A simple homemade repellent can be made with a few inexpensive household ingredients. In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water. To make a scented solution so you do not smell like bitter vinegar all day, add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or bath oil. Eucalyptus oil is a calm, soothing scent that also works as a tick repellent, while peppermint and citrus oils give off a strong crisp scent that also repel ticks.
After mixing the solution, spray onto clothing, skin, and hair before going outdoors. Reapply every four hours to keep ticks at bay, and examine the skin and hair when returning home to make sure no ticks are on the body.**
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/way_5608181_homemade-tick-repellent-recipe.html
What you need:
Spray bottle
About a cup of water
10 drops rose geranium oil
5 drops cedarwood oil
2 to 3 drops lavender oil
2 to 3 drops lemongrass oil
The most important to repel the ticks are rose geranium and cedarwood, so if you don’t have lavender or lemongrass, you can skip those oils.
Directions:
Fill your spray bottle with water. If you have a smaller spray bottle, like a travel size, just cut the amounts in half.
Add the essential oils, put the top on the bottle and shake. It’s ready to use.
To Apply It: Just shake the bottle before each use and spray it on your clothes and shoes. The scent will keep ticks away.
Spray it on your clothes each time you go out in any areas that may have ticks.
Water-Based Version
Ingredients
2 oz. apple cider vinegar, witch hazel or vodka (For info on sourcing non-GMO vodka check out my post on how to make vanilla extract)
2 oz. water
20-40 drops geranium bourbon essential oil (where to buy it)
Optional – one squirt of castile soap to help distribute the oil better (about 1/4 teaspoon – here’s the brand I use)
To Make
Because essential oils don’t mix well with water, start by adding your geranium oil to the apple cider vinegar, witch hazel or vodka. Add a squirt of castile soap if desired and allow it to sit for a couple of minutes before giving the mixture a stir. This will disperse the essential oil in the liquid. Add water and pour into a spray bottle, preferably one made of glass or PET plastic. (Essential oils can leach chemicals from some plastics, and we don’t want that!)
To Use
Shake well before use. Spray on skin or clothes before going outside.
In a small container or bowl, combine 4 tablespoons vegetable oil or almond oil, 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel, and 30 to 40 drops geranium essential oil.
Mix it well and use an eye dropper to apply the mixture to your skin and rub it in.
You can also apply two to three drops to your dog’s collar to repel ticks.
Combine 16 ounces of water and 20 to 25 crops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle and spritz onto clothing, your dog’s fur, and your lawn.
