With all of the beautiful weather we’ve been having lately in Southeast Pennsylvania, it’s great to spend time outside! Especially hiking in the woods. I’ve been trying to get my kids out for a hike in the woods at least once a week, but of course, they don’t stay on the trail and like to run into all of the areas where bugs and ticks hang out.
However, even if you are not spending time in the woods, bugs, and ticks in particular, can be a major problem. I feel like every time I go into the woods, I come out with a few ticks on me. Yet, I really do not like the idea of spraying or smearing chemicals, such as DEET on my children’s skin or my skin. Although DEET, Picaridin, and IR3535 are considered to be safe for the general population, there are still concerns regarding known and potential toxicity in each of these chemicals. For more information regarding these chemicals, read this guide published by the Environmental Working Group.
Instead of using conventional insect lotions & sprays on yourself and your children, why not try an effective natural alternative! I’ve had great success with the blend below, but sometimes different insects and bugs will respond to different oils. So if you do not find this one effective, please experiment with some different oils to find the best blend for you.
DIY Insect & Tick Repellent
40 drops Geranium Rose Oil (Pelargonium capitatum-xradens is the most effective for repelling ticks)
20 Drops Citronella Essential Oil
20 drops Lavender Essential Oil
1/4 C Sweet almond or Jojoba (carrier oil)
*Apply ever 2 hours
Add all the essential oils and carrier oil to a dark amber or dark blue dropper bottle, since sunlight will cause the oils to slowly degrade. You can get these bottles very inexpensively on Amazon.com or at a local health foods store. Put the lid on, shake up the mixture, and use. I like to put drops behind my ears, on my neck, and on all of the places where bugs and ticks tend to go. I use it on my children as well.
However, I always recommend that you test the mixture by applying a small amount – – maybe one drop – – on your wrist and on your children before applying all over. Everyone responds differently to oils, and it’s better to play it safe. If you have young toddlers or an infant, I would not recommend these specific oils, as they could irritate the skin. Lavender essential oil is almost always as safe choice for young toddlers and infants.
Essential oils that can repel insects
* If applying to skin, always dilute with a carrier oil, such as sweet almond or jojoba oil.
– Peppermint essential oil
– Lavender essential oil
– Red Thyme essential oil
– Citronella essential oil
– Lemongrass essential oil
– Clove essential oil
– Rosemary essential oil
– Tea Tree essential oil
– Eucalyptus essential oil
Be careful when purchasing essential oils, since there is no standard regulation for the quality of essential oils. Therefore what is being advertised as “100% Pure” and “Therapeutic Grade” may be diluted with lesser quality oils. Also, if you are not getting organic essential oils, you are inhaling or absorbing pesticides into your skin, which is never a good thing. Find a brand that you trust. I like and trust Mountain Rose Herbs, because they are very careful where they source their products from and pay really close attention to the quality.
So, I hope you can get outside and enjoy this beautiful spring weather with the added assurance that the bugs will be kept at bay. Please let me know in the comments section below if you’ve tried the above recipe or other essential oil recipes for repelling insects, and if they’ve worked for you.
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