15 Mosquito Repellent Homemade Recipes Outdoor and Indoor

Chemical mosquito sprays work but they are full of ingredients you do not want on your skin or around your family. These 15 homemade mosquito repellent recipes use natural pantry and essential oil ingredients that actually work — for your yard, patio, indoor spaces and even your skin.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Try these 15 easy homemade mosquito repellent recipes that are safe, natural and effective for every space inside and outside your home.

Here are 15 of the best homemade mosquito repellent recipes for outdoor yards, patios, indoor spaces and everyday use.

1. Citronella Essential Oil Outdoor Spray

Citronella is the most well known natural mosquito repellent and making your own citronella spray at home takes less than 5 minutes. It works brilliantly outdoors on patios, in yards and around seating areas — just spray and let dry. This Citronella Essential Oil is pure and concentrated — a few drops go a long way in any homemade spray recipe.

Ingredients Needed:

• 20 drops citronella essential oil
• 2 tablespoons witch hazel
• 1 cup water
• Glass spray bottle

How to Make It:

1. Add citronella oil and witch hazel to spray bottle
2. Fill with water and shake well
3. Spray around outdoor seating, yard furniture and entry points
4. Reapply every 2-3 hours outdoors for best results

Citronella Essential Oil

Pure citronella essential oil — perfect for homemade outdoor mosquito repellent sprays, candles and diffuser blends.

Check Price on Amazon

2. Vanilla Extract Mosquito Repellent Spray

Vanilla extract is one of the most surprising and effective homemade mosquito repellents — mosquitoes hate the sweet scent. Mix it with water for a simple spray that works on skin and clothing and smells absolutely amazing. This Vanilla Extract Spray is a pure concentrated option that makes your homemade repellent extra effective with just a small amount.

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup water
• Spray bottle

How to Make It:

1. Mix vanilla extract and water in spray bottle
2. Shake well until combined
3. Spray on skin, clothing and around outdoor seating areas
4. Reapply every 2 hours — safe for kids and pets

Vanilla Extract Mosquito Repellent

Pure vanilla extract for homemade mosquito repellent spray — safe for skin, clothing and outdoor use around kids and pets.

Check Price on Amazon

3. Peppermint Essential Oil Mosquito Spray

Peppermint oil is a powerful natural mosquito repellent that also works on ants, spiders and flies — making it one of the most versatile homemade indoor and outdoor repellents you can make. The strong menthol scent keeps mosquitoes away instantly and smells incredibly fresh. This Peppermint Essential Oil is highly concentrated so just 10-15 drops per spray bottle is all you need.

Ingredients Needed:

• 15 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 tablespoons witch hazel
• 1 cup water
• Spray bottle

How to Make It:

1. Combine peppermint oil and witch hazel in spray bottle
2. Fill with water and shake thoroughly
3. Spray around windows, doors and indoor areas mosquitoes enter
4. Use outdoors around yard and patio furniture

Peppermint Essential Oil

Pure peppermint essential oil for homemade mosquito repellent — works indoors and outdoors, also repels ants and flies.

Check Price on Amazon

4. Witch Hazel and Essential Oil Repellent Spray

Witch hazel acts as the perfect base for any homemade mosquito repellent spray — it helps essential oils blend with water and also works as a mild antiseptic on skin. Mix it with your favorite repellent oils for a spray that works on skin and around the house. This Witch Hazel Spray Bottle comes ready to use as a base — just add your essential oils directly.

Ingredients Needed:

• 3 tablespoons witch hazel
• 10 drops citronella oil
• 10 drops lavender oil
• Half cup water

How to Make It:

1. Pour witch hazel into spray bottle
2. Add citronella and lavender essential oils
3. Top up with water and shake well
4. Spray on skin, clothing and indoor and outdoor areas

Witch Hazel Spray

Pure witch hazel spray — perfect base for homemade mosquito repellent blends, gentle on skin and effective indoors and out.

Check Price on Amazon

5. Citronella Candle for Outdoor Patio

A citronella candle is the most effortless homemade mosquito repellent solution for outdoor patios and yard gatherings — just light it and let it work. Place several around your seating area at different heights for maximum coverage. This Citronella Candle Outdoor burns for hours and creates a mosquito free zone around your entire patio area naturally. For more outdoor patio inspiration check out these DIY shade outdoor cheap ideas that pair perfectly with a citronella candle setup.

Ingredients Needed:

• Soy wax flakes
• Citronella essential oil
• Cotton wick
• Glass jar

How to Make It:

1. Melt soy wax flakes in a double boiler until fully liquid
2. Remove from heat and add 30 drops citronella oil per cup of wax
3. Place wick in centre of glass jar and pour wax carefully
4. Allow to set for 24 hours before lighting

Citronella Candle Outdoor

Long burning outdoor citronella candle — creates a natural mosquito free zone around patios, yards and outdoor seating areas.

Check Price on Amazon

6. Homemade Mosquito Repellent Lotion

A homemade mosquito repellent lotion is perfect for applying directly to skin — it moisturizes while repelling mosquitoes at the same time. Use coconut oil as the base and blend in your repellent essential oils for a smooth natural lotion that absorbs quickly and lasts for hours. This Natural Mosquito Repellent Lotion is a ready made option if you want a quick and effective skin safe solution.

Ingredients Needed:

• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 10 drops citronella oil
• 10 drops lavender oil
• 5 drops peppermint oil
• Small glass jar

How to Make It:

1. Soften coconut oil slightly until it is scoopable
2. Mix in all essential oils and stir well to combine
3. Transfer to a small glass jar with a lid
4. Apply to exposed skin before going outdoors — reapply every 2 hours

Natural Mosquito Repellent Lotion

Natural skin safe mosquito repellent lotion — moisturizes while repelling mosquitoes, perfect for outdoor and yard use.

Check Price on Amazon

7. Neem Oil Yard Spray

Neem oil is one of the most powerful natural mosquito repellents for outdoor yards — it not only repels adult mosquitoes but also disrupts their breeding cycle in soil and standing water. Mix it into a yard spray and apply around garden beds, lawn edges and anywhere mosquitoes breed and rest. This Neem Oil Mosquito Repellent is cold pressed and highly concentrated for maximum effectiveness in any yard spray recipe.

Ingredients Needed:

• 2 tablespoons neem oil
• 1 teaspoon dish soap
• 1 litre warm water
• Garden spray bottle

How to Make It:

1. Mix neem oil and dish soap in warm water until emulsified
2. Pour into garden spray bottle and shake well
3. Spray around yard perimeter, garden beds and lawn edges
4. Apply in the evening for best results — reapply after rain

Neem Oil Mosquito Repellent

Cold pressed neem oil for homemade yard mosquito spray — repels adults and disrupts breeding cycle in garden beds and lawn areas.

Check Price on Amazon

8. Coconut Oil Essential Oil Repellent Blend

Coconut oil makes an excellent carrier for essential oil mosquito repellents — it absorbs into skin beautifully and keeps the repellent oils active for longer. This blend works as both a skin moisturizer and an effective natural repellent for outdoor and indoor use. Use this Coconut Oil as your base — it is pure, skin safe and blends perfectly with any essential oil combination.

Ingredients Needed:

• 4 tablespoons coconut oil
• 15 drops citronella oil
• 10 drops peppermint oil
• 5 drops lavender oil

How to Make It:

1. Melt coconut oil gently if solid
2. Add all essential oils and stir well to combine
3. Allow to cool and solidify slightly before use
4. Apply to skin before outdoor activities — reapply every 2 hours

Coconut Oil Carrier Oil

Pure coconut oil carrier — perfect base for homemade mosquito repellent skin blends and essential oil lotions.

Check Price on Amazon

9. Essential Oil Set Multi Blend Repellent

Using a blend of multiple essential oils creates a more powerful and longer lasting homemade mosquito repellent than any single oil alone. Combine lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree and peppermint for a full spectrum repellent that works on mosquitoes, flies and gnats. This Essential Oil Set includes all the key repellent oils you need for every homemade recipe on this list.

Ingredients Needed:

• 10 drops lavender oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus oil
• 5 drops tea tree oil
• 5 drops peppermint oil
• 3 tablespoons witch hazel
• 1 cup water

How to Make It:

1. Combine all essential oils in spray bottle first
2. Add witch hazel and shake to blend oils
3. Top up with water and shake thoroughly
4. Spray around indoor and outdoor spaces every few hours

Essential Oil Set

Complete essential oil set for homemade mosquito repellent blends — includes all key repellent oils for indoor and outdoor recipes.

Check Price on Amazon

10. Listerine Yard Mosquito Spray

Listerine mouthwash is one of the most surprising homemade mosquito repellents for outdoor yards — the eucalyptol ingredient in Listerine is a natural insect repellent. Pour it undiluted into a spray bottle and apply it around your yard perimeter, patio furniture and seating areas. It evaporates quickly but keeps mosquitoes away for several hours and costs almost nothing.

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 cup original blue Listerine
• Spray bottle

How to Make It:

1. Pour Listerine directly into spray bottle undiluted
2. Spray generously around yard edges, patio and outdoor furniture
3. Allow to dry naturally — smell dissipates quickly
4. Reapply every 3-4 hours or after rain

11. Irish Spring Soap Mosquito Repellent for Yard

Irish Spring soap is one of the most talked about homemade mosquito and pest repellents for yards — the strong scent of the soap repels mosquitoes, deer and other garden pests. Grate or cut bars into chunks, place in small mesh bags and hang them around your yard perimeter and garden beds. Replace every few weeks as the scent fades. For more garden ideas that help keep pests away check out these mosquito repelling plants ideas.

Ingredients Needed:

• 2-3 bars Irish Spring soap
• Small mesh bags or old pantyhose
• Garden stakes or string

How to Make It:

1. Grate or cut Irish Spring soap into small pieces
2. Fill mesh bags with soap pieces and tie closed
3. Hang bags from garden stakes around yard perimeter every 3 meters
4. Replace soap bags every 3-4 weeks as scent fades

12. Coffee Grounds Outdoor Repellent

Mosquitoes hate the smell of burnt coffee grounds — placing them around your outdoor seating area and yard is a completely free and natural repellent that uses what you already have in your kitchen. Burn the grounds slightly in a fire-safe dish to intensify the scent or simply place fresh grounds in shallow dishes around the patio. Replace every day or two for continuous protection.

Ingredients Needed:

• Used or fresh coffee grounds
• Small fire-safe dishes or terracotta saucers
• Lighter or matches for burning

How to Make It:

1. Spread coffee grounds in small fire-safe dishes
2. Light the edge of the grounds to smoulder slightly for stronger effect
3. Place dishes around outdoor seating area and yard edges
4. Replace with fresh grounds every 1-2 days

13. Cinnamon Mosquito Repellent Spray

Cinnamon oil contains cinnamaldehyde which is proven to kill mosquito larvae and repel adult mosquitoes effectively. A cinnamon spray works brilliantly around indoor house areas, windows and doorways where mosquitoes enter. Mix it carefully — cinnamon oil is very strong and too much can irritate skin so always dilute well before use.

Ingredients Needed:

• 10 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 3 tablespoons witch hazel
• 1 cup water
• Spray bottle

How to Make It:

1. Add cinnamon oil to witch hazel in spray bottle
2. Fill with water and shake well
3. Spray around windows, doorways and indoor house entry points
4. Do not spray directly on skin — use only on surfaces and in the air

14. Indoor House Diffuser Mosquito Repellent

An essential oil diffuser running citronella, peppermint or lavender oil is the most elegant homemade mosquito repellent for indoor house use — it keeps mosquitoes out while making your home smell amazing. Run it in bedrooms, living rooms and any indoor space where mosquitoes are a problem. Use this DIY Spray Bottle to also make a quick room spray from the same oils for instant indoor protection.

Ingredients Needed:

• Essential oil diffuser
• 5 drops citronella oil
• 5 drops lavender oil
• 3 drops peppermint oil
• Water for diffuser

How to Make It:

1. Fill diffuser with water to the fill line
2. Add citronella, lavender and peppermint oils
3. Run diffuser continuously in indoor rooms mosquitoes enter
4. Refill and add fresh oils every 4-6 hours

15. Lavender and Eucalyptus Outdoor Yard Spray

A lavender and eucalyptus yard spray is one of the most pleasant smelling and effective homemade mosquito repellents for outdoor yards and gardens. Lavender repels mosquitoes while eucalyptus — particularly lemon eucalyptus oil — is CDC recognized as one of the most effective natural repellents available. Spray it generously around your entire yard perimeter and seating area before outdoor gatherings.

Ingredients Needed:

• 20 drops lavender essential oil
• 20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
• 4 tablespoons witch hazel
• 2 cups water
• Large garden spray bottle

How to Make It:

1. Combine both essential oils with witch hazel in spray bottle
2. Add water and shake vigorously for 30 seconds
3. Spray generously around yard perimeter and outdoor seating area
4. Reapply every 3 hours and always after rain

Final Thoughts

Making your own homemade mosquito repellent is easier, cheaper and safer than most commercial options. Start with a simple citronella or peppermint spray, add a citronella candle to your patio and try the neem oil yard spray for full outdoor coverage. With these 15 recipes you will have a completely natural mosquito free home and yard all summer long.

Amir Ali

Amir Ali is the founder and site administrator of HomeDecorEdge, a modern home decor and interior design platform. Since starting the site, he has combined his passion for interior design, practical styling, and color coordination with hands-on content strategy and site management. He guides authors, curates high-quality articles, and ensures readers have access to actionable, visually inspiring, and user-focused home decor advice for apartments, small rooms, and family homes.