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.
You can also make your own with essential oils (volatile oils naturally found in plants that are isolated by one of a number of extraction methods) and some simple carrier solutions. Although some hard-to-collect oils might be expensive, there are many that you can buy that are affordable. There are several diluting solutions you can use, including water, witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, and apple cider vinegar.
Essentials can be expensive, but some of the best for bug sprays are surprisingly affordable. You use 10 to 30 drops of one or more in the solution. Experiment to find how strong a mixture you need. Gnats are fairly easy to keep off, as are mosquitoes. For ticks, you probably want a stronger oil, like tea tree or pennyroyal, and you may need to use 30 to 50 drops.
Popular, affordable, and easy-to-get oils include peppermint, citronella, rosemary, lavender, cedar, lemongrass, and lemon balm. You can add vanilla and clove to the formula if you like those scents; they smell good to us but not to bugs. You will enjoy using these fragrant sprays, and you don't have to hold your breath after spraying them on. To keep ticks off your dog, try using tea tree oil, either full strength rubbed on a thick coat or diluted with water and vinegar. This keeps fleas away, as well, making a trip to the dog park less risky.
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.
You can also make your own with essential oils (volatile oils naturally found in plants that are isolated by one of a number of extraction methods) and some simple carrier solutions. Although some hard-to-collect oils might be expensive, there are many that you can buy that are affordable. There are several diluting solutions you can use, including water, witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, and apple cider vinegar.
Essentials can be expensive, but some of the best for bug sprays are surprisingly affordable. You use 10 to 30 drops of one or more in the solution. Experiment to find how strong a mixture you need. Gnats are fairly easy to keep off, as are mosquitoes. For ticks, you probably want a stronger oil, like tea tree or pennyroyal, and you may need to use 30 to 50 drops.
Popular, affordable, and easy-to-get oils include peppermint, citronella, rosemary, lavender, cedar, lemongrass, and lemon balm. You can add vanilla and clove to the formula if you like those scents; they smell good to us but not to bugs. You will enjoy using these fragrant sprays, and you don't have to hold your breath after spraying them on. To keep ticks off your dog, try using tea tree oil, either full strength rubbed on a thick coat or diluted with water and vinegar. This keeps fleas away, as well, making a trip to the dog park less risky.
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.
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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.
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