Natural Insect Repellents - Safe and Effective

Insect repellent sprays are applied to the skin and clothing to discourage insects from landing on that surface. The use of repellents can help prevent and control outbreaks of insect-borne diseases. Many insects carry and spread diseases such as West Nile fever, Lyme disease, bubonic plague, and others. Some repellents are very effective against pests, but contain synthetic ingredients that can be unsafe for humans. Natural insect repellents are highly effective, nontoxic alternatives that do not contain harmful synthetic ingredients.

One of the most common active ingredients found in synthetic insect repellents is DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET is a powerful insecticide used in over 400 products. Although DEET is very effective as an insect repellent, its safety record is questionable. When applied directly on the skin, over half of DEET is absorbed into the bloodstream. It can cause side effects such as skin rashes, muscle spasms, nausea, lethargy, and irritability. Severe reactions can cause seizures or death. DEET is a moderate pesticide and studies have shown that it may not be safe for use in and around water sources. Therefore, the health concerns from use of DEET far outweigh its effectiveness against insects.

Natural, safe, and effective alternatives to DEET are available. Insect repellents can be made with organic, all natural ingredients that are not unsafe for humans. These products are made from naturally occurring sources that repel certain insects. Some of these ingredients act as insecticides, while others only repel pests. These natural insect repellents are made primarily from essential oils derived from plant sources. Most natural repellents are just as effective as DEET, and they have a huge advantage because the ingredients are not toxic to humans.

Insect repellents work by using a fragrance that insects naturally avoid. This odor helps to mask the human scent that initially attracts insects. Most natural insect repellents contain the aromatic oil of citronella. Citronella is an essential oil obtained from the leaves of the plant Cymbopogon. Its lemon-like fragrance is pleasant to most people, but offensive to mosquitoes and other insects. Citronella has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a non-toxic pesticide.

Other aromatic essential oils commonly found in natural insect repellents include lavender, rosemary, peppermint, cedarleaf, lemongrass, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, and bergamot. Research has also shown that neem oil is an effective repellent for mosquitoes. Other volatile plant oils that work well as natural repellents are cinnamon, castor, cedar, clove, geranium, pine, basil, thyme, and garlic. Soybean oil has no direct insect repellent activity, but it is often used as a fixative to extend the shorter duration of action of some essential oils. Products containing multiple natural repellents tend to be more effective for more insects than those containing only a single ingredient.

Most natural repellents contain water in place of alcohol as the carrier base. Water is less volatile and does not evaporate as quickly as alcohol. Water has less dermal absorption, which leaves more repellent on the skin. Water based products will last longer because there is less need to reapply. Also, many people are sensitive to the strong aroma of alcohol, so the water-based products have a more pleasant smell.

The use of insect repellents can help control and prevent outbreaks of insect-borne diseases. Many insects carry and spread diseases such as West Nile fever, Lyme disease, and bubonic plague. Natural, organic insect repellents that do not contain harmful synthetic ingredients are available, and are just as effective. Many repellent products also serve a dual purpose and contain sunscreen to protect the skin from the sun as well as from insects.

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Green Pest Control in the Form of Natural Insect Repellents - Are They Worth It?

There are a couple of different formulas that insect repellents are available in. One of them is lotions, the other being sprays. Sprays break down in a couple of different formats. You have the pump sprays and you also the aerosol. As we discussed earlier, aerosol is not the best format because aerosol does not contain alcohol. Alcohol dilutes the pores of your skin, which increases the absorption of the active ingredient in your insect repellent into your skin, and you don't want that to happen. You want the insect repellent to float on top of your skin, because once it absorbs down in there, it becomes ineffective.

If basic mechanical motion doesn't work, then you must consider "gentle" controls just like repellents, soaps and natural oils that have little or no impact on the surroundings and beneficial bugs when only applied to the pest bug. For instance, organic neem oil spray is now popular to protect garden plants from nibbling pesky insects and fungal diseases. Use it to manage bugs and termites just like whitefly, aphids and scale. It also regulates fungal diseases like black spot, rust, mildew in addition to scab. Neem degrades quickly with UV light, so it has less of an effect on beneficial organisms as compared to more traditional pesticides.

These two particular sprays, the pump sprays are all oil based so they're going to be a little greasy, a little oily on your skin. The 100 percent deet obviously is like the mac-daddy, it really, really, really works with mosquitoes but it is a little bit oily. The two lotion based are more skin friendly, they go on, they have a lower odor and they don't stink as badly just like your typical insect repellent odor. Another thing is that they are a little more skin friendly, in terms of how they feel on your skin but they all work in certain application. The one that we do not recommend of course, is the alcohol based, the aerosol, which you can't take on a plane anyways. So that pretty much sums up the different formats.

The question is, is it really okay to put this stuff on your kids? Obviously as would be the case with you, you would not want to apply this everyday, over an extended period of time. Most of them even say that you can is this product "occasionally". They are wrong. If you're going to actually be out for a while, it is not at all advisable to put these products on your child.

You don't want to think of it as being safe to use at all, as much as you want to. When you think about risk assessment, people would say "so what is the risk of being bitten by an insect that is going to cause a disease or an illness? This product is way worse than that even! The mere fact that you are putting a chemical on your child's skin is dangerous enough to be a precaution before actually using this stuff. That is the main reason for a person to make an educated decision on whether to use this or not.

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Insect Repellents - How to Never Get Bitten Again

Types of Insect Repellents

There are different types of insect repellents available. Some of them are made from natural sources like plants while some contain chemicals and are made synthetically. Normally synthetic repellents prove to be more lasting and effective. Yet, there are few plant-based repellents like natural herb mosquito coil and essential oil candle. These plant-based repellents are much better than synthetic repellents.

Common insect repellents include:

o DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)

o Neem (Azadirachta indica) oil

o Icaridin or picaridin,

o Oil of lemon eucalyptus

o Nepetalactone, popular as 'catnip oil'

o Citronella oil

o Permethrin

o Basil

o Camphor

o Castor oil

o Thyme

o Peppermint

o Fennel oil

o Rosemary

Working of Insect Repellents

Insect repellents do not kill insects. Instead, these repellents reduce your exposure to harmful insects. Most repellents work by masking your body odor. Applying insect repellents on your exposed skin changes your body odor to the insects in such a way that insects repel at your odor and hence move away. You thereby remain safe from outbreak of any insect-borne diseases.

Normally, insects, bugs, and mosquitoes use their feelers to identify human odor. As repellents change your body odor and you remain protected from insects, it is necessary to reapply repellents soon after a swim or if you sweat excessively. Most insect repellents deliver results only over a specific radius. Hence, even if you are wearing any repellent, you can see bugs and mosquitoes flying near you. However, they do not bite you.

Normally, insect repellents having a higher percentage of active ingredients like N-diethyl-meta-toluamide or DEET, Picaridin, or KBR 3023 provide longer hours of protection. Permethrin is a specific exclusion. This repellent is actually a contact insecticide but proves effective against insect bites.

Precautionary Tips

Most insect repellants are safe for use. You can even use these repellents on skin of children. However, take care to apply only small amounts and preferably do not apply on hands of children, as it could lead to accidental ingestion or eye contact. Also, do not allow children to apply repellents by themselves. Keep repellents out of the reach of children.

You can apply sunscreen after applying insect repellent or the other way round. It is best to follow instructions for application as specifically mentioned. Nonetheless, do not combine sunscreen and insect repellent in a single bottle as both are two completely different substances. Again, you cannot apply repellent as frequently as you use sunscreen.

Sometimes, repellents could cause skin irritation. You should immediately restrict use of the specific repellent. You can try using repellent with lesser concentration of chemical. If irritation persists, it is best to stop use of repellent completely. Pregnant women should take care to avoid exposures to insect repellent as much as possible as the fetus may be vulnerable.

You should read the label of your repellent product carefully before use. Labels and directions for use differ across countries. Manufacturers specifically issue warning labels on repellents that are not safe for use on children.

You need to protect yourself against insect bites through use of insect repellent specifically at dusk and dawn as this is the main feeding time for most insects, bugs, and mosquitoes.

Elena Semick writes for RepelAll.com - a repellents related information resource and online community. Visit http://www.repelall.com to protect your family and enjoy in your outdoors activities by applying various insect repellents.

Protect Yourself From Creepy-Crawlies With Safe, Effective Insect Repellents

Whether you travel into insect infested areas for work or pleasure, be prepared by having safe and effective insect repellent for your skin and your cloths. An insect repellent or mosquito repellent can save a lot of unnecessary irritation due to bothersome insects. Not just irritation, certain insects can pass on serious diseases or ailments by their bite or sting. Having a repellent spray on hand will repel such insects and prevent them from harming you.

Working in an inhospitable environment is never easy. Insects are unavoidable. This makes an insect repellent spray a must-have item. Most mosquito repellents are formulated with substances that instantly repel ticks and mosquitoes by their smell or their chemical components. You can go for a Deet Repellent, which is known to fend off not just mosquitoes, but also ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers, dear flies, and fleas. The Sawyer Controlled Release Deet and the Deet Ultrathon Insect Repellent are effective choices. Both are widely accepted. Even when you perspire, the lotion will not run off as it's resistant to sweat and water!

While Deet repellent lotions and sprays are effective for exposed skin, you may also want premethrin spray for use on your clothing. You could choose between lotions and sprays. While Deet Repellent is applied directly onto the skin, the Sawyer Insect Repellent has a trigger spray top to use on other surfaces. A dependable option is the Sawyer Repellent, which should be sprayed on sleeping bags, bedding, and barriers. You can expect the effects of Permethrin contained in this mosquito repellent to last up to six weeks.

If your work demands that you carry out operations in disaster-struck areas, then you can always expect widespread diseases rampant in the area. Such situations call for preventive action against carriers of such diseases - insects. Arm yourself with an insect repellent spray and keep them at bay!

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Using Essential Oils As Insect Repellents

Instead of bringing out the harmful pesticides and chemical ointments here's some natural earth friendly options for dealing with those pesky insects.

Insect Repellent Essential Oils:

Single Essential Oils: Peppermint, Spearmint, Eucalyptus radiata, Lemon, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Idaho Tansy, Rosemary, Patchouli, Citronella, Lemongrass, Thyme, Sage

Essential Oil Blends:

Purification (contains: Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia) lavandin (Lavandula x hybrida), and myrtle (Myrtus communis)

Thieves(contains: Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), lemon (Citrus limon), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), Eucalyptus radiata and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis CT 1,8 cineol)

Melrose (contains: Melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia), naouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and clove (Syzygium aromaticum).

Insect Repellent Blend:

6 drops Peppermint

6 drops Tea Tree

9 drops Eucalyptus radiata

Application:

Topical: DILUTE 20/80 using a base oil such as almond or jojoba or V6 and apply to exposed skin as needed or mix with 8 ounces of water in a spray bottle, shake well and spray directly on exposed skin areas.

To repel insects, essential oils can also be diffused or put on cotton balls or cedar chips (for use in closets or drawers)

Specific Oils for Specific Insects

Mosquitoes: Lemon, Peppermint, Eucalyptus radiata, Lemongrass.

Moths: Patchouli, Cedarwood, Hyssop, Lavender, Peppermint, Spearmint

Horse-flies: Idaho Tansy floral water, Purification Oil

Aphids: Mix 10 drops Spearmint and 15 drops Orange essential oil in 2 quarts salt water, shake well and spray on plants.

Cockroaches: Mix 10 drops Peppermint and 5 drops Cypress in 1/2 cup salt water. Shake well and spray where cockroaches live.

Silverfish: Eucalyptus radiata, Citriadora

Ants: You can smear a line of Peppermint or Spearmint across your kitchen counter or floor and the ants won't cross it. If you already have a line of ants invading your house, just draw a line of oil across them and they will turn back.

Beetles: Peppermint, Thyme

Caterpillars: Spearmint, Peppermint

Chiggars: Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint

Cutworms: Sage, Thyme

Fleas: Peppermint, Lemongrass, Spearmint

Gnats: Patchouli, Spearmint

Spiders: Peppermint, Spearmint

Ticks: Lavender, Lemongrass, Sage, Thyme

Weevils: Cedarwood, Patchouli, Sandalwood

For Pets: Put 10 drops each of Citronella, Eucalyptus radiata, and Peppermint in an 8 ounce spray bottle with water. Alternate formula: Put 2 drops pine, 2 drops Eucalyptus radiata, and 5-10 drops Citronella in a spray bottle of water. OR Mix 5- 10 drops Idaho Tansy or Peppermint Oil in a spray bottle full of water, shake vigorously and spray.

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article is based solely on the use of 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils due to their high quality and tested purity.

The use of a brand of uncertain quality and/or purity will provide you with potentially dangerous, if not lethal, results. The author assumes no responsibility for your improper use of this information.

The statements about these oils have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Rebecca Noel is the author of The Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Info Blog where you can find out everything you could possibly want to know about essential oils and their uses. With category links to aromatherapy accessories too.

Visit: Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Info Blog

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.

Discover more at Key2Healing.com
Viny A. D'Errico

Should DEET Be Your Choice Of Insect Repellents?

More things come to life in the spring and summer than trees and grass and flowers. All sorts of little creepy crawling things come with them. Some of them have wings, some of them with legs and some are bigger than others.

The bigger ones can be pretty much avoided, if you really want to. But some of them like mosquitoes and chiggers and ticks are quite another story. They are difficult to see, let alone avoid. It matters little where you live or work, big or small or old or young. Most of us are vulnerable to the vicious attacks of one or more of these hungry predators. The up side is they do not eat much.

The down side is these predators can and do carry many forms of disease, which can be even more dangerous than their biting and blood sucking. Some of them can cause allergic reactions in their victims. Reactions that can cause swelling and fever and can be deadly to boot. Unfortunately, insect bites are reported to be responsible for something like 150 deaths a year in the United States.

The very best insect repellent there is is to avoid them. After that what can you do? Run like hell. But if you cannot run fast enough and you get caught, right after you let out a string of curses, scrape the stinger out then wash thoroughly with soap and water. Then put on some good natural anti-itch ointment. You should have this handy before you go tramping around the woods.

Of course, you will not head my advice about avoiding these vermin that attack and eat our flesh and blood and/or sting you for being alive and in their domain. Given that you are going to get bit and/or stung you need a good insect repellent.

But listen up. I am giving you good sound advice here. It is for your own good and in your best interest that you pay close attention. I know what you have been using and you don't even have a clue what is in it because of all of those ads that have been pounded into your head. DEET this and DEET that. Everyone is talking about DEET so it must be good stuff, right?

And that is not all. You are not alone when you buy DEET. It is one of the most well known chemical repellents available on the market. Over 227 products have concentrations all the way up to 100% by volume.

But here is the kicker. Duke University research has revealed that DEET can and does cause serious chemical reactions. Little things like brain cell death, convulsions, dizziness, headaches, muscle and joint pain, memory loss, weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath and vibrating tremors.

It is understandable that a body would use something like this for a repellent. Especially after getting a case of chigger bites. Sometimes it would be less bothersome to simply have the leg amputated because that itch is enough to make you go mad.

Trouble is, children and elderly are the most vulnerable to this dangerous chemical called DEET.

And the good news is that these toxic side affects may not even be evident for a few years after contamination. So you have lots of time to not worry about what is going on inside of you all that time.

The bottom line is, stay away from anything with DEET and other chemicals in it. Look for something natural, for you own good. If you must use them, keep them away from the skin. Apply only to clothing.

A good rule of thumb is to not put anything on your body you do not want in your body. Your skin will absorb almost anything put on it, instantaneously most of the time. These chemicals are poisons that can and do kill.

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Camping Pests - Herbal Insect Repellents For Campers

For some people the mention of a camping trip does not bring to mind long fun filled days under sunny skies communing with nature nor does it bring thoughts of those starry nights sitting around a campfire and telling tall tells or singing campfire songs. Instead their first thought when the word camping is mentioned is of mosquitoes, black flies, and all those other camping pests that are an annoying but a very real part of the campers world.

For some people these camping pests are barely nothing, but for those who seem to be bug magnets, these little insects that are so much a part of nature can ruin what would otherwise be the perfect holiday. These people wouldn't think of setting foot in the great outdoors without being armed with a backpack or trunk load of insect repellent. Therein lays the problem.

It seems to be somewhat sacrilegious to plan a weekend or week in the great outdoors enjoying nature and all it has to offer and then ruining the entire experience by coating yourself with insect repellent, which is harmful to the environment not to mention your own skin and health. The good news is that there are many herbal insect repellents on the market today that will not harm the environment and are good for you as well.

Of course you can always make your own herbal insect repellent and there are plenty of recipes to be found on the internet. Here is one that works on both people and pets, and when sprayed around your tent or on it will help keep those little pests well away from your sleeping area as well.

Homemade Herbal Insect Repellent

Ingredients:

lemon or orange peels or a combination of both (flies in particular do not like citrus)

mint leaves or sage leaves

witch hazel

water

Directions:

Combine the leaves and the lemon or orange peels in a pan with water, boil these into an extremely strong tea. Cover and let stand overnight and then drain the liquid into a jar and mix half and half with witch hazel. Place in a spritz bottle for use.

For those who prefer oil based repellents simply heat the orange and/or lemon peels and leaves in oil (heat together but don't let the oil start frying the ingredients) let set overnight and then pour into a sterilized jar.

For even more pest protection try hanging small sachets of basil from low tree branches to help keep flies from invading your camping area. ?

Pests don't have to ruin your camping trip, using natural and herbal insect repellents can make your camping trip a lot more enjoyable.? Now aren't you just itching to pack up and hit the road?

Gary Youngblood is a camping enthusiast and believes that camping clears the mind and lifts the spirit. Pack up your tent and get out there! Go to Go to http://www.highcountrytents.com to check out a great line up of camping tents.

The Dangers of DEET Insect Repellents

If you head out into an area where you suspect bugs will be biting, it makes sense to use insect repellent to keep you from being chomped on. The active ingredient in most repellents carries inherent risks.

One of the greatest risks associated with the great outdoors is disease. In many parts of the world, disease is transferred by insects. Specifically, we are talking about bug bites, particularly mosquitoes. Not only do their bites itch like mad, but they can be incredibly dangerous. Mosquitoes are known to be carriers of such nasty things as West Nile Virus, malaria and encephalitis. You really do not want to catch any of these.

DEET is a type of diethyl toluamide that has proven effective at preventing insect bites. DEET is essentially a toxic pesticide that works in an odd way. It does not repel insects from biting you per se. Instead, it seems to prevent mosquitoes, ticks and what have you from finding you.

Most commercial insect repellents use it is their active ingredient. Given the risks associated with bug bits, DEET has more or less been held up as the pre-eminent way to protect oneself. Recent studies, however, have shown that there are definite risks associated with its use.

In various studies, the negative health effects of DEET have proven to be very alarming. When used as intended, topically, on a prolonged basis, brain cell death was found in rats in a study performed at Duke University. The resulting report suggested that the public should be cautioned about the risks and DEET insect repellents should be used sparingly for children. The number of studies that have been undertaken, however, are relatively small and the DEET industry strongly contests the results.

The insect repellent industry has always known that DEET has some downside. Of course, this information has never really been conveyed to consumers. The reason there has never been more of a commotion is the risk was considered worth taking compared to the risk associated with diseases carried by various insects. Simply put, DEET was the lesser of two evils.

Recent consumer studies, however, have shown that you need not rely on DEET insect repellents any more. Consumer Reports did an extensive study and found some interesting things. Non-DEET insect repellants that Picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil are just as good at preventing insect bites, but do not carry the inherent risks associated with DEET products.

At the end of the day, enjoying the great outdoors comes with some risks. Your insect repellent should not be one of them.

John Grimes is with All Terrain - makers of DEET-free insect repellent products.

Home-Made Mosquito Repellents

Over the decades since the Second World War, we have come to depend on chemicals rather than natural products. Chemicals were more powerful and more easily obtainable. This is nowhere more true than in the sphere of insect repellents. DEET was developed just after the war and developed for use by the United States army for jungle warfare. DDT was used widely on crops around about the same time.

In the post World War period, chemicals seemed to be more effective and cheaper. What more could anyone wish for? But regulation was not so strict then and governments and manufacturers got away with a lot. DDT was later banned, although it has made a come-back of sorts. DEET is still the most often used insect deterrent, although there are worries now about the daily use of it.

This is why there is a trend back towards the old fashioned techniques of controlling insects and in particular, mosquitoes. Governments have let us down in the past and they will continue to do so, until we can elect people who care about us and the natural world more than they do about themselves and their wallets. Perhaps it was always a fabrication that politicians went into 'public service', but one thing is for certain, we do not get much service for our money any more.

Consequently, if you do not trust chemicals, what do you do? The way I see it, you have to go back to old-fashioned ways. Those that have been used forever. Let us have a look at some of the natural ways to deter insects, with particular regard to mosquitoes.

Eucalyptus oil is an old-style mosquito repellent. You can either use eucalyptus oil from a bottle, manufacture your own, or rub the fresh leaves on to your bare skin. As with all natural remedies, you will have to repeat the process frequently. DEET will remain effectual for about four or five hours, but natural repellents will only be effective for about one hour.

Chrysanthemum seed husks are well-known to include a smell or chemical that mosquitoes cannot abide. This deterrent may be tricky to track down, but it is about. It is called pyrethrin and is made from the plant of the same name, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium, by its Latin name. As a point of interest, permethrin, one of the most widespread insect repellents is a synthesized spin-off of pyrethin.

Mosquitoes hate anything that smells like lemons to them. I have phrased it in that way because some products, like shampoos, may smell like lemons to us, but maybe they do not smell like lemons to mosquitoes. Anyway, some of the natural products that smell like lemons to both us and mosquitoes are: lemon grass, citronella and, surprise surprise, lemons, but there may be others.

You can utilize any of these three plants to good effect against mosquitoes. Citronella or lemon oil are likely to be the easiest to get hold of. In any case, you could try some shampoos or soaps 'containing lemon juice' until you find out which ones really work. The fact is that it does not matter what is written on the label, mosquitoes will let you know by their absence.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on quite a few topics, but is currently concerned with natural mosquito repellent. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at Mosquito Repellent For Dogs.