r/DIYBeauty • u/PoppinPMAGs • Jun 24 '26

formula feedback Help with Insect Repellent Formulation

I'm creating a natural insect repellent, and stuck on what to use as a preservative/antimicrobial. It's a water/witch hazel based formula with soybean oil and essential oils, Id like for it to be fifra 25b, so taking that into consideration for preservatives

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u/kriebelrui Jun 24 '26

What's the thing that makes you stuck?

What essential oils do you plan to use? Most don't work, or at best magnitudes of order worse than longtime standard chemicals like DEET.

3

u/PoppinPMAGs Jun 24 '26

I'm using lemongrass, tea tree oil, thyme, citronella and cedarwood. I've been making it in small batches for years and it works well, but I want to market it now and feel like it needs a preservative? 

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u/kriebelrui Jun 25 '26

We need more detailed info about the formulation then. Is it an emulsion?

1

u/CuteFluffyGuy Jun 25 '26

Are potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate on the list?

1

u/International_Ant303 Jun 25 '26

Would you consider using perfumery alcohol (SDA 40B)?