Teach Soap

I don't see where this has been addressed. I was hoping someone could help. We have a very very large number of mosquitoes around my house and we need to find a good bug spray. I have friends who refuse to use any commercial bug spray. I would like to make it on my own and share with them. Can anyone help, and if so does it work well. We are getting eaten alive.

I came across this recipe last night on the web and mixed up a batch for trial. Unfortunately, the bugs are not that bad around here YET, so I can't vouch for how effective it is, however I can say that it smells WONDERFUL and I would wear this as perfume in a heartbeat! My changes are in ().

8 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil - Juniperus virginiana
3 drops Juniper Berry Essential Oil - Juniperus communis
8 drops Patchouli Essential Oil - Pogostemom cablin
5 drops Spikenard Essential Oil - Nardostachys jatamansi
4 oz. Organic Frankincense Hydrosol - Distilled from Boswellia carterii (I used approx 8 drop EO and 50/50 mix water and alcohol instead. I also used poly 20 to emulsify the oils in solution)
4 oz. PET Plastic Spray Bottle

Once you have your materials together, it's time to start blending. Add the hydrosol to your plastic bottle first. Then carefully add the appropriate number of drops of each essential oil. This recipe is crafted to ensure a safe dilution of essential oils, so you want to be sure not to use more than indicated in the ingredients.

Spray freely on your skin and clothes before heading outdoors, and after swimming. Because essential oils used in this blend should not come in contact with your eyes, avoid spraying directly onto the face. Instead, spray the blend onto your hands before transferring to the face with gentle wiping motion

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Petra

Thank you for your response. I really hope it works. At this time I don't have all if any of the supplies you list. It would end up being very expensive bug spray. Any easier formulas??

Thank you I will keep it for future reference.

Here I don't bother spraying my family. I take a spray bottle with filled about 1/3 way full of Listerine and the rest with water. Just spray around the area you will be and it will keep the mosquitos away. I keep my bottle right inside my backdoor and as soon as we head out, just grab it and spray. It has to be Listerine. For some reason, the other brands don't work.

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Haven

Thank you

I have heard that catnip & lemongrass EOs also work - we don't have mosquitos here so I don't have to worry about them anymore YEAH! I got eaten alive in Colorado tho

also citronella EO, sorry for the double post

I use an essential oil blend called Lemon Dream from EOU. http://essentialoils.org/shop/oil/3322
It's the only thing that has worked for me.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thank you

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

The BEST insect repellant I've ever used is called "Cactus Juice". It's a no-DEET formula that has a citrusy scent and relies on the juice of the prickly pear cactus to repel bugs. Apparently someone noticed that bugs left the cactus alone and then they did the math.

When I work in the back of my yard near the woods I put some of this right on the brim of my old work hat and it keeps the gnats and other annoying thingys out of my eyes. Of course I use it on my skin as well.

It's never occured to me to try to make a home-brew version of this formula...
...until now!

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- Mickey!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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- Mickey!

any idea if the cactus juice is made from the fruits or the paddles? I bought both over the weekend and would love to try concocting something.

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Petra

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- Mickey!