Sunday, July 26, 2009

Natural Mosquito Repellent

Want to go camping but get discouraged from all of the mosquitoes? Make your own natural mosquito repellent without using those harsh chemicals on your skin. Going the natural way is cheaper and healthier for you and your baby.

There are a few different formulations you can make for your natural repellent. You are basically diluting essential oils that mosquitoes find distasteful. You will need to mix the oils with alcohol or other oils since oil doesn't mix with water. Make sure you use an oil and alcohol that is safe for your skin. Do not overdue the oils, as it may irritate your skin. If you are pregnant or nursing, do not use any type of repellent until you talk to your physician.

Natural repellent ingredients:
If you are making a large amount of repellent make sure you use 5-10% of essential oils so mix 1 part essential oils and 10-20 parts carrier oil or alcohol. For a smaller batch use 10-25 drops of essential oils and 2 tablespoons of carrier oil or alcohol.

Essential oils that work well against mosquitoes:
Cinnamon oil
Lemon eucalyptus oil
Citronella oil
Castor oil

Safe carrier oils and alcohol:
Olive oil
Sunflower oil
Any other cooking oil
Witch hazel
Vodka

Repellent recipe:
Mix the essential oils with the carrier oil or alcohol. Rub the natural repellent onto skin or clothing, making sure you do not spray it in sensitive areas. Re-apply every hour to hour and a half. Store the natural product in a dark bottle away from heat or sunlight.

Happy Camping!

1 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi! We loved your post and decided to feature it as part of KiwiLog's weekly mom blog round-up. Thanks for the great ideas!

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