Buzz off, Bugs!
When you are outside do the bugs find you or your loved ones? I can attest that they do for our family! My mom especially used to say that she had “sweet blood” as she has always been a magnet for mosquitos, flies, and other pesky, biting bugs. As they say, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” I must have inherited her “magnetic attraction” to these pests as well. Thankfully, I have been making various natural blends using essential oils for some time now. Various blends have helped these biting bugs to “buzz off”!
These herbal helpers have me happily exclaiming to family and friends, “A roll a day helps keep the bugs at bay!” Actually, you’ll need more than just a single “roll” as with most essential oils and natural remedies, more frequent application is needed to deter those buzzing biters!
Using similar DIY’s when camping, hiking, on our ankles when at the beach (keeping those biting sand gnats at bay), when gardening and playing yard games on the grass have proved to be effective. I love that they are completely natural and DEET-free, too!
I came across this “recipe” when perusing the internet to find an “official site’ to pull from so as to make a DIY pest control rollerball to share with all my KHS Herbie Friends when I presented to our unit in July of 2025 expounding on that month’s topic of HERBAL PEST CONTROL.
I handed out these rollerballs to everyone who was present during the unit meeting along with written instructions on how to re-create the rollerball for themselves. If you are interested in making more of this do-it-yourself herbal pest control, I have included the recipe here for your use along with some additional instructions that I verbally shared with the group during my presentation.
These portable rollerballs can easily be carried in your pocket, purse, backpack, or in your garden weeding-tote. Here’s to no more swatting away those biting, annoying bugs!
Below is a list of the herbal essential oil ingredients and what they are best known for. The DIY Rollerball – Be Smitten, Not Bitten Recipe and instructions follow this listing.
Citronella
One of the best-known essential oils able to repel mosquitoes. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, citronella works so well because it masks the scents that are attractive to bugs, namely carbon dioxide and lactic acid.
Lavender
A highly versatile herb whose oil is a natural bug repellent. It repels all kinds of pests from mosquitoes, ticks, flies, gnats, spiders, fruit flies, moths, spiders, even head lice and bed bugs. As it is good practice is to dilute most all essential oils, lavender is such a gentle oil that it can be used “neat” (without diluting) both inside and outside the home, on plants, as well as on people and pets. Just some of the many wonders and praises of this amazing herb!
Lemongrass
It is a close relative to citronella and is fantastic, natural pest repellent. It keeps at bay a wide array of pests including flies, fleas, chiggers, fruit flies, ticks, and mosquitoes. It has an amazing smell as well!
Peppermint
When you think of peppermint do you think of those small, round peppermint candies? Or maybe this scent reminds you of Christmas and candy canes. The scent is uplifting to us but is a downer to insects as they can’t stand the smell of it. It will drive them away as it smells horrible to them (good news for us). Peppermint essential oil naturally repels ants, aphids, fleas, gnats, moths, spiders, wasps, stink bugs, bed bugs, head lice and the dreaded cockroach.
Be Smitten Not Bitten – Rollerball Pest Repellant
INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED
ESSENTIAL OILS (EO) OF THE FOLLOWING:
· 5 drops Citronella EO
· 3 drops Peppermint EO
· 3 drops Lemongrass EO
· 3 drops lavender EO.
· Carrier Oil (I used Fractionated Coconut Oil, but you can use another favorite carrier oil such as jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, castor oil, etc.)
EQUIPENT YOU WILL NEED (and/or will be helpful)
· 10 ml (milliliter) glass roller bottle (with roller-ball top)
· Small funnel that fits into the roller bottle)
· Paper or Index card
· Pen
· Scissor
· Clear Packing Tape
· Rubbing Alcohol
· Cotton Ball
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Start by opening the 10 ml glass roller bottle by removing the lid and roller ball.
2. Add the drops of essential oil into the glass roller bottle (see recipe for amounts)
3. Fill the rest of the 10 ml roller bottle with a carrier oil (fractioned coconut oil or other). NOTE: Leave a little space at the top of the bottle so that there’s room to put the roller “ball” back on top.
4. Snap on the rollerball and place the lid back on.
5. Shake the bottle to mix the carrier oil and the essential oils (eo).
6. Write out label onto paper, index card (or you can use a computer print out for label)
7. Cut label to size a little smaller than the roller bottle.
8. Preparing bottle and label to place onto the bottle by first:
a. Wiping the outside of the roller bottle clean with a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.
b. Cut clear packing tape slightly longer than your label.
c. Place the label face down on packing tape. Allow packing tape to overlap a little so tape will stick to the roller bottle and form a “seal” around the paper label. The tape will both adhere the label to the roller bottle and add a nice water-and-oil proof covering to the label.
9. Place where you will remember to use and enjoy!
Additional information about other carrier oils and their benefits:
§ Coconut Oil: Lightweight and non-greasy, easily absorbed, great for topical applications.
§ Jojoba Oil: Non-greasy and light, works perfectly for any skin type.
§ Grapeseed Oil: Known for its healing and therapeutic properties.
§ Castor Oil: Thick oil, good for a lot of blends.
§ Sweet Almond Oil: Enhances the essential oil aroma and has moisturizing benefits.
§ Avocado Oil: This oil is rich in fatty acids that offer hydration to the skin.
§ Rosehip Oil: Contains antioxidant compounds, which ar3e important in skin regeneration.
By Lisa Whitaker, Member
Sources:
www.besthomearoma.com/essential-oils/