Have you always been a magnet for mosquitoes and bugs? Is your skin super-sensitive? Summer is the season when mosquitoes and bugs tend to come out in full force, leaving your skin covered in bites and your fingers frantically scratching away, desperate for a little relief.
According to the Smithsonian article “Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others?“, there are several different factors that cause mosquitoes to bite you and not your neighbor, a few of them are:
- You talk too much – Mosquitoes are attracted to Carbon Dioxide, those who exhale (talk/breathe) more than others attract more mosquitoes.
- Blood type O – According to a published study on “mosquito landing preferances”, Those with type O blood attract more biting insects than those with A,B, or AB Blood
- Sweating – People who sweat or with higher body temperatures send signals to mosquitoes that the buffet is now open
- Mosquitoes Are Alcoholics – For unknown reasons, mosquitoes are attracted to those who consume alcohol more than those that don’t. If you like to have an evening cocktail, it’s best to stay indoors.
It is best to use natural and herbal repellents to protect children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET when used on children. Insect repellents also are not recommended for children younger than 2 months.
Here are some natural and herbal mosquito repellent plants:
It contains high levels of a compound called citronellal, which gives it its lemony aroma and flavor that bugs find so unpleasant.
Citronella with a powerful lemony scent is a grass-like plant that grows up to 6 feet tall!
In addition to mosquitoes, marigolds repel garden pests, too! The flowers are edible as well, and add color and flavor to salads or can be a gorgeous garnish when you want to dress up a dish.
Has a lovely scent, pretty purple flowers and calming properties. You can grow it at home, if you keep it next to a sunny window.
Biting bugs don’t like the scent of peppermint and it can be used as itch relief if you do get bitten!
Here is how you can make an all natural bug spray:
Homemade Bug Spray Ingredients
- Essential oils: choose from Citronella, Clove, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Cajeput, Eucalyptus, Cedar, Catnip, Lavender, Mint
- Natural Witch Hazel
- Distilled or boiled Water
- Vegetable glycerin (optional)
Homemade Bug Spray Instructions
- Fill spray bottle (I used 8 ounce) 1/2 full with distilled or boiled water
- Add witch hazel to fill almost to the top
- Add 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin if using
- Add 30-50 drops of essential oils to desired scent. The more oils you use, the stronger the spray will be. My personal favorite mix is: Rosemary, Clove, Cajeput, Lavender, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus. It works great and smells good too!
We found this DIY Homemade Bug Spray recipe here.
Here are some of the natural mosquito repellents you can find here:
Just Spray is a very effective 100% Herbal Mosquito Repellent Room Spray made from a unique blend of plant extracts and aromatic oils which keeps mosquitoes away for 8-12 hrs.
A Mosquito Repellent Blend to Protect You.
You can find more natural and herbal mosquito repellents here.