Being outdoors in summer is wonderful - unless gnats, mosquitoes, ticks, and Yellow Jackets are keeping you company. Bug sprays are almost a necessity, but millions prefer to keep their personal space free of chemicals. Essential oil insect repellent is the answer, and you can either buy it ready-made or make it yourself.
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.
Check online for prepared formulas that use essential oils of herbs to keep biting and stinging insects away. These sprays or topicals (rub-on sticks or pre-soaked wipes) work well for the bugs you'll encounter in house, garden, or recreational area. They are pleasant-smelling and effective.
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.
For children or adults with sensitive skin, spray the repellent on clothing or hats instead of directly on skin. Most people can spray a dilution of oils on, however, without irritation. Spraying your ankles while sitting outdoors keeps pesky mosquitoes and flies away. You can even rub fresh leaves of mint or lemon balm on your face and arms if you want to do a little early-morning weeding.
Once you use a natural repellent, whether one you buy or one you make yourself, you will never want to go back to chemicals. People even use them for pets, to keep fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes away. An all-natural bug spray will make summertime better than ever.
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.
Check online for prepared formulas that use essential oils of herbs to keep biting and stinging insects away. These sprays or topicals (rub-on sticks or pre-soaked wipes) work well for the bugs you'll encounter in house, garden, or recreational area. They are pleasant-smelling and effective.
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.
For children or adults with sensitive skin, spray the repellent on clothing or hats instead of directly on skin. Most people can spray a dilution of oils on, however, without irritation. Spraying your ankles while sitting outdoors keeps pesky mosquitoes and flies away. You can even rub fresh leaves of mint or lemon balm on your face and arms if you want to do a little early-morning weeding.
Once you use a natural repellent, whether one you buy or one you make yourself, you will never want to go back to chemicals. People even use them for pets, to keep fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes away. An all-natural bug spray will make summertime better than ever.
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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.