Bye, Bye, Buzzy Mosquito Repellent Spray

Summer Blessings Everyone!  Today, I want to share with you an oh-so-fragrant and effective recipe for an easy-to-make, essential-oil-based, mosquito repellent spray.  It works best for when bugs are only mildly-to-moderately hungry.  The formula comes from page 84 of my book, Naturally Bug-Free: 75 Nontoxic Recipes for Repelling Mosquitoes, Ticks, Fleas, Ants, Moths & Other Pesky Insects (Storey Publishing, c2016).  If you haven't already purchased this handy little book, it's only $10.95 (available online and in bookstores nationwide) and chock-full of recipes for natural mosquito/tick repellents for humans, flea/tick repellents for your dogs and cats, and natural insecticides for your home. Nary a chemical in sight . . . safe for you, your pets, and your home - but the bugs will go running!

Essential oils . . . where do I get mine?  I'm often asked this question.  I've worked with several brands of essential oils in my long natural skin care/reflexology/book-writing career, but I've been primarily using DoTERRA oils for the last year as I've discovered that they are of excellent quality and responsibly/ethically sourced, and there's just something about their energy that I'm attracted to.  I was out of rosemary essential oil when I took the recipe supply photo below - which I can't believe, as it is one of my favorite remedial oils - so I used another brand (thus the bottle with the white cap in the photo).  If you'd like to read about the DoTERRA company and their oils, just visit my website and cruise around  http://mydoterra.com/stephanietourles  

I'm not a "newbie" to essential oils, quite the contrary.  I'm a professional aromatherapist (and an experienced herbalist) with thousands of hours of training and research and would love to have you on my DoTERRA team. I've written scads of books with recipes that incorporate essential oils and taught many-a-class about the healing benefits these oils can offer.  I can educate you about the products in ways that many folks - with much less scholarly and hands-on experience - cannot.  Please email me if you have a question. My address is on my DoTERRA website. So - there's my business plug . . . on to the recipe . . . 

Bye, Bye, Buzzy Spray

Contraindication:  Do not use on children under 2 years of age.

If you love the uplifting, stimulating scents of rosemary, lemon, and peppermint, then you'll adore this mentally energizing formula that happens to repel annoying bugs.  It doubles as a wonderfully effective, antiseptic kitchen and bathroom cleaner, leaving a lingering fragrance that will help deter all manner of pesky insects, especially in dark cabinets where they like to reside.

Ingredients:

40 drops rosemary essential oil

30 drops lemon essential oil (may substitute 'lemongrass' if you wish)

10 drops peppermint essential oil

1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin (optional, but adds slight moisturizing effect to skin)

1/2 teaspoon liquid castile soap, peppermint or eucalyptus scented

1 cup witch hazel (available at drug/health food stores or www.mountainroseherbs.com)

8-ounce PET plastic or glass spritzer bottle

Directions:  Add the rosemary, lemon (or lemongrass), and peppermint essential oils directly to your bottle, then add the glycerin, liquid soap, and witch hazel.  Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously to blend.  Allow the spray to synergize (so the ingredients can chemically blend) for 1 hour prior to use. Do not forget to add a label, preferably covered with waterproof postage tape, the date made, and the words "external use only".

I often will divide this recipe into 4, 2-oz. bottles and stash one in my purse, car, backpack, and bathroom - so there's always one handy.

Application:  Shake the bottle prior to each use.  Apply liberally to skin as needed - you may need to reapply every 20 to 30 minutes.  May be sprayed on clothing. Remember - DO NOT use on children under 2 years of age.

NOTE:  The recipe in this blog has been adapted from the book, Naturally Bug-Free (Storey Publishing, c 2016), by Stephanie Tourles.  The information in Stephanie's blog is true and complete to the best of her knowledge.  All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author.  She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.  It is for educational purposes only.

DIY Herbal Mosquito & Tick Repellents - Part 2

Spring Blessings Everyone!  Our high today here in coastal Maine was nearly 80 degrees!  Quite toasty for mid-May!  I'm not the only one who loves to frolic in the warmth, though . . . so do the mosquitoes and biting flies.  If it hadn't been for the most welcome sea breeze today, I would have had to make twice hourly applications of one of my go-to favorite, homemade, herbal bug sprays to keep them at bay.  Did you know that an ever-so-gentle breeze of 5 - 10 mph will deter all but the strongest of flying insects?  It's true!  I always take full advantage of breezy weather when I want to do outdoor chores, have a picnic, or enjoy a cocktail on the back deck.  The bugs rarely even light on my skin!

Today, in Part 2 of my DIY Herbal Mosquito & Tick Repellents blog series, we'll begin by discussing DEET - the main bug-repelling ingredient in most chemical-based, commercial insect repellent sprays. You can find this and more bug-repelling information in my handy little book, "Naturally Bug-Free: 75 Nontoxic Recipes for Repelling Mosquitoes, Ticks, Fleas, Ants, Moths & Other Pesky Insects" (Storey Publishing c2016).

DEET:  THE BEST DEFENSE??

Developed in the 1940s by the U.S. Army for protection of military personnel in insect-infested areas and registered in the U.S. for use by the general public in the mid-1950s, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) is one of the most widely used ingredients in store-bought, conventional bug sprays for personal use.  It is a colorless, oily liquid with a mild odor and is designed to repel, rather than kill, insects, including mosquitoes, biting flies, fleas, ticks, and other small insects.

DEET is used by an estimated one-third of the U.S. population each year.  Its use has increased dramatically since the 1970s as an aid to protect against Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other tick-borne illnesses, as well as West Nile virus.  Although it clearly works as intended, it is not safe - even the EPA, as well as the product package label, says that you should wash it off your skin when you return indoors (who does that??), avoid breathing it in, and not spray it directly on your face.  A known eye irritant, it can cause rashes, soreness, or blistering.

A mosquito repellent containing 25 percent DEET cannot be applied on or near plastic, leather, synthetic fabrics, watch crystals, or painted or varnished surfaces, including automobiles.  If this chemical, which in addition to being toxic to insects is also toxic to birds and aquatic life, can damage plastic, leather, and glass, then what is it doing to you?  Think about it!!  I mean, seriously!  Remember that your skin is your largest organ, and it can absorb up to 60 percent of what you put on it!  

Prior to the discovery of DEET, did you know that a blend of citronella and cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) essential oils was a go-to mosquito repellent?  Essential oils have been used for hundreds of years to help repel bugs of all kinds.  In my next blog, I'll share a chemical-free, essential oil-based insect repellent recipe that's simple to make, smells great, and works wonderfully well!  Check out the first blog in this series for my "Lemony Eucalyptus-Geranium Tick-Repellent Spray" recipe.  Smells amazing to you, but the bugs hate it!

DON'T BE A MOSQUITO MAGNET: 3 Ways to Guarantee Fewer Bites

Why do some people seem to attract clouds of bloodthirsty mosquitoes while others can sit around on the back deck all evening with nary a bite?  These lucky people apparently don't have the right combination of visual and aromatic "bait".  Mosquitoes use their senses to choose tasty targets, so here are some suggestions to make yourself less appetizing.

Keep Clean

The stronger you smell, the easier it is for a hungry mosquito to find you, so shower often and try to stay cool and dry.  Ever wonder why mosquitoes seem to target your ankles?  They're attracted to the aroma of stinky feet, so change your socks daily.  Mosquitoes are also attracted to movement.  If you're running around, they'll deem you worthy of an investigation even if they can't smell you yet.

Check your breath, too.  Mosquitoes detect the carbon dioxide we exhale and they are drawn to ethanol fumes, so having a couple of drinks at the neighborhood BBQ might lure them to you.  Using peppermint mouthwash or essential oil drops to freshen your breath might steer them away.

Stay Neutral

Biting insects seem to be attracted to the same scents that we like, so avoid fragranced personal care products such as soaps, shaving cream, deodorant, hair products, and even laundry detergent.  Choose unscented versions and skip the perfume or aftershave if you're planning to be outside during bug season.

Lactic acid is a big draw for mosquitoes, so consider cutting down on yogurt, milk, and cheese.  Your body naturally produces lactic acid, but when you eat dairy products, you excrete more of it, making you more desirable.  Avoiding skincare products with alpha hydroxy acids might help as well, as many of them contain lactic acid, which is touted to improve the texture and tone of your skin.

Dress For The Occasion

Mosquitoes respond most to dark colors, especially blue and brown, so wear light-colored clothing with loose, long sleeves.  Linen provides protection against munching marauders while allowing you to maintain a stylishly cool demeanor.
 

NOTE:  This blog was adapted from the book, "Naturally Bug-Free" (Storey Publishing c2016) by Stephanie Tourles - Licensed Esthetician, Herbalist, and Certified Aromatherapist.  The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge.  The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.  It is for educational purposes only. 

DIY Herbal Mosquito &Tick Repellents - Part 1

Spring Greetings To Everyone!  If you've been following my blogs, then you know that I live in the beautiful state of Maine . . . and spring - if we have one - doesn't unfurl her pretty face here until sometime in May (after everyone else in the United States is already in full spring swing).

Yesterday, while out puttering in my garden, I noticed something teensy and black hovering and buzzing about my head . . . then, apparently, it decided to weasel its way into the curls at the nape of my neck and settled in for a blood meal - OUCH!  It was our native black fly (jokingly referred to as the Maine State Bird)!  "They're here", I grimaced!  The mosquitoes will follow soon enough, then the fleas and ticks start hatching, and the deer flies, which look like little brown stealth bombers, arrive in June.  Such fun!  With the beauty of each season also comes its darker side . . . yin and yang . . . life always strives to balance . . . lol!

Well . . . lucky for me, I know how to make effective natural, chemical-free bug repellents and use them all season long . . . nary any DEET in sight, and rarely a bite!  And, lucky for you, my latest book, Naturally Bug-Free: 75 Nontoxic Recipes for Repelling Mosquitoes, Ticks, Fleas, Ants, Moths & Other Pesky Insects (Storey Publishing c2016), was recently released.  It contains herbal formulations that really work to keep bugs off your person, your dogs and cats, and out of your home. Mother Nature gave us insects, but she also gave us the means to deal with them.  Using herbs, essential oils, diatomaceous earth, and other natural ingredients, this book shows you how to make insect-repellents sprays and balms, herbal bug repellent sachets, mild pet shampoos and effective flea and tick powders, and aromatically-pleasing insecticides for for your your home.  

Today, I'm going to begin another series of blogs in which I will share a handful of recipes and tips on how to make a variety of bug repellents and insecticides.  In case you're wondering, this book DOES NOT contain recipes for keeping bugs off your house plants or out of your garden.  It is strictly written for repelling bugs from people, pets, and keeping them out of your residence.

This initial recipe, found on page 82 of my book, is one of my more aromatically pungent formulations and it works quite well when the bugs are buzzing and biting at a pretty steady level and the ticks are crawling about looking for their next meal.  It has a heavy-earthy lemony essence that many of you will find quite pleasant - though a bit on the strong side.  Strong, safe, and effective - yet no toxic chemicals.  Isn't that what we are all seeking in a repellent?  If you scroll down to the bottom, I've attached photos of the plants from which the valuable essential oils used in this recipe are extracted.

Regarding the Zika virus . . . no one can claim that their repellent - whether commercial or homemade, chemical-based or natural - will completely prevent bites from mosquitoes carrying this dangerous virus, nor mosquitoes/ticks that carry other blood-borne pathogens.  It is up to you to, if going outside in areas infested with dangerous insects, to use common sense and wear clothing that covers your bare skin. If you wish to use DEET as a secondary protection, then I suggest that you only apply it to your clothing, but that is your call, then apply a strong natural repellent to your bare face, neck and hands.  DEET is toxic - and you need to be aware of that - but I'll get into that matter in another blog. 

Lemony Eucalyptus-Geranium Tick Repellent Spray

When these four essential oils - lemon eucalyptus, geranium, lemongrass, and citronella - are combined, the result is a potent, safe, and pleasingly aromatic tick repellent that works wonderfully well at fending off flying insects, too.

(NOTE:  You can substitute Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, if lemon eucalyptus - Eucalyptus citriodora - is unavailable.  The formula will still be effective, but the earthy-lemon aroma will be slightly lighter.)

Cautionary Note:  DO NOT use this formula on children under 3 years old.

Ingredients:

- 20 drops geranium essential oil
- 14 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
- 7 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 7 drops citronella essential oil
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid castile soap, peppermint or eucalyptus scent 
- 1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- 1/4 cup purified water
- 1/4 cup unflavored vodka (inexpensive vodka works just fine)
- 1, 4-ounce spray bottle (glass or plastic, though, I prefer glass)

To Make The Repellent:  Add the geranium, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, and citronella essential oils directly to the 4-ounce storage bottle, then add the liquid soap, glycerin, water, and vodka.  Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously to blend.  Allow the spray to synergize for 1 hour.  Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

For Application:  Shake well immediately before use.  Spray liberally onto skin as needed - you may need to reapply every 20 to 30 minutes.  Avoid spraying directly into eyes, nose, and mouth. Note: It may stain light-colored fabrics.

Yield:  approximately 4-ounces or 1/2 cup

 Photo of Eucalyptus citriodora

Photo of Rose geranium

Photo of Lemongrass (obviously)

Photo of Citronella (obviously)
 
 
NOTE:  Portions of this blog were adapted with permission from the book, "Naturally Bug-Free" by Stephanie Tourles, (Storey Publishing c2016). The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge.  All recommendations are made without guarantee.  The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.  It is for educational purposes only.