Organic Insecticides | Organic Pesticides | EcoSMART Bug Spray

Q & A: Answers to Your Top Questions About Natural Bug Repellant

Humans are inquisitive by nature, how else would we have discovered fire and sliced bread?

Today, search engines like Google make it much easier to find an immediate response to our burning questions about anything and everything. Which is great because we are all incredibly busy and don’t have time to dig around searching for answers.

So let’s get down to business.

Read on for answers to your top questions about natural bug repellant.

• What qualifies as a natural bug repellant?
• Is lemon eucalyptus effective for repelling bugs?
• How do essential oils repel bugs?
• Once I’ve sprayed natural bug repellent, how else can I protect myself for biting insects, like mosquitoes?
• What time of day am I most susceptible to bug bites?

Q: What qualifies as a natural bug repellant?

A: The government has not issued an official definition of natural in regards to what defines natural ingredients. However, the FDA refers to natural ingredients (like those in a natural bug repellant) as “ingredients extracted directly from plants or animals products as opposed to being produced synthetically.” When you buy a bug repellent with ingredients like DEET, it qualifies as a synthetically produced spray.

Ingredients in natural bug repellents:

• Are not produced synthetically
• Grown and processed in an entirely ecological manner
• Undergo little to no physical processing

So next time a product claims to be all natural, check the label or research their ingredients online. This way, you can draw your own conclusions.

Q: Is lemon eucalyptus effective for repelling bugs?

A: Yes, but it does have drawbacks. In an article for the Wall Street Journal entitled, “DEET’s Rivals: A Backyard Test,” Ana Campoy tested a variety of bug repellents, some natural bug repellents and some with DEET.

Campoy tested Spectrum Brands’ Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, which uses oil of lemon eucalyptus as its active ingredient.

This is what she found:

PROS: Kept bugs away from areas where she sprayed
CONS: Overwhelming smell (which remained after a shower), Did not protect areas of the body around where she sprayed

While the product kept bugs from biting her arms and legs (where she sprayed), she was still bitten on her neck in spots that she missed.

But overall, when sprayed on every part of your body (and if you don’t mind the smell) lemon eucalyptus is an effective natural bug repellant.

Q: How do essential oils repel bugs?

A: In EcoSMART’s products, like its organic insect repellent, a combination of natural ingredients creates a powerful natural bug repellant which is also environmentally safe.

The secret to EcoSMART’s formula is combining the right amount of organic plant oils to make the human being unattractive to a mosquito so that it avoids areas of the body that have been sprayed with the product.

Q: Once I’ve sprayed natural bug repellent, how else can I protect myself for biting insects, like mosquitoes?

A: Wear proper clothing and minimize environmental factors that attract mosquitoes. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends long sleeves, pants and socks when outdoors. Also, avoid dark colors (mosquitoes are more attracted to these) and protect your neck with a natural bug repellant repellent or a hat with a neck flap whenever possible.

If your yard is a mosquito magnet, get rid of any standing water which may act as mosquito breeding grounds.

Q: What time of day am I most susceptible to bug bites?

A: The most annoying pests, mosquitoes, are most active from dusk to dawn. During these hours, stay indoors or make sure to use an all natural bug repellent to protect yourself.

Isn’t it a relief to not have to dig around for answers? When it comes to protecting yourself from pests, there are tons of questions you may have about what to wear, what products to use and so on. Fortunately, these answers are often just a mouse click away.