Why You Should Make Your Own Flea and Tick Spray

Essential oils can effectively deter Fleas and Ticks

I updated my blog today and thought I’d share it here with you!

Why Make Your Own Flea and Tick Deterrent Spray?

Most over-the-counter flea and tick productscontain chemicals that can irritate your dog’s skin or worse—affect their liver, nervous system, and immune health over time.

Making your own spray gives you peace of mind. You know what’s going on your dog’s body—and you can customize it for their individual needs.

When combined with a full natural flea and tick prevention plan, this spray can be a powerful part of your toolkit. It’s all about longevity for me!

In case you’re wondering about those products you’ve used for years — Read This: The Risk Associated with Flea and Tick Products.

How to Make a DIY Flea & Tick Deterrent Spray for Dogs

You don’t need 10 products and a chemistry degree to protect your dog…

But you do need to be a little more intentional than just tossing a few oils in a bottle and hoping for the best.

Let’s build this in a way that works for real life—and gives you flexibility based on what you already have.

What You’ll Need

• 8 oz glass spray bottle

• 4 oz distilled water

• 4 oz witch hazel or apple cider vinegar

• 15–20 drops total of essential oils (more on choosing below)

Directions

• Add the witch hazel or apple cider vinegar to your spray bottle

• Add your essential oils

• Fill the rest with distilled water

• Shake gently before each use

How to Use

• Lightly mist your dog’s coat before heading outside

• Focus on back of the ears, legs, chest, belly, and base of tail

• Avoid eyes, nose, and genitals

• Reapply based on exposure (especially for hikes or wooded areas)

And don’t skip this…

After outdoor time:

• Brush through the coat

• Do a quick check

• Lightly reapply if needed

That post-exposure step is where a lot of prevention actually happens.

Choosing Your Essential Oils

You don’t need every oil on this list.

Start with what you have… or what makes the most sense for your dog and environment.

And remember—this isn’t about one “hero” oil.
It’s about building a blend that covers multiple angles.

Strong Tick Deterrents

These are your heavy hitters—especially if you’re in a high tick area.

• Geranium
  → One of the most studied oils for tick deterrence
  → Disrupts how ticks locate a host

• Kunzea
  → Strong outdoor deterrent
  → Bonus: soothing if bites happen

• Spearmint + Thyme
  → Highly effective against deer ticks
  → Thyme helps create faster drop-off after contact

Distance Repellents (Keep Pests Away Before Contact)

• Lemongrass + Cinnamon
  → Helps increase the distance pests stay away
  → Great for hikes, fields, and wooded areas & tall grass environments

• Citronella
  → Strong scent barrier that repels fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes
  → Works similarly to lemongrass (same plant family) but often a bit more intense
  → Great for outdoor use and high-exposure environments

Duration-Based Protection

• Patchouli
  → Known for longer-lasting repellency (up to a couple hours in studies)

• Lavender
  → Can exceed ~40 minutes of repellency
  → Gentle, calming, and supports skin health
  → Helps balance stronger oils in a blend

Flea-Focused Support

• Cedarwood
  → Well known for flea deterrence
  → Supports disrupting the flea life cycle
  → Also useful for yard spraying alongside DE

Broad-Spectrum Bug Deterrents

• Eucalyptus radiata
  → Light, fresh, and effective at deterring multiple insects
  → A gentler eucalyptus option for dogs when used appropriately

• Peppermint
  → Strong scent that repels a variety of pests
  → Also ties into parasite support
  → Add clove to deter chiggers

Parasite Support (Internal Considerations)

• Peppermint + Myrtle
  → Studied for impact on certain internal parasites (including tapeworm-related organisms)

Natural Ingredients You Can Add (and Why)

Neem Oil

This one’s a bit more “advanced,” but very effective.

• Strong flea and tick deterrent

• Disrupts insect life cycles

• Works well in yard + topical strategies

Fair warning: it smells… earthy. Not everyone loves it, but pests definitely don’t.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

You’re already using this, but it’s worth reinforcing why it works.

• Helps shift skin pH slightly

• Makes your dog less attractive to fleas

• Adds mild antimicrobial support

This is one of those quiet “background helpers” that makes everything else work better.

Witch Hazel

Also already in your base—but it’s doing more than just filling space.

• Acts as a natural emulsifier (helps oils disperse better)

• Light astringent (tightens skin slightly)

• Helps the spray dry faster without residue

If your dog hates feeling “wet” after sprays—this matters.

Aloe Vera (Liquid, not gel)

Great addition if your dog has sensitive skin or tends to react.

• Soothes irritation

• Supports skin barrier

• Helpful if you’re using stronger oils like thyme or cinnamon

This turns your spray into more of a skin-supporting mist—not just a repellent.

Vegetable Glycerin

This one’s optional—but useful.

• Helps the scent “stick” a little longer

• Slightly improves duration of your blend

• Adds a touch of moisture to the coat

Don’t overdo it—it can get sticky if you go heavy.

Important note: Not all oils are safe for all dogs.
Puppies under 12 weeks, pregnant dogs, and certain health conditions require special consideration. Always ask for guidance if you’re unsure.

How to Build Your Blend

If you’re staring at your oils wondering what to pick… start here:

• Choose 2-3 strong deterrents (like geranium or thyme)

• Add 1 distance oil (like lemongrass)

• Add 1 base oil (like lavender or patchouli)

• Choose your base, carrier, dispersant.

That’s it. Simple, balanced, and effective.

Why This Works Better Than “Random Mixing”

Each oil does something slightly different:

• Some repel on contact

• Some create a scent barrier

• Some last longer

• Some support the body internally

Experiment with these blends to see what works best for your environment.

A Quick Safety Note

Not every dog is the same.

Extra care is needed for:

• Puppies under 12 weeks

• Pregnant or nursing dogs

• Dogs with chronic health conditions

If you’re unsure, ask. It’s always easier to adjust upfront than fix an issue later.

Top 5 Things to Do

• Start with a simple blend using oils you already have

• Apply before and after outdoor exposure as you’re giving the dog a good brushing & inspection.

• Focus on where ticks actually climb (legs, belly, chest)

• Adjust based on your environment (yard vs hiking trails)

• Stay consistent—this works when it becomes routine

How Often to Use Flea and Tick Spray

• Apply before outings where your dog will be exposed to grass, brush, or wooded areas.

• Reapply after swimming or heavy rain.

• For peak season, daily use is often helpful as part of a broader prevention plan.

Natural Yard and Home Protection Tips

To truly stay ahead of fleas and ticks, don’t stop at the spray:

• Use safe yard sprays made with natural essential oils

• Keep grass short and remove debris where pests thrive.

• Treat outdoor areas where your dog plays.

• Wash bedding regularly and vacuum your home often.

  • If you get an infestion in the house it’s a challenge — but we have options for that too!

• Use Diatomaceous Earth Outside along with Cedarcide or Wondercide (see my Amazon Store)

Note from Dana:
Since I got my yard under control, feed a fresh food diet, and add a little freshly grated garlic to my dog’s food in the summer — I don’t have to do daily essential oil sprays. Only if we go to a new environment / outing.