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.
There is good reason to avoid chemical formulas. Many effective chemicals used in the past have been banned because they proved to be dangerous to humans and harmful to wildlife. The favorite one today, DEET, has many cautions attached to its use and a long list of suspected cases of illness and even death. The many consumers who use sprays that contain DEET may not know that there are safer alternatives.
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.
Try a natural repellent. You'll like it. And - you'll know you and your family, as well as the environment, are healthier for it. A mix of fragrant oils will help make summertime more enjoyable than ever.
There is good reason to avoid chemical formulas. Many effective chemicals used in the past have been banned because they proved to be dangerous to humans and harmful to wildlife. The favorite one today, DEET, has many cautions attached to its use and a long list of suspected cases of illness and even death. The many consumers who use sprays that contain DEET may not know that there are safer alternatives.
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.
Try a natural repellent. You'll like it. And - you'll know you and your family, as well as the environment, are healthier for it. A mix of fragrant oils will help make summertime more enjoyable 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.