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American beautyberry bug spray in amber bottles

American BeautyBerry Bug Spray

Simple recipe for making bug spray using the leaves of the American BeautyBerry bush. Highly effective as a mosquito and tick repellent.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Infusion Time 2 days
Total Time 2 days 15 minutes
Author Sarah Pope

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Fill your food processor about half full with beautyberry leaves. Add 1/4 cup of witch hazel and blend to a leafy paste.

  2. Add about the same amount of leaves and another 1/4 cup of witch hazel to the food processor and blend to a paste again.

  3. Transfer all leafy paste to a quart size mason jar. It will be about half full.

  4. Top up the mason jar with more witch hazel to the bottom of the jar rim.

  5. Screw on the lid and leave on the counter at room temperature for two weeks. In a pinch, you can make a slightly weaker batch after only a few days.

  6. Turn the jar a few times each day as the beautyberry leaves are infusing into the witch hazel.

  7. Strain out the leaf matter from the infused witch hazel using a floursack cloth or fine weave cheesecloth.

  8. Pour the strained beautyberry-infused witch hazel into spray bottles. Your homemade bug spray is now ready to use!

  9. Store unused beautyberry bug spray bottles in a dark cabinet. They will be good for up to two years.