I live in the epicenter of past West Nile Virus outbreaks, and with Dengue fever on the rise I really like to have my kids to have some mosquito protection when they go outdoors. While we occasionally use DEET products when my boys go traipsing into the deep woods, I prefer something natural for everyday use. We strive to live as chemical free as possible. I use a simple essential oil blend. I blend the oils myself and only add 2 other ingredients, both of which are optional.
Natural Insect Repellent
2 drops Thyme Oil
2 drops Lavender Oil
2 drops Peppermint Oil
4 drops Lemongrass Oil
1/3 cup water or witch hazel
2-3 drops glycerin (optional)
To Make Insect Repellent: Mix all ingredients in a 4oz spray bottle.
Different people respond to essential oils differently and then of course different insects respond differently to different people and sprays. So sometimes you have to experiment to figure out the right combination.
Oils that repel insects:
- Lemon Oil
- Eucalyptus Oil
- Cinnamon Oil
- Citronella Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
- Thyme Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Lavender Oil
- Melaleuca (Tee Tree Oil)
- Rosemary Oil
- Sandalwood Oil
Also, test your blend on a small area before you spray it all over yourself. Please use caution when using essential oils on children. When using essential oils on children they should always be diluted with a carrier oil or shaken in a large amount of water.
I have ordered essential oils from a lot of different companies and have not found any better quality or price than Spark Naturals. In addition they offer Seed To Pantry School readers a 10% discount when you use the coupon code AWCOW.
