DIY Homemade Tick Repellent Spray Recipe

You will find the recipe to make a DIY homemade tick repellent spray for humans and dogs in this article.

What is a tick?

A tick is a several millimeters long arachnid.

Arachnids are distinguished from insects by their four pairs of legs (instead of three) and two body segments (instead of three).

Ticks are external parasites of animals and humans1.

They feed on their host’s blood before falling off to molt into a different development stage or lay eggs2.

Can ticks transmit diseases?

When the tick bites its host, it may (through its saliva) transmit bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause diseases.

Tick-borne diseases in humans include2,3:

  • Tick-borne encephalitis
  • Lyme borreliosis (Lyme disease)
  • Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever
  • Tick-borne lymphadenopathy

How do ticks locate their host?

Ticks move up on blades of grass or bushes and wait for a suitable host to pass by1,4.

Being almost blind, they rely on their olfactory system to identify and locate hosts for a successful blood meal5,6.

The odor of butyric acid, a component of sweat that mammals give off, stimulates the tick to drop onto and attach to a host6,7.

Ticks that hunt also respond to stimuli, such as carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and ammonia1,7.

What is a tick repellent?

A tick repellent is a natural or synthetic substance that causes a tick to go away from its initial target7.

It works by reducing the tick’s olfactory system5.

Tick repellents are either topical, such as sprays, or systemic, like oral remedies.

Topical tick repellent (spray)

Oral tick repellents work by influencing skin metabolism when they are excreted through the pores along with perspiration8.

On the other hand, topical tick repellents are applied to the skin or onto clothes7.

Oral versus topical repellents

Oral remedies for ticks have a long-lasting effect and can sometimes treat tick-borne diseases.

They are helpful when you are repeatedly exposed to ticks.

However, oral remedies have to be taken regularly for several days or weeks.

On the other hand, topical repellents based on essential oils have a short duration of action9.

Yet, tick repellent sprays are a good solution for a walk in the woods or other risk areas.

Related: 3 Best Natural Home Remedies For Ticks

Synthetic versus natural tick repellents

Tick repellents can be classified into two categories: synthetic and natural products7.

Synthetic tick repellent sprays typically contain insecticides, such as2,7:

  • DEET
  • PMD
  • IR3535
  • Picaridin

On the other hand, natural tick repellents sprays based on essential oils are safer for humans and dogs7.

They also provide an ecological advantage compared to non-degradable products such as DEET7.

Moreover, natural tick repellents have similar efficacy to synthetic products7.

What is the best oil to repel ticks?

The best essential oils to repel ticks are the following:

  • Cedar oil
  • Lemongrass oil
  • Palmarosa oil
Cedar wood essential oil for ticks.

Cedar oil, lemongrass oil, and palmarosa oil have been shown to completely suppress tick reproduction.

Related: 10 Best Essential Oils For Ticks

DIY homemade tick repellent spray recipe

Here is the recipe to make a DIY homemade tick repellent spray for humans and dogs.

Utensils

  • Amber glass empty spray bottle (16 oz)
  • Measuring cup
  • Small funnel (optional)

Ingredients

  • 8 oz of water
  • 8 oz of white vinegar
  • 20 drops of cedar oil
  • 20 drops of lemongrass oil
  • 20 drops of palmarosa oil

Recipe

1. Start by filling the measuring cup with 8 oz of water.

Tick repellent spray

2. Add 8 oz of white vinegar and stir.

Tick repellent spray

3. Add 20 drops of each anti-ticks essential oils and stir.

Tick repellent spray

4. Poor the mix into a 16 oz spray bottle.

Tick repellent spray

And voilà! Your DIY homemade tick repellent spray is ready for use.

Related: 13 Best Foods That Kill Parasites

How to apply a DIY homemade tick repellent spray

For humans

  • Topical repellents require total coverage of all exposed skin. Wear long sleeves and tuck your trousers into your socks.
  • Shake the spray bottle to mix up all the ingredients.
  • Hold the bottle 6 inches away from the target area.
  • Spray for two to three seconds on your clothes.

Avoid spraying on the skin. Essential oils can cause allergic reactions upon oxidation when used directly on the skin9.

For dogs

  • Shake the spray bottle to mix up all the ingredients.
  • Hold the bottle 6 inches away from the target area.
  • Spray for two to three seconds on your dog’s coat.

Avoid spraying on your dog’s skin, eyes, or mouth.

Related: How To Get Rid Of Lice Super Fast At Home

Summary: DIY Homemade tick repellent spray recipe

Ticks are external parasites of animals and humans.

They may transmit diseases, such as tick-borne encephalitis or Lyme disease.

Natural tick repellent sprays cause ticks to go away from their initial target, preventing tick bites.

They work by reducing the tick’s olfactory system.

This article gave you the recipe to make a DIY homemade tick repellent spray for humans and dogs based on essential oils, including cedar oil.

Related: Do Papaya Seeds Kill Parasites?

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