Natural Mosquito Repellent Edmonton

For bottles and ingredients, I’d recommend:

You’ll also need:

• Earth’s Aromatique Witch Hazel 250 mL (or another alcohol-free witch hazel)
• NOW Organic Lemongrass Oil 30 mL
• Distilled water
• Vegetable glycerin (helps the oils stay mixed)
• Optional: Vitamin E oil as a natural preservative

Recipe 1 – Refreshing Mint & Eucalyptus Outdoor Spray

Best for adults and older children (over 3 years).

Ingredients (250 mL / 8 oz bottle)

• ½ cup alcohol-free witch hazel
• ½ cup distilled water
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
• 12 drops peppermint essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus radiata essential oil (gentler than globulus)
• 8 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops cedarwood essential oil

Shake before every use.

Spray on clothing, shoes, hats, backpacks and exposed skin (avoiding the face and eyes).

Why these ingredients?

• Peppermint provides a cooling scent.
• Lavender is soothing to the skin.
• Cedarwood is traditionally used to discourage mosquitoes.
• Witch hazel evaporates quickly without drying the skin as much as alcohol.

Recipe 2 – Fresh Lemongrass Vinegar Spray

Using fresh lemongrass stalks is a wonderful idea.

Step 1: Make the infusion

• 3–4 fresh lemongrass stalks
• 2 cups raw apple cider vinegar

1. Slice the stalks into small pieces.
2. Place into a glass mason jar.
3. Cover completely with apple cider vinegar.
4. Let steep 10–14 days in a cool dark cupboard.
5. Shake daily.
6. Strain well.

Step 2: Make the spray

For each 250 mL bottle:

• ½ cup lemongrass vinegar infusion
• ½ cup distilled water
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
• 8 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 6 drops lavender
• 6 drops cedarwood
• Optional: 3 drops peppermint

This smells fresh and works well around patios, gardens and evening walks.

Which works better?

Of the two, Recipe 1 will likely perform better because essential oils provide a more concentrated aroma than the infused stalks. The fresh lemongrass version is gentler and smells amazing but generally won’t last as long outdoors.

Babies and children

For babies, I would not rely on homemade essential oil sprays.

The safest approach is:

• a fine mesh mosquito net over the stroller
• lightweight long sleeves and pants
• avoiding dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active

For infants younger than about 2 months, physical barriers like netting are preferred over repellents. Oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD products should not be used on children under 3 years.

For toddlers over 2–3 years, if mosquitoes are abundant or disease risk is a concern, an approved repellent provides more reliable protection than homemade sprays.

Pet-friendly mosquito spray (dogs)

Dogs are much more sensitive to essential oils than people, so use a very dilute mixture. Do not use this on cats, as many essential oils can be toxic to them.

250 mL bottle

• ¾ cup distilled water
• ¼ cup witch hazel
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
• 5 drops cedarwood essential oil (Virginia cedarwood)
• 4 drops lavender
• 2 drops lemongrass

Shake well before each use.

Spray lightly onto:

• harness
• collar
• back
• legs

Avoid:

• eyes
• nose
• mouth
• ears
• paws if your dog licks them frequently.

Always do a small patch test first.

If you’re hiking in heavy mosquito or tick areas, I’d actually recommend using a commercial botanical pet spray that has been formulated and tested for animals rather than a homemade version.

One good option is:

or

Citrobug Insect Repellent for Dogs & Horses · 4.3

$16.99 · Amazon CA + others

These are specifically formulated for pets and have more consistent concentrations than DIY mixtures.

For your family, my favourite combination would be:

• Adults: Mint–lavender–cedarwood spray.
• Babies: Mesh stroller netting plus protective clothing.
• Children: Mesh netting whenever possible, with homemade spray only for older children and avoiding the face and hands.
• Dogs: A dilute cedarwood/lavender spray or a commercially formulated pet-safe botanical repellent