Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup catnip
- 2 cups water
- 4 tablespoons witch hazel
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 10 to 20 drops essential oil – lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, or citronella smell great and keep bugs away. Create your own signature scent combination or just use one of these essential oils.
- Small spray bottle to put finished bug spray in.
Other materials:
- Small funnel
- Sauce pan
- Bowl
- Sieve
- Paper towel
To prepare:
Measure and add the catnip to a saucepan, add water and cover. Bring to a simmer and boil for five minutes, and then turn off the heat and remove from stove top. Let cool for at least an hour.
Place a strainer within a bowl, line the inside of the strainer with a paper towel. Pour in the catnip water mixture, and strain into the bowl. Next, measure and add four tablespoons of the catnip tea to the small spray bottle with the help of a funnel. Reserve any leftover strained liquid in a sealed jar or plastic container for the next batch of bug spray.
Add the witch hazel to the spray bottle with the catnip tea mixture. This will act as a carrier for the essential oils.
Now add the pure vanilla extract to the small spray bottle. Vanilla repels mosquitoes, ticks, black flies, and gnats, and it smells great!
Finally, add drops of the essential oil or oils you are using and top the bottle off with water. Give your bottle a gentle shake to mix, and you are ready to enjoy being outdoors bug free!
