Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
I don’t know about you, but mosquitoes love me. Every summer, it’s the same story: I step outside, and within minutes I’m swatting mosquitoes and dousing myself in sprays that smell like a science experiment. I already avoid the sprays with DEET, but even the sprays that use natural ingredients don't smell good, and they often don't really work.
So this summer, I went on a mission to find a natural mosquito repellent that actually works, and I found it. It’s cheap, safe, and it smells so good I actually want to spray it on. This two-ingredient repellent is made with real vanilla extract and filtered water, and that's all! It's is safe for babies, kids, and anyone with sensitive skin.
Now to be honest, there's not a lot of evidence that vanilla repels mosquitoes, but that's not why it works. It works because it masks the scent of carbon dioxide and other body chemicals that mosquitoes use to track us down. The strong aroma of vanilla helps cover those scents, making it harder for mosquitoes to find you n the first place.
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This particular recipe comes from the Youtube channel, The Cozy Cookhouse. You can watch the video below, and the step by step instructions are below that.
How to Make Vanilla Mosquito Repellent
Ingredients:
- A 4 oz spray bottle (dark glass is best, but plastic works too)
- 4 oz filtered or distilled water
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (the real stuff, not imitation)
- Optional: 2–3 drops lavender or geranium essential oil
Instructions:
1. Prep Your Bottle
Start with a clean 4 oz spray bottle. If you’re using a smaller bottle, just adjust the measurements proportionally. A dark-tinted bottle helps preserve the potency of the essential oils, but it’s not required.
2. Measure the Water
Pour just under 4 oz of filtered or distilled water into a small cup or jar. If you don’t have filtered water, distilled is a good second choice.
3. Add Vanilla Extract
Remove 1 tsp of water to make room for the vanilla. Then add 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract. This is the key ingredient that mosquitoes hate.
4. (Optional) Add Essential Oils
If you have them on hand, add 2–3 drops of lavender or geranium essential oil. These not only enhance the repellent effect, but they also blend beautifully with the vanilla scent. If you’re using this spray on babies or toddlers, stick to 1 drop or skip this step altogether to avoid skin irritation.
5. Label It
Don’t forget to label your bottle! It’s easy to forget what’s what, especially when you start making more DIY products.
That’s it! You’ve got a bug spray that smells like dessert and actually works. The bottle is so small, you can keep one in your purse, one in a diaper bag, one by the patio door, wherever you could use one.
It takes less than 5 minutes to put together, and now I can finally enjoy summer evenings without being eaten alive or smelling like a chemical spill.
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