Make a simple homemade tick repellent using herbs and essential oils, and learn how to use it as one layer of a complete family tick-prevention system.
In This Article You’ll Learn
✔ Why we switched to a homemade tick repellent
✔ Which essential oils are commonly used for tick deterrence
✔ How to make an easy herbal spray
✔ When and where to apply it
✔ Safety tips for children and pets
✔ Why sprays work best as part of a complete prevention routine
✔ Where to find even more natural tick-prevention ideas
Homemade Tick Repellent: A Simple Herbal Spray Our Family Uses Before Every Outdoor Adventure
If you’ve ever stood in the insect repellent aisle reading labels, you probably know the feeling.
One bottle promises hours of protection.
Another says it’s “natural.”
A third has ingredients you can’t pronounce.
As someone who loves spending time in the garden with my family, I wanted something that fit the way we already lived. I wasn’t looking for a miracle product—I was looking for a simple routine that made us feel prepared before heading outside.
That’s when I started experimenting with homemade herbal sprays.
Today, spraying our shoes, socks, and pant legs has become just as routine as grabbing a sunhat or filling a water bottle.
Is it the only thing we rely on?
Not at all.
But it’s one layer of a simple system that helps us enjoy the outdoors with more confidence.
Why I Prefer Homemade Tick Repellent
One of the things I appreciate most about making my own products is knowing exactly what’s in them.
I can mix a fresh batch in just a few minutes, customize the scent, and keep a bottle by the back door, another in the car, and one with our hiking supplies.
It’s inexpensive, simple, and has become part of our family’s outdoor rhythm.
Why These Ingredients?
Many essential oils are traditionally used to help discourage insects. While no homemade spray can guarantee protection, several oils have been studied for their repellent properties.
Our favorite blend includes:
- Cedarwood – warm, woodsy aroma that has shown tick-repelling potential.
- Rose Geranium – one of the most commonly recommended essential oils for ticks.
- Lavender – calming scent and a nice complement to stronger oils.
- Lemon Eucalyptus – fresh citrus aroma; products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus have evidence for repellent activity, though the pure essential oil should be used thoughtfully and according to safety guidance.
Our Homemade Herbal Tick Repellent Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons pure aloe vera gel
- 2 tablespoons witch hazel
- 2 tablespoons distilled water
- 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- 15 drops cedarwood essential oil
- 10 drops rose geranium essential oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
Directions
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons pure aloe vera gel
- 2 tablespoons witch hazel
- 2 tablespoons distilled water
- 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- 15 drops cedarwood essential oil
- 10 drops rose geranium essential oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
Directions
- Add the aloe vera gel to a 4-ounce glass spray bottle.
- Pour in the witch hazel, distilled water, and vegetable glycerin.
- Add the essential oils.
- Shake vigorously until well combined.
- Shake before each use.
How We Use It
Before heading outside, we lightly spray:
- Shoes
- Socks
- Pant legs
- Hat
- Around the ankles
- Clothing sleeves
I avoid spraying directly into eyes, the mouth, or onto broken skin.
If we’re going to be outside for several hours, especially on hot days, I reapply every two to three hours.
Safety Notes
Homemade tick repellents can be a helpful part of your outdoor routine, but they aren’t appropriate for everyone.
- Always perform a small patch test before broader use.
- Use caution with essential oils around young children, pregnant individuals, and pets.
- Some essential oils can be irritating or unsuitable for certain animals, especially cats.
- If you’re using a repellent on children or pets, it’s a good idea to review guidance from your pediatrician or veterinarian.
One Spray Isn’t Enough
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
No single product keeps ticks away.
What works best is layering simple habits.
Our family also:
- Performs a one-minute tick check every time we come inside.
- Keeps our grass trimmed.
- Removes leaf piles.
- Checks our dog after walks.
- Keeps a tick bite kit by the back door.
Those little routines work together.
Key Takeaways
Homemade tick repellent is easy to make with a few simple ingredients.
Apply it before gardening, hiking, or spending time outdoors.
Reapply regularly during extended outdoor activities.
Follow safety precautions with essential oils.
Combine repellent with daily tick checks, yard maintenance, and a tick bite kit for the best protection.
Download My Not Today, Ticks Guide
This homemade spray is just one piece of our family’s tick-prevention routine.
Inside my Not Today, Ticks guide, you’ll also discover:
✔ A different everyday tick spray recipe
✔ DIY powders and roll-ons
✔ Tick-repelling plants for your landscape
✔ Entryway systems that make prevention automatic
✔ Pet protection tips
✔ Tick bite kit checklist
✔ Printable prevention checklist
If you’re looking for a complete, practical system instead of relying on one product, I’d love to share what’s worked for our family.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Jenn, founder of All About the Garden.
I believe healthy living doesn’t have to be complicated. Through gardening, homemade products, and practical family systems, I help busy families build healthier, more self-sufficient lives—one manageable step at a time.
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