Oil
Tick-repellent spray
Lemon eucalyptus is the one plant oil where the research genuinely holds. It is recognised by both American and European health authorities as effective against ticks and mosquitoes, and it is the only one of its kind that is.
But let me say it plainly before you head into the woods: a homemade spray is weaker and lasts less time than a shop-bought one. You need to reapply every two to three hours, and you still have to check yourself for ticks when you get home.
The spray is one layer. The check is what saves you.
Tick bites in Denmark can cause Lyme disease, and in some areas encephalitis. That is not something a spray excuses you from taking seriously.
Ingredients
- 100 ml water
- 1 tbsp neutral carrier oil, jojoba or almond
- 15 drops lemon eucalyptus
- 10 drops peppermint
- 10 drops lavender
- 5 drops clove
Equipment
- Dark spray bottle
- Funnel
- Measuring spoon
Method
- 1
Mix 100 ml water with 1 tbsp neutral carrier oil in a dark spray bottle.
- 2
Add 15 drops lemon eucalyptus, 10 drops peppermint, 10 drops lavender, 5 drops clove.
- 3
Shake well and spray on skin, trouser legs, socks and shoes before going outdoors.
- 4
Reapply every 2-3 hours.
Dosage
Shake well before each use. Water and oil separate, and it is the oil that works.
Spray on skin, trouser legs, socks and footwear before going out. Ticks climb upwards from the grass, so the legs matter most.
Reapply every 2-3 hours, and always after sweating or being in water.
Shelf life
3-6 months in a dark bottle. Essential oils evaporate and lose potency in light and heat.
Safety
Always check your body for ticks when you get home. The spray does not replace the check. Look behind the knees, in the groin, armpits, navel, behind the ears and in the scalp, where they head for.
Remove a tick with tweezers, gripping as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight out in a steady grip. Do not twist, do not smear anything on first. The faster it comes off, the lower the risk.
If a red ring appears and spreads outwards around the bite, or you develop flu-like symptoms in the weeks after, see a doctor. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics and gets worse the longer you wait.
Lemon eucalyptus must not be used on children under 3 years.
Clove oil is potent and irritating to skin. Try the spray on a small area and wait a day before using it on your whole body.
Not on the face, and not near eyes or mucous membranes. Spray onto your hands and dab gently if you want some on your neck.
Not during pregnancy without speaking to your midwife.
Essential oils can be toxic to cats and dogs. Do not stroke the animal while the spray is wet.
If you move in areas with known risk of tick-borne encephalitis, use an approved repellent. There is home-making, and then there are places where you do not experiment.
How the herbs work
Lemon eucalyptus contains PMD, para-menthane-3,8-diol, the only plant compound recognised by health authorities on a par with synthetic repellents. It works by disrupting the insect''s and the tick''s ability to detect the carbon dioxide and lactic acid you breathe out and sweat.
Peppermint, lavender and clove contribute scents that ticks and mosquitoes find unpleasant. Their effect is shorter and less well documented than PMD, but they strengthen the whole.
The carrier oil is not decoration. It makes the essential oils stay on the skin instead of evaporating immediately, and so extends the working time.
Note the difference between lemon eucalyptus and ordinary eucalyptus. They are not the same plant, and only the first contains PMD.
The content here is general knowledge and folk herbal lore, not medical treatment. In illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding or alongside medication: always talk to your doctor first.