They’re back! Every Summer those annoying mosquitoes return to buzz around your face at night and drink your blood. I despise mosquito bites – they are vicious and can be bothersome for days. At the same time, I don’t want chemicals on my skin or to contribute to the literal mountains of plastic bottles and containers that don’t get recycled each year. So is there a more natural mosquito repellent you can make at home?
Organic Java Citronella
After much research and a number of failed purchases (FYI, Neem oil works but smells horrendously bad), ineffective insect repellent candles, etc; I came across natural Java citronella oil. While a lot of home remedies on the internet have a long list of ingredients, I realised that you don’t need them. I tried pure Java Citronella oil, et voilà, I found THE most effective natural mosquito repellent – I don’t get a single bite when I use it.
What makes Java Citronella my preferred nemesis to your mozzies?
- Java Citronella is at least double the strength, compared to standard citronella oil, making it a highly effective mosquito repellent!
- As a result of its potency, it’s also a completely humane to keep insects away. If you don’t want to harm any bugs, this is your essential oil of choice.
- This Java Citronella is certified organic so you won’t find any nasty pesticides.
- The Java Citronella is also sustainably sourced from the Isle of Java, so you can use it with full peace of mind.
BUY THIS – Organic Pure Java Citronella Oil
To keep mosquitoes away, you can apply a few drops directly to your clothes or bedding, although for the most effective protection against bugs and bites, you can create this spray which is safe to go directly on your skin. I recommend you keep your citronella spray in a coloured glass bottle to protect the essential oil from the daylight – below are the ones I use because I love the colour, they protect your essential oil mixes from damaging daylight and they come in all kinds of sizes for home and travel. I tend to buy the 100ml size bottles to mix sprays and scents at home because we use the mosquito spray a LOT in Summer.
BUY THESE – 100ml Blue Glass Atomiser Bottles
2-Ingredient Natural Mosquito Repellent
This spray not only does what it promises to do, but it also leaves an incredibly fresh citrusy scent on your skin and clothes. Just remember to re-apply every hour or so, to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
- 10ml Pure Organic Java Citronella
- 90ml water
Pour the Java Citronella oil into your 100ml glass spray bottle and fill up with water. Shake well and you’re ready to go!
This is a 10% concentration spray and it works perfectly for me. But if you find you’re still being bitten (you must be pretty tasty!), you can up the citronella concentration to 17ml (or 1/6 of your total mix), don’t go any higher than that or it could irritate your skin.
Keep your citronella spray in a cool dark place, when you’re not using it, and it will last up to a month.
Buy Ready-to-Use Java Citronella Mosquito Spray
If all this still seems like too much effort, you can simply buy this effective and ready-made Java citronella mosquito repellent off the shelf. This one by Incognito contains the same concentrated oil, lasts for up to 2 years and comes in a ready-to-use spray bottle – simple!