• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Treasured Tips

  • Home
  • About
  • My E-Book
  • DIY
    • Natural Alternatives
    • All Natural Beauty Care
    • Natural Skin Care
    • Natural Hair Care
  • Recipes
    • Snacks and Side Dishes
    • Paleo Recipes
    • Gluten Free Recipes
    • Healthy Drinks
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Home » Natural Remedies » Natural Repellent for Ticks

Natural Repellent for Ticks

Published April 14, 2013 Last Updated April 2, 2019 By Lori Ryman 53 Comments

3459 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

natural repellent for ticksNatural Repellent for Ticks

The weather is finally warming up, the sun is shining and ticks will soon be lurking in the grass! Depending on where you live, your yard may be covered with thousands of ticks or they may be of no concern. Since living in the Northeast, as soon as Spring comes around, I am on high alert watching out for not only ticks latching on to my pets but also myself. Especially since more than half of the ticks in my area carry Lyme disease, it becomes a serious concern.

Animals are the most likely to pick up ticks with their long fur and bodies being closer to the ground.  Plus, your dog may roll around in the grass, mine sure does! Not only is it concern for your pets safety, but many of the ticks will take a ride on your pets fur into the house and end up on your floor or furniture where they could end up latching on to you or your family members!

Why You Should Use Natural Repellents for Ticks

The chemical tick repellents out there contain toxic chemicals which can end up being absorbed by pet owners. When the instructions state that you can’t touch your pet for a certain number of hours, you know you’re dealing with harmful chemicals. One of the most common ones that is sold contains Permethrin, which is a synthetic toxic pesticide that can be absorbed through skin and is also harmful to breathe .

Last summer, I set out on a mission to try all possible natural repellents for ticks. After trying several different essential oils and other natural mixtures, the ones that I found to work best and that have great reviews are listed below.

Natural Repellents for Ticks

1. Rose Geranium Essential Oil – Mix 3 Tablespoons of almond oil with 20 drops of Geranium essential oil.  Apply several drops to your dogs fur, particularly around the collar area. (To be used only on dogs)

2. Apple Cider Vinegar and Lavender Oil– Mix 1 cup water with ¼ apple cider vinegar and 15 drops of lavender oil. Apply to your dog’s fur, or spray on.

3. Citrus Repellent– This natural repellent for ticks can be used on dogs or cats. Boil 1 cup of water, remove from heat and add in 3 fruits, such as lemons or limes by squeezing out the juice. Add 5 to 15 drops of lemongrass oil (for dogs, but optional). Shake well and allow the mixture to cool before applying to skin or pets fur.

4. Garlic Powder– In general add 1/8 of a teaspoon of garlic powder per pound of dog food.

5. Pet grooming– To help prevent attracting ticks, make sure to keep your pets hair as short as possible. This will also make it easier to spot any ticks on their fur.

The first natural repellent for ticks of Rose Geranium seemed to be the most effective, many have also mentioned having great success with it. Although, I continue to use a combination of these to get the most benefits.

Have you tried any of these natural repellents for ticks?

3459 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Filed Under: Natural Remedies Tagged With: natural repellent for ticks

About Lori Ryman

Lori Ryman, BS, MS, has been dedicated to researching natural alternatives for the past 15 years. Lori has a background in research methods, health, and nutrition. She started with an Interest in natural alternatives to improve her own health and she continues to share natural DIY projects, recipes and natural alternatives with millions of viewers on treasuredtips.com.

Lori’s research for posts is based on peer reviewed evidenced-based research. Lori is a published author in a peer reviewed research journal. Her work has been covered by MSN, The Huffington Post, wikiHow, The New York Times, and many more.

Sign Up for My FREE Weekly Newsletter!

Plus get my FREE Real Food & Gluten Free 7 Day Meal Plan

Previous Post: « How to Make Magnesium Oil
Next Post: E-Book Bundle Sale! 30 Books for Only $39, Value of $479 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fred

    May 1, 2017 at 3:34 pm

    Is there a specific botanical variety that is needed for tick repellant or any Rose Geranium Oil will do?

    Reply
    • Lori

      May 10, 2017 at 4:58 pm

      Any brand should be good. I linked to one above in the post. Your local health food store should carry it too.

      Reply
  2. Gabriele

    October 29, 2016 at 9:30 am

    I am a big believer that we must use nature to fight nature our pet’s survival and that of our own depends on it.
    I believe there is a place for medicine’s however i dont think we are quite there yet when the preventative measures have just as much long term effects on our loved ones.
    Everyone is trying to find how best to look after their pets and everyone has an opinion based on their own experiences.
    Unfortunately no matter which road we take whether chemical or natural we are ultimately deciding the fate of our pets.
    Just remember that whatever you decide to do or not do you are doing it with the best intentions for your pet and family. Be proud of that – the fact that you are on here shows that you are researching because you care.
    Your pet would be eternally grateful for that.

    Reply
  3. Paul

    November 18, 2015 at 8:48 am

    Garlic is toxic to dogs and cats. You should never feed it to them.

    Reply
  4. Brian

    November 23, 2014 at 9:09 am

    Hello,

    I have a question regarding to Rose Geranium Oil. Is it possible to use coconut oil with rose geranium? Like apply a bit of Rose on the collar, arm pits of the dog and tail. And then apply aloe + coconut mix on his body? Thanks for answering my question!

    Reply
    • Lori

      December 4, 2014 at 2:10 pm

      You can definitely mix it with coconut oil. Coconut oil is a great carrier oil for essential oils.

      Reply
  5. jenn

    November 2, 2013 at 10:12 pm

    Hi Lori –

    I’m wondering which of these formulas worked best for you? You said you live in a high tick area and haven’t seen one…this is exciting!

    Reply
  6. Beverlee Groff

    July 2, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    Thank you so much for this information. I refuse to put chemicals on my dogs but worry a lot about ticks and mosquitos especially now with the increase of triple E/west Nile. I was wondering if you use Brewers yeast?

    Reply
    • Lori, Health Extremist

      July 14, 2013 at 10:25 pm

      Hi Beverlee, I have heard of it being used but haven’t tried it with my pets.

      Reply
  7. Ouida Lampert

    May 30, 2013 at 8:48 pm

    I thought that alliums (inc. garlic) were dangerous for dogs. Anyone know more?

    Reply
    • Lori, Health Extremist

      May 30, 2013 at 9:54 pm

      Check out this article: http://www.petguide.com/health/dog/the-shocking-truth-about-dogs-and-garlic/

      Reply
  8. Katei

    May 28, 2013 at 11:34 am

    The sprays sound like they would be a nice thing to try.

    Garlic is toxic to dogs and cats, so I don’t think giving them garlic powder every day would be such a good idea.

    Thanks for the recipes though

    Reply
    • Lori, Health Extremist

      May 30, 2013 at 10:12 pm

      They work great! Haven’t seen one tick yet!

      Reply
    • Anonymous

      June 6, 2013 at 1:31 am

      hi,
      i have done a ton af research on garlic for dogs, and with my holistic vets instruction i have been feeding my 4 dogs garlic for years… it is actually good for them a it is us..

      Reply
  9. Jamie

    April 25, 2013 at 9:03 am

    Do you know if these suggestions are good against fleas, maybe even mosquitos, as well?

    Reply
    • Lori, Health Extremist

      April 28, 2013 at 11:30 pm

      These should also work great for fleas too! Geranium oil and lemongrass oil work great for repelling mosquitoes.

      Reply
  10. Karen

    April 18, 2013 at 8:25 am

    This is great advice for dogs but what about cats? Do you have any suggestions for my
    kitty? Right now we do not use anything on her and she stays outside. I do use
    DE on her when I remember.

    Reply
    • Lori, Health Extremist

      April 21, 2013 at 12:15 am

      The essential oils should only be used for dogs, but one natural repellent for ticks I’ve been using for my cat is neem leaf tea and it has been working really well!

      Reply
      • Anonymous

        May 30, 2013 at 7:18 pm

        I use a botanical powder made from neem, yarrow, and diatomaceous earth. You rub the coarse powder into the dog’s fur and it repels ticks. Needs to be reapplied every couple of weeks, more often if the dog is a swimmer or gets a bath. 🙂

        Reply
        • Lori, Health Extremist

          May 30, 2013 at 9:51 pm

          Only every couple of weeks?! That’s great!

          Reply
  11. Jessie - Rabid Little Hippy

    April 17, 2013 at 2:57 am

    Great article and thanks. I did have 1 question though. If permethrin is the synthetic insecticide I am guessing, based on its name, that it’s a synthetic imitation of the natural pyrethrin and if so, could you use pyrethrin as well or instead?

    Thanks

    Reply
  12. Christo's Organic Living

    April 16, 2013 at 7:05 pm

    Essential oils are great for many purposes, including tick prevention. Just be careful not to put “extra” essential oil into your mixture “for extra protection” because too much essential oil could cause irritation to your dog’s skin. Just like any other treatment, you don’t want to use too much.

    Reply
  13. Heather

    April 16, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    What about for people? We live in a high tic area, wild animals bring them into our yard. Over the past 3 summers I’ve pulled 5 tics off my boys (commercial natural repellent didn’t work). I hate putting the chemicals on the lawn, but I’m more scared of Lymes Disease. What do you think I should do?

    Reply
    • Rev. Jim Persinger

      April 21, 2013 at 7:39 am

      I’m a big advocate of eating crushed, fresh garlic every day since it is so beneficial and if it can keep a tick or two away as well, I’m even more in favor of it. And so far,I haven’t lost any friends 😉

      Reply
      • Lori, Health Extremist

        April 28, 2013 at 10:52 pm

        That’s great! Garlic has amazing health benefits, especially raw!

        Reply
  14. Samantha Word

    April 16, 2013 at 12:49 pm

    Where do I find the essential oils?

    Reply
    • Lori, Health Extremist

      April 16, 2013 at 11:53 pm

      You should be able to find all of them at your local health food store, or you can also find them online, such as Amazon, they usually have great deals.

      Reply
    • Rev. Jim Persinger

      April 17, 2013 at 10:11 am

      Just about any pharmacy will have them although you may have to ask for them since they may be behind the counter.

      Reply
  15. Marie at Rural Living Today

    April 15, 2013 at 10:51 pm

    Amanda, I had the same question…and also, do you spread most of them all over the dog, or do they spread on the skin like the chemical ones do?

    I’ve been hoping to find a good natural tick repellent for our dogs.

    Reply
    • Lori, Health Extremist

      April 16, 2013 at 11:52 pm

      You can apply it with a cloth or use a small spray bottle to spray a little on their fur ( I use a spray bottle). It is really the scent that is helping repel the ticks, so by applying it daily or every few days it should work very well.

      Reply
      • Anonymous

        April 17, 2013 at 12:04 am

        So how many sprays do you use? My Gretta is about 45 lbs. btw…

        Reply
        • Amanda S.

          April 17, 2013 at 12:21 am

          Thanks again! This is another blog I’ll be adding to my following! 😉

          Reply
  16. Amanda S.

    April 15, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    How often to you use these treatments? Every month like the ones you get from the vet?

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      April 15, 2013 at 11:45 pm

      probably every day….no way they last long as citrus and oils break down. The stuff from the vet is a chemical that absorbs into their fat layer and redistributes itself for 30 days….yuk!

      Reply
    • Tonya

      April 16, 2013 at 10:34 pm

      Same Question 🙂 I would love to try this, just need to know how often it needs to be applied

      Reply
    • Lori, Health Extremist

      April 16, 2013 at 11:49 pm

      I use them daily, for the ones with essential oils, it is really the scent that is repelling the ticks, so by applying a little each day it should work really well.

      Reply
      • Anonymous

        April 16, 2013 at 11:59 pm

        Thank you, I’m going to try this this summer! After using coconut oil with my Gretta, and seeing GREAT results I’m down to try anything natural!

        Reply
        • Jacqueline

          April 17, 2013 at 10:54 am

          I would love to know why and how you used coconut oil for your Gretta? Please 🙂

          Reply
          • Amanda

            April 17, 2013 at 4:55 pm

            Everyday with her food I give her a tablespoon of coconut oil. It makes her coat super shiny and during the winter months she gets dry skin, but not this winter! 😉 Also her breath is ten times better and her teeth are super clean. Plus I’ve heard that it helps with digestive issues, she had a sensitive tummy.

            Reply
            • Jacqueline

              April 17, 2013 at 6:38 pm

              Thank you so much Amanda. I will give our shitzu/cross some of this as well as her coat is dull and her skin quite dry. She has had Kidney stones removed in the past and is on a special food but surely this won’t affect her in a negative way. Grateful for your knowledge, have a nice day. 🙂

              Reply
              • Amanda S.

                April 18, 2013 at 4:31 pm

                Be careful, since she is a lot smaller than my 45 pound Gretta. I double checked and the dosage is 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds. But start gradually because it may cause an upset tummy when you start, but Gretta didn’t have any problems…

                Reply
        • Anonymous

          April 1, 2016 at 4:24 am

          Coconut oil? Just coconut oil? How?

          Reply
      • Sylvia

        April 5, 2014 at 4:20 pm

        I use rose geranium oil for ticks. i put 2 or 3 drops on her collar and when the scent is almost gone I add some more. Lasts for a couple of weeks. I have sprinkled garlic powder on my dogs food for years and we have never seen a flea and we have golden rets. with long hair. I will not put poison on my dog.

        Reply
        • Lori

          April 9, 2014 at 12:10 am

          Rose geranium oil is my favorites to use too, it has worked so well and I live in the Northeast where ticks are out in full force.

          Reply
          • Ms Ellen S. Robison

            June 6, 2014 at 3:40 pm

            I would think a thing like Almond oil would be an attractant to insects :/

            Reply
            • Ms Ellen S. Robison

              June 6, 2014 at 3:41 pm

              sorry just forgot to click the notify me box 🙂

              Reply
            • Lori

              June 11, 2014 at 7:19 pm

              I’ve used it to make natural insect repellents and it has always worked well. I’m usually a mosquito magnet and it has really helped keep them away.

              Reply
          • Michael C

            June 21, 2014 at 11:36 am

            Do you know the highest quality brand for Rose Germanium oil?

            Reply
            • Lori

              July 15, 2014 at 11:20 pm

              I typically use Aura Cacia.

              Reply
            • Anonymous

              June 28, 2015 at 9:37 am

              Edens Garden has a subspecies of rose geranium oil that was listed in one article as giving you “more bang for your buck”. It’s “Pelargonium capitatum x radens”

              Reply
        • Anonymous

          June 22, 2015 at 3:25 pm

          You shouldn’t give any garlic to your dogs. It causes red blood cell hemolysis (premature destruction) . You can google it. Just go with the oils . ?

          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi! Nice to meet you

I'm Lori. I love living a natural lifestyle, DIY projects, and trying out new healthy recipes. Read More…

Popular Posts

coffee scrub in jar with coffee beans

Homemade Coffee Scrub for Cellulite

Chocolate chip muffins in muffin pan with text overlay - paleo chocolate chip muffins

Paleo Chocolate Chip Muffins – made with coconut flour

House with backyard and deck with potted plants and planted plants

5 Plants that Repel Mosquitoes

Plate with three slices of oven fried chicken

Paleo Oven Fried Chicken

dry shampoo in jars with brush with text overlay - natural diy dry shampoo for light and dark hair

Natural DIY Dry Shampoo for Light and Dark Hair

Here's How I Use Tea Tree Oil for Acne - Prevent new breakouts and treat breakouts

How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Acne

Copyright © 2022 · Contact Me

· Privacy Policy