an all-natural tick repellent spray, typically made with essential oils rather than toxic ingredients.

All-natural tick repellent sprays can be applied to clothing whenever you plan to spend time outdoors. They can also be applied to any outdoor gear you might have, such as backpacks, boots, and camping gear.

Natural tick repellent sprays are typically made with DEET-free, pure plant-based ingredients that are highly effective at keeping ticks away.

What is the Best Tick Repellent for Humans

In my opinion, the best tick repellent for humans is one that doesn’t contain toxic ingredients but does what it is supposed to do—keep ticks away!

There are several store-bought tick repellents that work great and are all-natural.

My favorites are TickWise and Nantucket Spider Extra Strength Tick Repellent Spray. Both work great, but they can be a little pricey.

So, if you want to save money, I recommend making your own homemade DIY tick repellent!

How to Make DIY Tick Repellent at Home

Making DIY tick repellent at home is super easy. You just need a few ingredients, a glass spray bottle, and a little time.

Homemade Tick Repellent Spray Ingredients

To get started, you’ll need to gather all of the ingredients. Below is everything you need to make homemade tick repellent spray.

Glass Spray Bottle

I go through a ton of this stuff, so I like to use an 8-ounce spray bottle. You can use a different size bottle, but keep in mind that the recipe below is for an 8-ounce bottle.

So, you will have to make adjustments if you decide to use a different size.

I always recommend using a glass bottle rather than plastic when making homemade products using essential oils. That is because pure essential oils are very potent, and plastic may begin to deteriorate and leach into the homemade tick repellent.

It is also important to use a dark bottle, as sunlight can damage the essential oils in this homemade tick repellent spray. 

Water

Water is the base for this DIY tick repellent spray. It is best to use distilled water whenever possible, as the minerals in tap water can clog your spray nozzle.

Vegetable Glycerin

Vegetable glycerin helps combine the essential oils and water. It also prolongs the scent, which helps repel ticks for an extended period of time.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are the most important ingredient in this DIY tick repellent spray. They are what give it its tick-repellent power. Below is a list of all the essential oils I recommend for this all-natural tick repellent spray.

But keep in mind that they are not all 100% necessary. However, the more essential oils you use, the more powerful and effective this DIY tick repellent will be.