This natural homemade tick spray is an excellent way to create a tick repellent spray that works well and is a friendly alternative to commercial products.

Homemade Tick Spray

This easy to make homemade tick spray is a great natural deterrent that everyone should have on hand. If you prefer a roller bottle, use fractionated coconut oil instead of the apple cider vinegar and cut down the essential oils to 4 drops geranium,3 drops cedarwood ,2 drops citronella and 1 drop of lemongrass.

Ticks

Ticks are small, blood-sucking bugs that range in colour from different shades or brown or reddish-brown to black. Having eight legs, they are classified as arachnids. They range in size from as small as the head of a pin to as large as an eraser.

They prefer areas on the body that are warm and moist, so once they get onto your skin, you are most likely to find them in your armpits, groin area or in your neck/hair. Once they find a comfortable area, they bite into the skin and remain attached there for many days or until they are discovered.

The location of their bites is what can help distinguish them from other insects. As mentioned previously, you will usually find their bites on the back of the nec, the scalp, the groin and even the legs.

Their bites are painless, so you probably won’t know at the start that you have been bitten. Also, to help go unnoticed, they inject an anaesthetic into the skin at the point of entry.

A small, red bump usually appears at the tick site. These bumps look very similar to a mosquito bite bump, but they should disappear within a few days.

Should You Be Worried about Tick Bites?

Most tick bites are harmless however, if you are allergic to their bites, symptoms you can experience include pain, swelling, a rash, blisters or a burning sensation at the bite site. In severe circumstances, some people can have difficulty breathing.

Some types of ticks can transmit diseases when they bite. In saying this, they do need to be attached to the skin for around 36 to 48 hours for the disease to be passed on. Symptoms for these bits can start occurring from around 3 to 7 days after the infection.

If you get bitten and are worried, then follow up with a healthcare professional.

Essential Oils

You can add a few drops of essential oils to this cream if you wish, though please remember that essential oils are potent, and need to be diluted. As this cream is being used on your face, you will need to use essential oils that are gentle enough to be applied around the mouth and eyes – and used in the correct quantities.
Just be careful using some essential oils such as tea tree and peppermint, around children and pregnant women, making sure to do your research before using.

Ingredients for Making Homemade Tick Spray

To make 4 oz of spray, you will need:

4 oz Apple Cider Vinegar or Fractionated Coconut Oil – though be wary of oil on clothing
12 Drops Geranium Essential Oil
10 Drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
8 Drops Citronella Essential Oil
6 Drops Lemongrass Essential Oil

You can use any essential oils in this spray, though some are more effective against ticks than others.

Geranium essential oil has been shown to help repel against ticks, especially the lone star tick while cedar chips have been used as a form of natural tick prevention around gardens. With the scent of cedar chips, cedarwood essential oil has been shown to help repel ants and kill ticks.

Citronella is a smell that most people know. Mosquitos as well as ticks are not a fan of it at all. And lastly, lemongrass is a natural repellent for multiple bugs.

Making Homemade Tick Spray

Measure out the apple cider vinegar into a glass jar.

Add the essential oils to the apple cider vinegar and mix through.

Pour the mixture into a 4 oz spray bottle.

If using this spray on children, reduce the drops of essential oils by half.

Using Homemade Tick Spray

Shake well before each use.

Then spray on shoes, socks, clothing, and backpacks. It is best to be sprayed on these items as the vinegar scent can be strong when sprayed on skin.

In saying that, you can carefully spray it very lightly on exposed skin though make sure to avoid sensitive areas, especially on the face. Make sure to do a patch test on a small area of skin to make sure there are no allergies.

Reapply every couple of hours when outdoors.