Organic Insecticides | Organic Pesticides | EcoSMART Bug Spray

Natural Insect Repellant – In Your Spice Rack

August 27th, 2008 Posted in Organic & Chemical Pesticides

People, minding their own business, come indoors after an evening walk and suddenly realize they were struck by “Summer’s Villain.” The criminal’s calling card: an unforeseen pink bump on the leg that soon turns into a protruding red dot, festering with pain and discomfort.

Insects (more specifically, the mosquito) put a damper on outdoor fun. However, before people reach for toxic bug spray the next time they go out, they might want to reach for the kitchen cabinet, where many of earth’s natural insect repellants are found in spices, foods, and oils.

This article will discuss different household ingredients that can be used as an organic insect repellant.

Garlic

The double-edged sword of remedies.

If ingested or rubbed on the body, yes, it could deter mosquitoes, but it could also daunt other human beings from coming in contact with those who use this remedy.

Not appropriate for a first outdoor date.

Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme

Except for parsley, Simon & Garfunkel had the right idea. Rubbing any of these on your body is believed to ward off insects.

White Vinegar

Before partygoers grab salt and vinegar potato chips for their next outdoor bash, they might want to splash a little white vinegar on themselves; it’s believed to keep away pesky bugs (and maybe a few unwanted suitors, too).

Essential Oils

These essential oils are all believed to be fairly effective:

• Lemongrass
• Eucalyptus
• Castor Oil
• Peppermint
• Tea Tree Oil
• Lavender
• Cedar Oil
• Clove Oil

They have pungent smells that contain insect-repelling properties in their scents. However, Clove Oil is said to be used sparingly, as it can be a skin irritant.

Just remember that the oils are not to be ingested. They are for external use only.

Vodka

Vodka mixed with an essential oil can prevent bug bites. Standing alone, however, it can liven up an otherwise snoozer family reunion!

Other things that can be mixed with essential oils include:

• Rubbing Alcohol
• Witch Hazel
• Olive Oil (also effective when mixed with Popeye)

Fennel Oil

Most prominently featured in Italian cuisine, Fennel Oil also moonlights as a way to keep bugs away from people (whether it keeps bugs off Italian food is yet to be discovered).

Thiamine

Some studies have suggested that taking 25 to 50 mg of Thiamine (a.k.a. Vitamin B) three times a day can effectively diminish bites.

Apparently, humans who ingest this vitamin give off an odor that goes undetected by humans, but drives mosquitoes insane.

It’s said to work best on people who have allergic reactions. However, it only starts to work about two weeks into it, because it takes that long for the vitamin to fully saturate into the skin.

However, other studies have disproved this vitamin’s effectiveness as a repellent.

Fabric Softener Sheets

Not necessarily “natural,” but rubbing dryer sheets on exposed areas of the body is another remedy people have found helps repel bugs.

EcoSMART

What’s important to remember is that each person’s body chemistry is different. While white vinegar might work for one person, it might be thiamine that does the job for another.

If none of these remedies work (who really wants to rub garlic all over themself?), then one of the best ways to repel bugs is using EcoSMART’s Organic Insect Repellent. Try EcoSMART products to repel insects from your home.

Facts about EcoSMART’s Organic Insect Repellent:

• Made in the United States.
• Repels pests quickly and as effectively as conventional repellents.
• Synergistic blend of plant oils repel biting insects, like mosquitoes, ticks, and gnats.
• Safe around children and pets.

The active ingredients in EcoSMART are food-grade material, which the Food and Drug Administration has declared as “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS).

Also, EcoSMART is classified as “mimimum-risk” under the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Program) minimum risk program, which means the ingredients in EcoSMART’s organic insecticides are deemed harmless under the conditions of their anticipated use.

Instead of containing DEET, EcoSMART’s active ingredients include some of the organic substances listed above (Rosemary Oil and Lemongrass Oil).

Plus, the fragrance brings the fresh scent of lemony-citrus goodness to the air – almost like a refreshing glass of green iced tea for the nostrils. So the bees might be put off, but the “honeys” won’t. EcoSMART is the perfect solution to all of your bug problems…and the smell is pretty great, too!

Megan McLachlan