Non Toxic Bug Repellent!
Heather HartmanShare
Most bug repellents are loaded with chemicals I don't want on my body or around my home! On this week's episode of Fresh. Simple. Healthy. I show you how to make an effective non toxic bug roll on using essential oils!
Safety: Essential oils are at their most potent form and need to be combined with a carrier oil or dispersant before using, otherwise you can develop a rash or even a lifelong allergy! For children or pregnant women, a 2-3% dilution is recommended. This means 2-3 drops of essential oil per one teaspoon of carrier oil. This is the percentage I used for this bug repellant. Always contact your doctor before using essential oils!
When using essential oils it's best to start with the problem and work backwards. The problem? BUGS.
From there, we need to think about what essential oils will help the problem. For this bug roll on I chose to use the essential oil citronella, which is a natural bug repellant. Other essential oils that repel insects include lavender, rose geranium, thyme, and lemon eucalyptus.
Next, we need to find a carrier oil. All carrier oils have their own special healing properties. I found this fact SO COOL when I first started learning about essential oils. Like essential oils, you can use one, or a combo to help with the "problem". For the carrier oil, I used neem oil, which has natural bug repelling properties, and olive oil, which has antioxidants that help with inflammation as a result of bug bites.
Recipe: I added one teaspoon of neem oil, one teaspoon of olive oil, and four drops of citronella to a roll on. A little goes a long way, so I dabbed a drop to a few spots on my body. I used this all summer, and did not get a single mosquito bite!