Teach Soap

I am wanting to try to make a bug repellant using essential oils. (This is ONLY for my own family.....not selling it or giving away to others).
I am wondering if it would be more convenient to use a solid lotion bar or a spray.
Also, in researching this online, I've come across a number of places that say you can use essential oils at 10% of the recipe. Does that seem accurate? I'm considering using citronella, lemon, lemongrass, cedarwood, and possibly others such as rosemary, lavender, and/or peppermint.
Obviously, I haven't done this before and need to experiment some. Just looking for some advice on where to start .

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Carrie
Wife to my Best Friend and Homeschool mom to 7 beautiful gifts

Personally I'd go with a lotion bar. They seem to have more staying power than sprays. As for the percentage of eo, you should really go by the recommendations of your supplier, since each eo is different.

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Genny

Just in an amateurish kind of way, I mixed a sample of citronella EO that my fragrance rep gave me, with almond FO, 50-50, and used a candle warmer. The house was mosquito free, and a pleasant fragrance filled the whole area.

I use some BB lemongrass EO in my lotion bars and it work nice.

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Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

Pennyroyal is a good EO with a nice smell that acts as a good additive to insect repellants. Just don't consume any of it especially when pregnant as it is one of the earliest known abortifacients.

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Just call me "Apo"

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

I have been playing around with buggy recipes myself lately because my hubby is a magnet for these things. I have not made any lotion bars but have made sprays which i thought were nice (in this heat i cannot stand the thought of rubbing a lotion bar on my skin!)

I have used the EO's at their normal suggested usage rates which is about 1-2%. i don't know about using them as high as 10% but my thought is that while some may be just fine, others, like the mint ones may be irritating. I have made smelly jelly's and put a higher % of EO's in them which smelled wonderful and maybe helped (it's hard to tell with him, he's like the king of all things bug, lol, poor guy.)

I know this an older post, but I have a question specifically about labelling (for sale) products that are intended for bug repellant.

Here in Canada: All pest control products, including personal insect repellents, are regulated in Canada under the Pest Control Products Act. So, can I sell a citronella soap at the local farmer's amrket and call it Bug Away? or is that illegal?

I'm creating a Neem line for pets (which isn't controlled), but I am curious about personal use products and what others have found or know what works.

Thanks!

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

I am not sure about Canada, but I suspect that "Bug Away" is pushing the line. I used to sell a solid bar that I called "Bug Away" here in the states, and the FDA guy I spoke with said that it was an "implication" and therefore against (our) labeling laws. So I changed the name. If we were selling it as a "personal bug repellent", then it would need specific, detailed labeling that we don't want to mess with. So we sell it as soap or lotion that is fragranced with essential oils, and we are careful how we describe those (verbally and in writing).
In my experience, your laws are more strict than ours in many respects, so I would strongly suggest that you either change the name now, or hold the sales until you can discuss it with your governing body for clarification.

ETA: I never saw this thread before, but please do not use 10% EO's, that is WAY too high. Additionally you need to check the IFRA recommendations on EO usage and the entire blend must be under, not just one EO in that blend.
Also, Pennyroyal should be diffused to be used as an insect repellent, not used topically.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

I have been reading a lot about natural bug repellents lately too. I am the mosquito magnet in my family and I practically bathe in bug repellent every summer. I'm not sure that it will work for me, the Avon Skin-So-Soft line that most people find useful for keeping mosquitos away has never been effective in my case. I figure it can't hurt to try though, have nothing to lose, will just be a bit itchy for a week or so.

I've heard eucalyptus and catnip work when mixed with some of the other EO's listed in this thread. A few things I read especially liked catnip for keeping bugs away, however, I have two cats and my house would be chaos if I wore something like that. Neem oil is supposed to be very effective too, if you can get past the apparently terrible smell.

I would love to know if anyone has tried a recipe that works well and are willing to share it.

Here you go; http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/newsle ... insect.php

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Thanks!

you are welcome! Good luck!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Just for clarification, I'm not selling it yet and have not named it yet. Just trying to figure out if I can even sell a soap that has repellant properties and communicate that to buyers. Sorry if my post made it sound that way... I was tossing a name out there as an example, since I have seen other soapers out there using that terminology and thought it was suspect.

Was just wondering if anyone has some pointers/tips/advice on how to communicate the potential benefits of citronella, neem etc for deterring bugs without breaking any laws. I'm totally stumped how to say it or if it's even possible legally.

Thanks