Anti-Itch Cream {made with essential oil}

It’s summer in the Midwest, and that means bugs.

Mosquitoes, flies, gnats, ants, spiders, and more. Bugs, bugs, and more bugs.

Bug sprays, diffuser blends, bug-repellant candles, and other essential oil DIYs do a great job of keeping most of the bugs away.

But sometimes when we’re swimming at the neighborhood pool, out running errands, or having dinner at a restaurant al fresco, the bugs get me. Might just be one bite or sometimes it’s a whole slew of bites. But boy, do they itch. I’ve never been good at ignoring the itch.

That’s why I’ve spent so much time researching and testing out various natural anti-itch treatments. I need something that really works. It’s has to truly stop the itch otherwise I will scratch and be very uncomfortable.

It has to work.

I’m excited to say that this essential oil anti-itch cream does work.

It soothes and calms inflamed skin, quickly stopping the itching from bug bites, stings, rashes, and other skin irritations.

Looking for other natural anti-itch treatments?

Try my oatmeal bath soak, anti-itch stick, healing salve (I use for eczema flareups), or roller bottle blend.

What’s in my anti-itch cream

This website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link.

coconut oil – Soothes, moisturizes, and forms a protective barrier over skin

tamanu oil – a Southeast Asia and Polynesian natural healing remedy, tamanu oil is said to promote new skin tissue which helps to speed up the natural healing process of itchy skin and rashes. It also reportedly has natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

beeswax – Beeswax has lots of great natural benefits for skin — calms and soothes skin, reduces temporary itching, creates a waxy barrier that protects skin from toxins in environment as it heals, and solidifies the other ingredients so that they can be used in stick form

calendula flower powder (optional)- soothes and calms irritated skin

colloidal oatmeal (optional)- according to the American Academy of Dermatology, “itchy, dry skin often has a high ph level, but oatmeal can help normalize your skin’s ph, which can relieve itchy, uncomfortable skin.”

essential oils:

lavender (lavandula angustifolia) – soothes occasional skin irritations

peppermint (mentha piperita) – helps ease itching and gently cools

frankincense (boswellia carterii) – supports healthy skin

tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia) – great for reducing itching, inflammation, and irritation

lemon (citrus limon) – cleanses and purifies

How to make anti-itch cream

step 1: Add 2 tablespoons of beeswax pellets to a heat-safe glass bowl or measuring cup

step 2: melt beeswax

to melt beeswax, put the heat-safe glass bowl/measuring cup into a pot of simmering water. Melt beeswax over medium heat. Stir occasionally. It will take about 15 minutes to melt beeswax.

Make sure beeswax is completely melted, otherwise the beeswax might partially re-solidify, making the anti-itch cream grainy.

step 3: Add 1/4 cup coconut oil to the melted beeswax

step 4: remove melted beeswax and coconut oil from heat and add 1/4 cup tamanu oil

step 5: once completely melted, remove the beeswax and oil mixture from the heat. Allow it to cool for about 1 minute.

Then add the following essential oils and stir well

40 drops lavender (lavandula angustifolia)

25 drops peppermint (mentha piperita)

25 drops frankincense (boswellia carterii)

15 drops tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia)

15 drops lemon (citrus limon)

step 6 (optional but recommended): add 1 tablespoon of calendula flower powder and 1 tablespoon colloidal oatmeal

step 7: pour the mixture into containers

tip: Glass, metal, plastic #1 PET & plastic #2 HDPE jars are all safe for diluted essential oil blends like this.

Step 8: clean up

Beeswax is to hard to clean with just soap & water. So before it hardens, use paper towels to wipe out the glass bowl/measuring cup and any utensils you used to stir the mixture. Then once you’ve wiped off as much as you can, wash as usual with soap and water.

step 9: cool completely

Allow the anti-itch cream to cool and solidify completely before putting the lid on (this might take a few hours to harden all the way through).

tip: You can put it in the refrigerator to speed this step up.

step 10 (optional): If you use a tin container like I did, then you can decorate the lid with a little scrapbook paper and Modge Podge.

cut out scrapbook paper to fit the lid
use a foam brush to apply a little Modge Podge to the top of the lid (this acts as the glue)
put paper on lid, and starting from the center, use your finger to press down and smooth out any bubbles
then cover the top of the paper with a little more Modge Podge to seal the paper
let it dry

How to use

use a clean spoon or small scoop to get cream out of jar
apply small amount to itchy skin
gently rub in — be careful not to spread it beyond itchy skin if rash or contagious
wash hands after use
apply more as needed

Where to get supplies?

coconut oil (find my favorite here)

tamanu oil (I get it here)

beeswax (I get mine here)

calendula flower powder (optional)

colloidal oatmeal (optional)

4 oz tin jars (buy here) OR adorable 2 oz glass mason jars (buy here)

wooden sticks for stirring (find them here)

heat-safe glass measuring cup or bowl (like these)

optional for decoration: Modge Podge (buy here) and scrapbook paper (buy here)

free printable of recipe

Please join us…

we’re on Facebook here

we’re on Pinterest here

click here to sign up our email newsletter

Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This website is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your medical doctor regarding your medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Disclaimer: Please know that this website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link. Thank you for supporting me in this way.