AnThe ultimate summer essential oil survival guide, with recipes for DIY bug spray, sunburn relief, after bite and more! These 5 must-have summer DIYs are 100% non-toxic, healthy and safe to use for the whole family!

Summer is officially here, which means we are enjoying all the time outdoors we can get! Now that our backyard  renovation is complete (you can watch the transformation in this vlog if you haven’t seen it yet). With our new herb and vegetable gardens and deck the back yard is pretty much irresistible. I’ve even found myself taking my work outdoors, and we’ve  been eating as many meals outside as possible. Who else loves takes advantage of the warm weather as soon as it arrives?!

With that being said, you can see why these DIYs have become summer essentials for me. I love making my own DIY skincare products where I can because that way I can be 100% sure there’s no toxins or artificial fragrances!

A few weeks ago, I got a little too much sun and this After Sun Spray was incredibly soothing for my burn. It contains soothing essential oils such as sacred frankincense, lavender and peppermint. Sacred frankincense is actually certified as a Natural Healthy Product approved by Health Canada, and can be used to relieve minor cuts, bruises, and burns. It’s the perfect essential oil to use in this spray as Lavender essential oil can be soothing to the skin, and peppermint is very cooling.   

After Sun Spray

In a 100 ml spray bottle combine:

• 15 drops Lavender
• 10 drops Sacred Frankincense
• 5 drops Peppermint
• Fill to top with witch hazel

Spray on your skin after a day in the hot sun to help soothe your skin and relieve burns.

This non-toxic bug-off lotion is something I came up with last summer, and I swear by it! I know that most bug sprays, whether conventional or natural, typically come in a spray form. However, I’ve noticed that this coconut oil based bug-off lotion works even better for me as opposed to a spray. You can use it as a full body moisturizer overtop of your sunscreen, and because of the oil base it lasts a lot longer and you don’t have to re-apply. In addition, coconut oil is nourishing for your skin and has a natural SPF of 4 or 5. It also contains antioxidants that help to fight to protect against harmful radiation. I recommend that you still apply sunscreen though, since the SPF is very low. Also side-note, if you’re looking for a good natural sunscreen, lately I’ve been loving this one! (link  to green beaver sunscreen)  

Non-Toxic Bug-Off Lotion

In a small glass jar (a little mason jar works well) combine:

• 1/4 cup Coconut oil (or use my minty clean oil mouthwash from the HealthNut Shop)!
• 30 drops Peppermint
• 15 drops Citronella
• 10 drops Tea tree

Apply this long lasting bug-off lotion all over before heading outside for your next hike!

If you prefer a bug spray over an oil based lotion, then give this DIY non-toxic bug spray a try! For this spray you will need witch hazel, which helps the essential oils to disperse and emulsify throughout the mixture. You can use this to repel and prevent bug bites from mosquitoes and black files as well as ticks, which are becoming more abundant here in Ontario lately! No deet, parabens, or synthetic fragrances needed! Re-apply as needed throughout the day.

Non-Toxic Bug Spray

In a 100 ml spray bottle combine:

• 20 drops Citronella
• 10 drops Lemongrass
• 10 drops Geranium
• 5 drops Peppermint
• Fill to the top with witch hazel. This bug spray repels mosquitoes, ticks, black flies and other insects! Apply before heading outdoors, and as needed throughout the day.

Like I mentioned above, Mr. Matt and I have been spending a ton of time outdoors on our new deck! It’s always nice to enjoy dinner outside in the summer, but no one wants to sit outside amongst a cloud of hungry mosquitoes! 

When I realized that I had purchased a cordless essential oil diffuser earlier this year, I had an idea for the perfect use for it. This outdoor bug bomb diffuser blend is amazing to diffuse on your back porch or patio. Think of it as a protective cloud, driving away mosquitoes and black flies! If you don’t have a cordless diffuser, try using an outdoor plug to bring your regular diffuse outdoors. This uplifting aroma is so refreshing too. If you’re planning on eating dinner outside, be sure to put your diffuser on half an hour before you plan on sitting down for your meal to hopefully get a head start on the bugs!  

Outdoor Bug Bomb Diffuser Blend 

• 5 drops Citronella
• 2 drops Lemongrass
• 2 drops Peppermint
• 2 drops Lemon

Diffuse on your deck or patio to keep the bugs away while you enjoy a meal outdoors! I love using this cordless diffuser outside because it’s portable and so pretty in our outdoor space!

In the event that you forgot to use your bug off or bug bomb diffuser blend – don’t worry! I’ve also got an oil for that! This DIY after bite is soothing and will help to take away that annoying itchy feeling. And, if you have kiddos who are covered in bug bites from playing outside all the time, this is also 100% safe to use on little ones as well. You may have noticed that I use witch hazel for many of my essential oil DIYs. This is because it helps the essential oil to emulsify (disperse) throughout the blend, but also because it has many benefits for your skin. It’s great for acne, burns, poison ivy, and insect bites. Basically a must-have for your natural medicine cabinet! 

DIY After Bite

You will need a 10 ml roller bottle if you’d like to make this in an easy to apply roller blend. In your roller, add:

• 10 drops Lavender
• 10 drops Frankincense
• 10 drops Tea tree
• 5 drops Copaiba
• Fill roller bottle to top with witch hazel 

Apply directly to mosquito bites to ease the itch and inflammation.

I hope that you enjoyed these 5 must-have summer DIYs, and hopefully you get to try making these recipes soon! Please leave a comment below and let me know if you have tried any of these DIYs, or tag me @healthnututrition on social media if you’d like to share a photo of your finished product with me. I always love seeing your creations!

And lastly, be sure to check out my FREE Essential Oils 101 Email Course for a full “crash course” on essential oil safety, how to use oils, and more DIYs. The quality of essential oils you use is very important. However, many people don’t realize this and are often using lesser quality oils that are cut with synthetics, diluted, and have no health benefits! So I highly recommend using 100% pure, therapeutic grade oils – this way you are sure to get results!  You can join this free 7 day email course here and learn more about why quality matters. I also have an Essential Oils page, if you’d like to find out how to get a Starter Kit with 11 of the most popular essential oils, and Essential Oils FAQ page that covers topics such as “Are Essential Oils Safe for Pets?” and more!