Lately I’ve been finding teeny tiny ticks on the dog – and I almost wouldn’t have seen it but for the fact that I’ve been hyper-vigilant about checking for ticks. It looked like a piece of dirt!! But those teeny tiny ticks still bite and they still transmit lyme disease.
Last week I made this homemade tick repellent recipe using tea tree oil and a few other essential oils and low and behold – NO MORE TICKS!
What is tea tree oil?
Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the tree using steam distillation or a similar process. A natural tick repellent can be made for both animals and humans using tea tree oil as an active ingredient. If you are not into DIY or don’t have time, scroll down to the bottom to find a ready-made mixture you can apply easily to repel ticks naturally!
In small concentrations (.1% to 1%), tea tree oil is tolerated and safe for cats and dogs.
I love Rocky Mountain Oils because of their quality 100% pure essential oils that require no minimum purchase and always gives FREE shipping! Plus they always have specials going on!
Rocky Mountain Oils’ essential oils are verified by a third-party, independent lab. GC/MS tests verify purity and quality of the oils sold so you can look at the bottom of the bottle to find your individual batch code and then input that number into our website to pull up the GC/MS test results.
Geranium essential oil is safe to use around kids and this study showed it as very effective in repelling ticks.
This study from the National Institutes for Health found that geranium oil works comparably to DEET in repelling ticks. This is for humans and NOT dogs.
According to this study in Environmental Entomology, cedarwood oil repels fire ants and actually kills ticks! It is so toxic to ticks but safe for kids!
If you do happen to get bit by a tick, learn how to remove a tick properly.
Never apply tea tree oil directly to the skin as it could cause an allergic reaction, particularly if the oil is highly concentrated. Mix the oil in some carrier oil like sweet almond oil to dilute it a bit.
For best results, use a glass bottle. Oils such as tea tree oil react with plastic and may cause dangerous chemicals to leech into your repellent. Before each use, shake the bottle vigorously to thoroughly mix the oils. When applying to pets, rub the repellent under their fur so that it reaches their skin.
You can also use a plastic spray bottle that is labeled as safe for oils, like this one.
Ingredients
2 ounces liquid oil such as jojoba oil (which is non-greasy), olive or almond oil.
15 drops geranium essential oil
15 drops tea tree oil
15 drops cedarwood oil
Directions
Note
If you prefer, you could add peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, or camphor oil or lemongrass.
Alternative to making your own homemade tick repellent
Don’t have time or patience to make the Natural Tick Repellent Tea Tree Oil Recipe? Don’t have all the oils on hand? No worries, you can get
Bug Off! Mist Spray Recipe
75 drops Bug Off!
4 ounces Distilled Water
Add all ingredients to a 4 ounce, fine mist spray bottle. Shake well before every use. You can apply to areas where you might be bit. (If the spray is for your pet, use 10-15 drops) You can also use a light carrier oil or witch hazel instead of water if you are spraying on the skin.
Bug Off! Carpet Freshener Recipe
100 drops Bug Off!
1/2 cup Baking Soda
Mix all ingredients in a ziploc type bag. Seal and massage bag until essential oils are thoroughly mixed in. Pour into a glass jar and seal with a lid. Sprinkle over carpeting, leave for 10–15 minutes and vacuum. Use when you have a big problem with ants and other bugs.
This content was originally published here.