Summer is here, and along with it come bugs that bite and make you itch. We found that these DIY chemical-free luminaries do a great job warding off the bugs, and they’re beautiful to look at, too.
You can make them in just a few minutes and, with a little effort to refresh the fresh ingredients, you can use them throughout the summer to keep the bugs at bay.
Materials Needed
- 2 mason jars
- Essential oils (we recommend cedar wood, lavender, lemon and thieves)
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1 lime, sliced
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- Floating tea lights
- Water
Assembly Instructions
1. Slice the lemons and the limes and set aside.
2. Place two sprigs of rosemary into each jar.
3. Fill each jar 3/4 full with water.
4. Add the essential oils of your choice, 10 drops each per jar, and swirl lightly.
5. Place 1-2 slices of lemon and lime into each jar.
6. Add more water if needed to raise the level to almost full.
7. Place a floating tea light candle on top.
8. Set outside and light.
9. Discard fruit and liquid in jar after 2 to 3 days, depending on your climate; rinse jars and start fresh as needed.
Thanks to A Little CLAIREification for this great idea!
Other Natural Ways To Help Keep Mosquitoes Away
If you’re not a fan of covering your body in chemicals, there are some natural alternatives to keeping mosquitoes at bay. And since diseases spread via tick and mosquito bites have tripled since 2004, there’s even more reason to protect yourself against bug bites this summer.
1. Make Use Of Your Fire Pit
Some of the herbs pests hate the most include lavender, mint, lemon balm, sage and citronella. An easy way to use these herbs as mosquito repellent is to toss a few branches into a fire pit when you’re relaxing outdoors at night. Bonus — you’ll get to inhale their pleasant smells. It’s like having a giant scented candle in your backyard.
2. DIY Your Own Herb Bundles
Another option is to DIY your own herb bundles. They can be used immediately or hung to dry for later use, which will take about a week. The fresh ones can be hung around your garden or deck, while the dried ones can be used like fire starters with kindling. If you have a fire-resistant surface on which to place them, you could also let them burn on their own.
To make the bundles, all you need are the herbs, string, scissors and newspaper. You can get the full step-by-step instructions from HGTV.
3. Make Your Own Bug Spray
If you’re not in the comfort of your own backyard, where a fire is possible, you can make your own bug spray by buying herbal essential oils, or by infusing fresh herbs in a carrier oil, such as olive, grapeseed or coconut oil. You can then mix these essential oils with witch hazel and water to make the spray.
You could also try mixing in some neem oil, which research has found to be effective in warding off some types of mosquitoes.
4. Make Space In Your Garden
You can also plant the herbs to let your garden to some of the work for you.
Not only will a lavender, sage, mint or basil leave your garden smelling delightful, you’ll help keep bugs at bay. One word of caution: Mint plants spread very quickly, so unless you want a garden full of mint, you may want to grow that one in a container.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories.
