What Are the Best Natural Insect Repellents?

Those annoying flying insects are arguably the worst part of the warm summer months. Summer is usually the most anticipated of all the season. There's the vacations, the swimming, hiking, fishing, sports and, last and certainly least are all those bug bites and stings. So, how can we keep those insects away without dumping a bottle of toxic chemicals on our skin and, to all the parents reading this, how can you avoid spraying toxic chemical insect repellents on your kids? 

It is a very difficult decision: expose ourselves to a witch's brew of toxic chemicals or risk being bitten by mosquitoes which could be carrying West Nile Virus and, let's not forget those ticks which carry Lyme disease and who knows what else. Even if the insects are not carrying a deadly pathogen like West Nile or Lyme disease; no one wants to suffer with itchy bug bites all summer. 

So, what are the natural alternatives to chemical insect repellents?

You've already decided that toxic chemicals may be more comfortable than itchy bug bites but it just isn't worth the potential health risks, and you certainly don't want to put up with those bug bites all summer. Well, there are some natural alternatives to toxic insect repellents that work just as well as their chemical cousins. 

Many people use essential oils to promote relaxation and even to induce meditative states or, simply to add a wonderful fragrance to any room.   The following essential oils have proven effective as natural insect repellents:

Lemon - may irritate skin if undiluted

Geranium

Pine

Citronella

Cedar

Rosemary

Basil

Myrrh - also a powerful antimicrobial

Juniper

Use 1/4 teaspoon of any one, or a combination of two or more (ie. 1/8 tsp. lemon + 1/8 tsp. Myrrh) of these essential oils mixed with approximately 2 ounces of 190 proof grain alcohol (available at any liquor store) to make an effective insect repellent. Water can also be used as a substitute for the alcohol although it may not be as effective. Mix the oils and the alcohol/water in a 2 ounce amber glass bottle with a sprayer and shake vigorously before spraying the mixture on exposed skin and/or clothing.

Experiment with the oils to find a combination that you like and remember to test it on a small area of skin before spraying it on larger areas. 

What do you do if you've already been bitten or stung? I have used pure, undiluted eucalyptus oil on bites to relieve itching. Eucalyptus is also a strong antimicrobial which may be absorbed into the skin to kill any nasty pathogens that may have been carried by the insect. Another effective remedy is plantain, which is a very common "weed" that grows on lawns and even on sidewalk cracks and along driveways. Crush the fresh plantain leaves and rub the crushed leaves directly on the bite.

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Viny A. D'Errico