It’s Summer!

…and you know what that means…

BUGS!

Now I do my best to put up with most insects, following my own version of the “…do no harm…” doc oath, however that once they begin attacking my person…it’s ON!

Here is a simple, easy to make Bug Spray that I use. It is not as strong as DEET, but it is also safe for skin, & technically edible, although I wouldn’t recommend drinking it.

Natural Bug Spray

small spray bottle     ½ cup distilled water     1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol

10-15 drops essential oil: lemongrass, any mint, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, neem, geranium, litsea cubeba- can be any one of these or any combination. My favorite is a mixture of lavender & citronella then I add a few drops of lemon or mint to keep it light. It smells like lemon and bugs hate it! (Find 100% pure essential oils here.)

If your skin needs a little love or if it tends to dry out you can add a splash of Aloe Vera juice as well. Obviously it won’t treat your skin as much as gel or oil, but those tend to gum up spray bottles.

Directions:

Pour the alcohol into the spray bottle. Add the essential oils and shake well. Add water, leaving enough room at the top so it will mix when you shake it. If you use a large spray bottle, ingredients can be doubled or tripled.

To use:                                                                                                                                            

Shake well before each use. Spray lightly on body: hands, arms and legs especially. Avoid getting into the eyes, ears, mouth and nose. You should reapply it often if you sweat, if you are in the rain, or if you go swimming.