I love spending time outside in the warm weather months. There is nothing that centers me more than spending some good quality time in nature. When I am really stressed out, if I talk a walk in the woods, it doesn’t take long for me to inhale and exhale, expelling all of my stresses and worries right out of my mind and body. I can hear all of the wonderful sounds that surround me, the birds happily singing away, the rustling of the leaves blowing in the wind, the pitter-patter of squirrels running around, and the annoying buzz of that pesky little creature that is constantly attempting to remove all of the blood from my body. With it’s annoying itchy needle, the stealthy mosquito can really ruin a girls tranquility!
Minnesotan’s joke that the mosquito is the Minnesota State bird because of their prevalence in the warm weather months (the Common Loon is actually the State bird; much more enjoyable if you ask me). I also joke with my hubby that I must have much sweeter blood then his, because the mosquitoes seem to like me a lot more. While this cannot possibly be the case, simply because he is about as sweet as they come, mosquitoes are definitely more attracted to annoy and bite me. The science-y reasons are actually a better explanation. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, and women typically consume more oxygen than men during breathing (I’m sure John would insert a joke here that it’s from women ‘s excessive talking instead). They are also attracted to people with higher body temperatures, darker colored clothes, and even certain alcohols like beer; who knew they were hops fans?
Now that we are in the waning weeks of summer (at least in Minnesota), I wanted to share with you, an easy way to make homemade bug repellent. I will be the first to profess, it is not as long lasting as store purchased bug repellent, but it accomplishes three things for me that make me a very happy girl.
- No irritation. I have really sensitive skin due to Fibromyalgia. One of the symptoms I experience frequently is the feeling that I have a thousand needles poking and burning into my skin (neuropathy). It is controllable with medication; I’m not a fan of the meds, but don’t listen to me if you have Fibro, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on television. But, I still have a lot of flare ups that can be rather uncomfortable, and spraying chemicals or perfume on my skin can exasporate my symptoms. This recipe does not irritate my skin like commercial products.
- Dog safe. I wanted to find an alternative that I could not only use for people, but my dog as well. John and I had many laughs this summer watching Sami freak out whenever a really big bug flew near her at Rustic Pines. She would start biting the air, then would tear off running like a bee stung her in her butt, and finally would hide when she couldn’t take the pesky insects any longer (sorry I laughed at you, Beagle, I know YOU weren’t having fun). The specific recipe that follows is safe for my dog.
- No harsh chemicals. I do not like the chemicals in store purchased products. The upside to them is they are effective and last a long time, BUT, frankly I just do not want to spray potentially harmful chemicals on my clothes or my body; it’s just my preference. I am not preaching that other people shouldn’t use them, because my sweet hubby still does, I just like knowing what I am spraying on myself.
My goal was to find a natural bug spray that was multi-functional, one that works on both humans and dogs. Rustic Pines is located in the Superior National Forest, and I personally think it is stunning; it’s my haven. Along with the natural beauty comes several months that include a fair share of bugs, including mosquitoes and ticks (ICK!). I wanted to find a recipe that would repel both. I have been spending quite a bit of time researching essential oils. Essential oils are a highly concentrated version of the natural oils you find in plants. The great part of essential oils, is that some are a natural insect repellent. Different oils work on different bugs. Below are a few examples of common oils that repel specific bugs.
Ticks: Rose Geranium, Thyme, Oregano, Juniper
Mosquitoes: Citronella, Eucalyptus, Lemon Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Clove, Thyme, Lemongrass, Lavender
Rose Geranium oil is the first essential oil I use in my mix. Why? It is an incredible deterrent to wood ticks. Not only does it smell nice, but this particular oil actually prevents a tick from detecting your presence (weird, huh?). Did you notice that there was an essential oil that was on both the mosquito and tick list? You got it, Thyme! Do you plant thyme in your garden? I sure do, and I have noticed that ever since I started planting it, the bugs are less bothersome when I’m in that area of the garden. I use it as my second oil in the repellent. Don’t be afraid to experiment when mixing a batch of homemade repellent. I’ve been experimenting all summer to see which combinations are more effective, depending on the insects that are out and about. I’ve tried several in the above list, as my third oil in the repellent.
The one practice I really need to caution you on, is do not mix or use essential oils around cats. Many essential oils contain Phenols, which are not toxic to humans or dogs, but are highly toxic to cats. Basically, cats are missing an enzyme that humans and dogs have, that can metabolize the essential oil. I have two crazy teenage kitties at home, and while I do mix my batches there, I ensure I am well away from my cats, and I clean the area very well after I complete the batch.
Ok, now on to the really good stuff, how do you make a batch for yourself? I found everything I use on Amazon.com.
Ingredients:
Glass Spray Bottle (some essential oils may degrade plastic, so I stick with glass)
4 ounces distilled water
3.5 ounces witch hazel or vodka (John would be upset if I used the vodka)
60-90 drops of essential oil (I like the mix of Rose Geranium, Thyme, and Lemon Eucalyptus)
Instructions:
Add the distilled water, then witch hazel to the bottle. Add in equal drops of essential oil (30-30-30 for a strong mix), leaving a little room at the top of the bottle. Once your spray bottle is enclosed give it a good shake (god knows I’d probably try the next step with the top off, because I AM Clumsy Katie) . The alcohol will help to distribute the oils in the mix. I also give it a good shake before every application, to help redistribute the oils.
While you DO need to apply this mix more often than store purchased products, it is effective. And, the beagle and I smell pretty when we use it while we are doing our lumber-Jill routine’s at Rustic Pines (I’m lumber-jilling, while she is either chasing squirrels, hiding from bugs, or napping).
If you try this, I would really love to hear how it turns out for you.
Until next time folks, happy homesteading!
Katie