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.

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I am not a doctor and the statements on this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products mentioned here are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your doctor before using essential oils on children under 5 or while pregnant or breastfeeding. Please do not ask me for medical advice. Click here to read my full disclaimer.

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 thing you can do 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 go outside on occasion, try your best to prevent them from entering these areas.

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

Whenever you spend time outdoors, you should always check yourself, your kids, and your pets for ticks when you get 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 your clothing whenever you plan to spend time outdoors. Tick repellent spray can also be applied to any gear you might have outside with you, 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

The best tick repellent for humans, in my opinion, is one that doesn’t contain toxic ingredients but also 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 because sunlight can damage the essential oils used 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 allows the scent to last longer, which helps repel ticks for a longer 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.

• Cedarwood Atlas (Cedrus Atlantica)
• Geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens)
• Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)
• Citronella (Cymbopogon Winterianus)
• Clove Bud (Eugenia Caryophyllus)
• Lemon Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Citriodora)
• Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Flexuosus)

These essential oils were chosen based on personal experience, shared knowledge, and scientific studies.

This 2013 study found that geranium essential oil (Pelargonium Graveolens specifically) repels lone star ticks.

This study found that citronella and thyme essential oils repelled 91% of the ticks used in the study.

The same study found that clove bud essential oil was also effective at repelling ticks.

It is also really important to only use high-quality, 100% pure essential oils. A few of my favorite essential oil brands are Plant Therapy, Simply Earth, and Far & Wild essential oils.

If you’re unsure whether your oils are pure, read this post—fake essential oil brands you should avoid—to learn how to spot fake essential oils.

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DIY Tick Repellent Recipe

Once you have a spray bottle and all the necessary ingredients, you can start making this DIY tick repellent spray.

Add the following drops of essential oils to the bottle:

• 12 drops of Cedarwood
• 12 drops of Geranium
• 12 drops of Thyme
• 9 drops of Clove Bud
• 15 drops of Citronella
• 15 drops of Lemon Eucalyptus
• 8 drops of Lemongrass

* This is around a 2% total dilution of essential oils.

Next, add 1/4 cup of glycerin to the bottle and then fill the bottle the rest of the way with distilled water. Gently shake the bottle to mix everything together.

How to Use Homemade Tick Repellent Spray

The best way to use this homemade tick repellent spray is by applying it liberally to clothes, shoes, and gear (backpacks, sleeping bags, etc.). Pay particular attention to the area below the waist, especially the socks and shoes area.

This homemade tick repellent spray can also be applied directly to the skin, but please do a test patch before applying it all over to ensure you do not have an adverse reaction to any of the essential oils used in the spray.

However, the best way to use it is to apply it to your clothes, not your skin. The scent lasts much longer when applied to clothing.

It should be reapplied every hour and a half, and always be sure to shake well before each use.

Can This DIY Tick Repellent Spray Be Used on Kids?

Lemongrass and clove bud essential oils are not safe for children. If you want to use this spray on children, I recommend switching out the lemongrass and clove bud essential oils with tea tree and lavender essential oils, or you can leave them out altogether.

I also personally recommend that my readers consult their doctor before using essential oils on children five and under.

To use, spray very lightly on their clothing and shoes.

Can This DIY Tick Repellent Spray Be Used on Cats or Dogs?

Never use essential oils on cats without first doing extensive research. There are many essential oils that can be toxic to cats, and several are used in this DIY tick repellent. Therefore, I do not recommend using this spray on cats.

Dogs are less sensitive to essential oils; however, several of the essential oils in this tick repellent spray can be harmful to dogs, so I also do not recommend using it on dogs.

How to Store DIY Tick Repellent Spray?

Heat can cause mold and bacteria to grow, so try to store this DIY tick repellent spray in a cool, dark place, like under your bathroom or kitchen sink.

It is also important to keep it in a dark glass bottle because sunlight can damage the essential oils used in this homemade tick repellent spray. 

And the bottle should be made out of glass because pure essential oils are very potent, and plastic may begin to deteriorate and leach into the DIY tick repellent spray.

When Does Homemade Tick Repellent Expire?

Homemade products made with water that doesn’t contain a preservative don’t last very long. That is because bacteria and mold can grow quite quickly in water.

So, since this DIY tick repellent spray is made with part water, its shelf life isn’t very long.

If you follow the directions above and make sure to store the DIY tick repellent spray in a cool, dark place, it should last around 30 days.

Will This Tick Repellent Spray Stain Clothes?

Since this homemade tick repellent spray only contains water, glycerin, and essential oils, you do not have to worry about it leaving stains on your clothing.

Final Thoughts

Creating your own DIY tick repellent spray is a simple, effective, and natural way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of tick bites. By using essential oils and other non-toxic ingredients, you can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that you’re avoiding harmful chemicals while still keeping ticks at bay.

Please let me know in the comment section below if you have any questions!

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