Keeping Mosquitoes at Bay the Natural Way
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Simple Recipes & Strategies for a Bug-Free Summer
Rustic Repel Trio: Lotion Bar, Spray and Soap
When the garden is in full bloom and the sun stretches long into the evening, it’s a joy to spend our days and nights outdoors. But nothing chases us inside faster than a cloud of hungry mosquitoes. I’m not a big fan of being another organism’s dinner!
Here at Rustic Roots, we prefer to keep things simple, natural, and effective. That means ditching harsh sprays in favor of gentle, homemade remedies that actually work—and smell lovely, too.
Today I’m sharing a handful of time-tested strategies and recipes we use every summer to stay bite-free, using ingredients you likely already have on hand. And, if you don’t have them on hand I have included Amazon links to the items.
1. Homemade Herbal Mosquito Spray
This spray is gentle on skin, safe for kids, and smells like a walk through a meadow.
Ingredients:
½ cup witch hazel (or vodka)
½ cup distilled water
30 drops citronella essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus or tea tree oil
Optional: a few dried rosemary or mint leaves (for infusion)
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a small spray bottle.
Shake well before each use.
Store in the fridge for a cooling mist that keeps bugs away!
Note: Test on a small patch of skin if you're sensitive to essential oils.
Rustic Repel Spray
🕯️ 2. DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles
These look pretty on a picnic table and help create a mosquito-free zone around your porch or patio.
You’ll need:
Small mason jars
Floating candle or beeswax votive
Fresh herbs: rosemary, lavender, thyme
Slices of lemon & lime
A few drops citronella or lemongrass essential oil
Water
To assemble:
Fill jar halfway with herbs and citrus.
Add 5–10 drops of essential oil.
Fill with water, leaving 1 inch at the top. Stir.
Float a candle on top and light in the evening.
🌼 3. Grow Your Own Bug Barriers
Certain herbs and flowers naturally repel mosquitoes. Plant these in containers near doorways, windows, or seating areas:
Lemon balm (also makes a lovely tea)
Lavender
Basil
Catnip
Marigolds
Mint (keep it contained!)
You can even crush a few leaves and rub them directly onto skin as a quick natural repellent.
I have several of these citronella plants around my deck as well as catnip.
4. Herbal Mosquito Balm (for Pockets & Purses)
Solid balms are great for on-the-go protection and safe enough for kids.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons beeswax
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons shea butter or olive oil
20 drops citronella or lemon eucalyptus oil
10 drops lavender or peppermint oil
Directions:
Melt beeswax, coconut oil, and shea in a double boiler.
Remove from heat and stir in essential oils.
Pour into tins or lip balm tubes. Let cool.
Apply to wrists, ankles, and behind the ears before heading outside.
Rustic Repel Lotion Bar
5. Good Old-Fashioned Breeze + Smoke
Mosquitoes are weak fliers. One of the simplest ways to keep them at bay? A good breeze.
Use fans on the porch or in the garden seating area.
Burn herb bundles of dried sage, rosemary, or lavender in a fire-safe bowl to create mosquito-repelling smoke—especially effective at dusk.
🪴 Bonus Tip: Mosquito Trap Using Apple Cider Vinegar
Mosquitoes love stagnant water and sweet smells.
DIY Trap:
Mix ½ cup apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and ½ cup water in a mason jar.
Cover with plastic wrap and poke a few holes.
Set it near problem areas—mosquitoes go in, but they don’t come out.
Final Thoughts
At Rustic Roots, we like to keep things simple and rooted in nature. These small rituals—gathering herbs, lighting handmade candles, tending the lavender—do more than keep mosquitoes away. They connect us with nature and the seasons.
Here’s to a beautiful, bite-free summer on the porch, in the garden, and under the stars.
Stay Rooted,
Roxanne
The Trio
