Summertime is a wonderful time to be outdoors, but bugs can make your life miserable. Using bug spray is almost essential, but who wants dubious chemicals in the air you're breathing or on your skin? Fortunately, essential oil insect repellent sprays work wonderfully well. There are many on the market, or you can easily make your own.
The chemicals in conventional bug sprays have always been suspect, and the current favorite DEET (developed by the Army to protect soldiers in swampy regions) has many cautions on its label. It's approved by the government for personal use, but there are multiple cases of toxic reactions, especially among children but also among sensitive adults. Many people fail to realize that there are safe, natural alternatives to chemical-infused sprays.
Essential oils are extracted from herbs. There are many familiar ones that keep biting and stinging insects away. Prepared formulas come in sprays, topical solutions, rub-on sticks, and pre-soaked wipes. These work well for garden use, for when you're at the beach, or even for camping in the deep woods. People use them for pets and horses, and to keep spiders out of the house.
It's easy to make your own with essential oils you can buy at natural food stores or online. There are many good, pure brands on the market; it's best to choose organic ones to use on your skin. Any oil should be used in dilute form. They can be added to a mixture of half water and half witch hazel. You can substitute apple cider vinegar or rubbing alcohol for the witch hazel, according to recipes found online.
Go online for recipes for bug spray. You will see they vary greatly in the herbals used and the amount of oil added. There are many formulas. Almost all include one or more of the mints, and some even tell you how to use dried herbs. Dried herbs still have volatile oils; boiling them in water releases the oils and the fragrance.
Peppermint, lemon balm, citronella, lavender, rosemary, cedar, and lemongrass are popular herbs for repelling bugs. Since the mixtures smell wonderful, you and your family won't mind using them. Add drops of a pure oil or boil dried herbs in water to extract the aromatic oils they still hold. You can add other herbs that smell good to you, like clove or vanilla; they just make the formula stronger and more effective.
It might be a good idea to spray your hat rather than your face to keep gnats off, to spray your trousers when walking in brush to repel ticks, and to spray children's clothing rather than putting it directly on skin. Most people, however, find that the recommended mixes are non-irritating when applied directly, like to your ankles when sitting outdoors in the evening. People often rub the fresh herb on themselves in a pinch, using a few leaves of lemon balm or catnip to keep pesky gnats away when they want to pull a few weeds on an early morning walk in the garden.
Once you try natural repellents, you'll realize that you don't need harsh, dangerous chemicals. You, your family, and your animal companions can be safe from insects that otherwise make outdoor time unpleasant.
The chemicals in conventional bug sprays have always been suspect, and the current favorite DEET (developed by the Army to protect soldiers in swampy regions) has many cautions on its label. It's approved by the government for personal use, but there are multiple cases of toxic reactions, especially among children but also among sensitive adults. Many people fail to realize that there are safe, natural alternatives to chemical-infused sprays.
Essential oils are extracted from herbs. There are many familiar ones that keep biting and stinging insects away. Prepared formulas come in sprays, topical solutions, rub-on sticks, and pre-soaked wipes. These work well for garden use, for when you're at the beach, or even for camping in the deep woods. People use them for pets and horses, and to keep spiders out of the house.
It's easy to make your own with essential oils you can buy at natural food stores or online. There are many good, pure brands on the market; it's best to choose organic ones to use on your skin. Any oil should be used in dilute form. They can be added to a mixture of half water and half witch hazel. You can substitute apple cider vinegar or rubbing alcohol for the witch hazel, according to recipes found online.
Go online for recipes for bug spray. You will see they vary greatly in the herbals used and the amount of oil added. There are many formulas. Almost all include one or more of the mints, and some even tell you how to use dried herbs. Dried herbs still have volatile oils; boiling them in water releases the oils and the fragrance.
Peppermint, lemon balm, citronella, lavender, rosemary, cedar, and lemongrass are popular herbs for repelling bugs. Since the mixtures smell wonderful, you and your family won't mind using them. Add drops of a pure oil or boil dried herbs in water to extract the aromatic oils they still hold. You can add other herbs that smell good to you, like clove or vanilla; they just make the formula stronger and more effective.
It might be a good idea to spray your hat rather than your face to keep gnats off, to spray your trousers when walking in brush to repel ticks, and to spray children's clothing rather than putting it directly on skin. Most people, however, find that the recommended mixes are non-irritating when applied directly, like to your ankles when sitting outdoors in the evening. People often rub the fresh herb on themselves in a pinch, using a few leaves of lemon balm or catnip to keep pesky gnats away when they want to pull a few weeds on an early morning walk in the garden.
Once you try natural repellents, you'll realize that you don't need harsh, dangerous chemicals. You, your family, and your animal companions can be safe from insects that otherwise make outdoor time unpleasant.
About the Author:
Find an overview of the benefits of using an essential oil insect repellent and view our selection of essential oils at http://www.paulopolis.com/product/petitgrain-orange-essential-oil-2-oz right now.
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