DIY Bug Away Butter

by Rebecca D. Dillon

11 Materials

This DIY Bug Away Butter is a natural insect repellent alternative to chemical laden insect repellents. It is made with a blend of essential oils that repels both mosquitoes and other biting insects as well as deer ticks which carry Lyme disease.

This DIY Bug Away Butter is perfect for hikers and gardeners, as well as for outdoor entertaining and those living in rural areas. Plus it's non-greasy! Learn how to make it below. Then swing by Soap Deli News blog for the recipe!

You will need a digital scale to weigh the ingredients for my insect repellent body butter recipe.

To make this insect repellent body butter, begin by weighing out the emulsifying wax, babassu oil, shea butter and cocoa butter. Heat in the microwave at 40-50% power until melted or melt in a double boiler.

Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Weigh out the camellia seed oil and neem oil and stir into the melted wax and butters.

Next weigh out the isopropyl myristate and stir into the insect repellent body butter mixture.

Now weigh out the lemon eucalyptus essential oil and mix into your melted product. Using a dropper, follow with the remaining essential oils. Mix well.

Evenly pour the body butter into two 2.3 oz. clear glass thick wall cosmetic jars with black lined caps.

Allow to cool completely, then screw on the lids. You can place your insect repellent body butter in the fridge to speed up the cooling process. As this recipe yields a soft, velvety butter it may take 24-48 hours to fully solidify and reach its final consistency.

To use apply the insect repellent body butter to exposed areas of skin and massage in. This body butter smells really strong at first, but the scent will mellow after about 5-10 minutes. Reapply every few hours as needed to aid in repelling biting insects.

For more great recipes like this one, be sure to follow my boards on Pinterest.