RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
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Post By Erica (Guest Post)
(07/17/2008)
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This is the info I found on catnip oil. I'm going to try putting it in an oil base, too.
Catnip Oil: Research by Iowa State University and the US Forest Service announced that nepatalactone, the essential oil in catnip, can be used as a very effective mosquito repellent. The authors stated that nepetalactone is about 10 times more effective than DEET. The researchers beleive that catnip repels mosquitoes by an irritant reaction.
How to make: in a hand-held spray bottle, mix 1/4-1/2 tsp. (1.25 - 2.5 ml.) of essential oil of catnip (Nepata cataria), 1 cup of isopropyl alcohol, and 1 cup of water.
How to use: Shake well and then spray lightly on clothing, arms, and legs, being careful to avoid eyes or open cuts. Do not use on the skin of small children. Some persons may be sensitive to catnip oil. Keep the contents of the spray away from children and pets. [Be careful around cats! :-)]
As of 8/06, when I did my research, here's where I found it:
1/2 oz = 15 ml = 6 - 12 recipes' worth
Mt Rose Herbs - OG VERY EXPENSIVE
(Eugene business); shipping = actual
1/2 oz $32
1 oz $57
4 oz $182.40
Aroma Thyme - OG, VERY TINY AMOUNTS (gets costly)
Canada 80-90% nepatalactones
shipping = $5 on small amounts
2 ml $8.50
5 ml $16.00
Herbal Remedies.com - OG, TOO LARGE
Canada 80-90% nepatalactone
They also have a pre-made insect repellent (cat nip, cornmint, glycerin, rosemary, and maybe pennyroyal. $14.95/8 oz)
shipping = $5.49?
2 oz $63.44
2 x 2oz $125.88
A Scents Worth - OG/No pesticides, GOOD FOR SINGLE ORDER
Canada, SALE
shipping = $8.36
1/2 oz reg. $14, sale $10.50
Essential Oil University GREAT FOR BIGGER AMOUNTS
Must have business name (intended for resellers).
Min. shipping = $9.95
USA
1 fl oz $13.88
4 fl oz $41.86
1 lb. $129.30
Canada - No pesticide residue/ Canada 80-90% nepatalactone
1 fl oz $15.00
4 fl oz $45.00
1 lb. $139.50
Deleted all non-OG suppliers (Essential Oil Co., Bramble Berry, alternative Health Resources)
Also, be careful how you store it. Mine came in a dropper bottle with the usual rubber bulb at the top of the dropper. At some point it tipped onto it's side while in storage. I kept wondering why it smelled so strong given that it was in a glass bottle in a plastic bag. When I took it out again next summer, turns out the oil had dissolved the rubber bulb!! Thank goodness it was double bagged in plastic (which was none the worse for the wear, just messy).
Hope that helps!
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RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
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Post By robin (Guest Post)
(07/12/2008)
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As a plant based repellent try Thai lemongrass, grown in pots around the outdoor area for a general deterent and cut, peeled and rubbed between your hands to create moisture enough to cover you exposed parts for a personal deterent. It can also be used in cooking.
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RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
"I'm extremely grateful for all these anti chemical mosquito remedies,with 2/3rds of our frogs dying;alternatives are necessary.(06/11/2008)
By no1in particular"
Just so you know, Frogs eat bugs.
Getting rid of the bugs might be part of the problem.
Deterring them ONLY in the area where you relax might be a help.
Good luck.
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RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
(sent in by email)
Plant some rosemary.
It's an herb that very fragrant and you can cook with it too.
It repels any insect.
Sabrina
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RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
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Post By Lee Moore (Guest Post)
(07/10/2008)
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Regarding reader's comments about a good smelling insect repellent used on her as a child, it may have been Avon's "Skin So Soft".
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Request: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Recipe to keep away mosquitoes? Maybe plants or some kind of home remedy? Thanks for any information.
Tammy from Florida
Answers:
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Everywhere I ever lived we were cursed with mosquito's, Black flies etc,
But then we moved again and it wasn't very long when we realized, we never ever had so much as one fly of any kind,
Come to find out why, Salt water, Was the best 6 years ever, Sure miss that salt water air now!
But obviously they must not like salt water, (05/03/2008)
By Chicklet
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I can vouch for the post by Marty that Vanilla extract (used on your pulse points) is a good way to repel mosquitoes. You do have to reapply (though I've had mine on for hours because of little to no perspiring). I have used imitation before with good results. (05/04/2008)
By camo_angels
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I read that amber colored Listerine sprayed outside in the area where you are sitting, will keep mosquitoes away up to two days. I haven't had any mosquitoes to try it on yet, but it is sitting in a spray bottle on my deck,ready to go. This information was sent to me in an email, I don't know where they got the information. (05/05/2008)
By rae
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I found this one while researching recipes for cleaning products, I'll be trying it this weekend!
Mosquito Deterrent recipe
Submitted to Recipe Goldmine by Barbara Louise - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Source: a gardening forum
Put some water in a white dinner plate and add just a couple of drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dish washing soap. Set the dish on a porch or patio. Not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white color, or what, but mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead, or fall into the water, or on the floor within about 10 feet. Works just super!
(05/06/2008)
By
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Listerine is a GREAT mosquito repellent---spray it around outside where you'll be sitting( about 15-30 min prior )
Also, rub on skin---IT REALLY WORKS ! (05/08/2008)
By terry
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Try Neem Oil. It's organic and it works (05/08/2008)
By Mythi
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Don't eat bananas during mosquito season. Mosquitoes love banana flavored skin. (06/01/2008)
By Sandee
Garlic pills
Hi, I heard about garlic pills and tried them this year. The first time I went out, I got 4 bites. It does not work for me. (06/01/2008)
By Jim
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I'm extremely grateful for all these anti chemical mosquito remedies,with 2/3rds of our frogs dying;alternatives are necessary.May God Bless you and keep you. (06/11/2008)
By no1in particular
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Hi,
This is for Shirley of Colorado and any other animal lovers. Skin so soft sprayed in mist form will kept flies and fleas off animals. I know of dairy farms and ranch owner who use it. Skin so soft is made by Avon. (06/27/2008)
By eyerishrose
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
(submitted via email)
I heard of a plant called Lemon Balm that really works
heather (07/01/2008)
By jess_admin
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Listerine
I use original Listerine (the amber colored liquid) on myself and my family whenever we are out and so far no bites at all. It cost me about 3.00 for a bottle of the generic brand and I put it into some smaller squirt bottles. Just spray on your exposed skin and they stay completely away. (07/02/2008)
By Curvaliscious
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Request: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I would like to know what type of plants I can grow that will stop the mosquitoes and also if some one has a recipe that works on them. We bought a home in Tennessee and went to see it and were eaten alive my the mosquitoes. I know there has to be something that can be grown to keep them at bay!
Hardiness Zone: 7a
Thanks for all your help,
Deb from TN
Answers:
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I bought some plants from Wal-mart called moskito schocker. They had tags on them with a frightened mosquito on it. They grew beautifully and I only paid 3.00 each for them. They seemed to help but up in northern WI we get millions on mosquitoes. The plants have purple flowers on them the only bad thing is they are an annual flower/bush by me, I live in zone 3. They would grow wonderfully by your zone 7, all year around and get really huge. I wish I could keep them in the house all winter, but I have 2 cats that would dig in dirt and eat the plants. (09/20/2006)
By Linda from WI
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
As I was reading this mosquito repellent request a mosquito was buzzing me in my den. I ran out to check the name on the mosquito repellent plant that I had purchased in the spring. I rubbed some on while I was reading the tag. It is a" moskito shocker" plant, just like the one mentioned in the feedback from Linda. It is still pretty and healthy after a terrible Dallas summer. I think it is actually a type of scented geranium. The good news is the mosquito that was so interested in me before I rubbed on the moskito shocker has not bothered me again. (09/20/2006)
By cosmic
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I read that Chrysanthemums repel mosquitoes. Check it out. Hope this helps. (09/20/2006)
By Nancy
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Hi Deb and All TF subscribers,
I love Mother Earth News and don't know what I would do without them :)
http://www.motherearthliving.com/issues/motherearthliving/natural_health/Natural-Mosquito-Repellent_207-1.html
I live in Nev. and our mosquito population is about nil, but when we travel back to Nebr. for our summer vacation or to Arkansas for the fall, I'm reminded quickly what a nuisance they are! My sister-in-law planted rosemary around her house. Seems to keep the majority of the pests away. (09/21/2006)
By SweetCali40
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
The plant "Musquito Shocker" from WalMart is I believe a lemon geranium. I keep one on my balcony all summer and then cut it back and check for "bugs" before bringing it inside for winter. It grows very well inside on a sunny windowsill. By Spring it`s a good size to place outside once again. By the way...it smells really nice indoors. (09/21/2006)
By Miranda
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
This isn't a plant idea but I can tell you from experience guinea hens can just about eat their weight in bugs, mosquitoes included. bats also eat the little buggers. Bat houses can be bought or built and put in trees or at the top of the house. I think they are interesting to watch in flight catching bugs. (09/21/2006)
By carla bledsoe
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
According to wikipedia and a couple of other website I've seen, Beautyberry bush is a natural mosquito repellent. It's supposed to be native to the southern US, but I'm going to have to look for it in a plant center (I live in NE Florida and housing projects are taking up all the land). A nice side benefit of the Beautyberry is that birds like the berries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautyberry
Sharon
Yulee, FL (09/21/2006)
By Sbaker
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
This is a homemade recipe. I use it's actually air freshener but I adapted it for repellent.
Homemade Air Freshener Gel
2 tbsp unflavored gelatin
2 cups water
desired food coloring
selected fragrant or essential oil ;-use citronella
mixing bowl
To begin:
Start by pouring gelatin into bowl
Boil 3/4cup water
Next stir the boiling water carefully into the gelatin powder until all has been dissolved
Pour remaining 2 1/4cups water into bowl and mix thoroughly
Allow to get to room temp.;add 10 drops desired oil into gel. Place it in frig for several hours till it looks like firm jelly.
Once it has set,use a fork to mash it up so you are left with chunks of gel.
To finish it off,pour a small amount of gel into bowls.
Keep any unused gel in airtight container.
If making large amounts, add 1-2 tablespoons of salt to act as preservative.
I found it really does work, let me know how you go. Glenda (09/21/2006)
By nimwe
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I plant Marigolds every year from the seeds that I save from the year before. We used to have mosquitoes galore until I started doing this. They are not only pretty, and spread like weeds, they DO keep the mosquitoes away. They don't like the smell of them. (09/24/2006)
By sjackie2000
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Melissa or anyone could you please tell me what kind of vinegar white distilled or apple cider vinegar I would like to try this. ladellcurtis @ hotmail.com (09/30/2006)
By Ladell
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
EUCALYPTUS is one of the more popular plants here used to repel mosquitoes. Lemon grass is also good and rose.
To make ANTI-MOSQUITO Spray, you can combine 10 ml Eucalyptus, 5ml Rose and 5ml Lemongrass essential oils with 80ml water. Shake well before using and spray on yourself or around the room.
(12/10/2006)
By Marina
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I have had success just by using Caress Soap and now my family uses it as well. It seems to work! (06/01/2007)
By Laurie
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
A good mosquito repellent for outside use I use is mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap and 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil to every gallon of water. Put in sprayer and spray it every where around your place, it won't hurt your pets or plant, but you need to reapply after every rain cause the rain washes it away. (06/23/2007)
By Carl
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
WRKO radio has a recipe- 1 part clove oil- 1 part peppermint or spearmint oil- 15 parts water(quote)(/quote) (07/08/2007)
By donna
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I would like to find something to keep flies and mosquitoes off of pets and we have a 4-H pig that they are just getting to her and boy is she bad. I find all for people but none for pets or show animals.
HELP HELP (07/26/2007)
By Shirley of Colorado.
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
WD-40! Not necessarily a direct spray is needed to kill, if a mosquito flies into a very light mist of WD-40 it will drop dead.
In Vietnam since the 60's, a chemical with similar ingredients (or was it WD-40?) was effectively used for chasing those little blood suckers out of the houses... housing system in Vietnam is open air.
A landscape that breeds mosquitoes will most favorably grow plants that are mosquito friendly.
Rubbing your skin with a compound contains methyl salycilate will displace the smell of your sweat and keep you from being bitten. methyl salycilate is an active ingredient in many Chinese rubbing creams and oils, as in Bengay or IcyHot.
(07/31/2007)
By tuan
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
breadfruit
oil
isoprophyl alcohol (08/05/2007)
By joy
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
1 part vinegar, 1 part oil, I used mineral oil but you can also use baby oil to make the smell better. mix together in a spray bottle and spray away. they will smell a bit like vinegar but has worked quite well and keeps those pesty things from getting anywhere near them. You can also spray this mixture on tents, chairs etc. wont hurt them at all.(08/16/2007)
By angela
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
For many years I planted marigolds edging our vegetable garden and during the harvest time, I've not been bothered by mosquitoes. Also, I had some young transplants in pots arranged on the edge of the steps to the main entrance of our home and haven't been bothered with mosquitoes gaining entrance when the door is opened.
(08/21/2007)
By Lorelei
The plant you could Use is a citronella plant or "mozzie ustaer Plant". You could grow then indoors and out and when ever you want it to work, just simply water the plant and the citronella smell will shoo away the mozzies from your house area.
(11/29/2007)
By Mark
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I used rubbing alcohol on my dogs to get rid of mosquitoes and it works perfect, but it works better in a spray bottle.(4/6/08) (04/06/2008)
By janorris
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Please be very careful about using something like rubbing alcohol on a dog. You could cause serious problems for the animal, or death. Only use vet approved substances on your animals. (04/09/2008)
By Cat
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I wanted to know if burning pinion wood would prevent mosquitoes? (04/17/2008)
By Louise
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Lavender essential oil works well. You can combine 10 drops of lavender oil, 5 drops of lemon oil and 2 drops geranium or eucalyptus oil and mix it with 2 tablespoons oil(almond oil is best but any other vegetable based oil will do). You can also soak some strips of paper with it and hang it by the door or windows to keep them away. It's safe for kids and pets and smells so good! (04/24/2008)
By Jo
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Request: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Does anyone have any mosquito repellant recipes or ideas?
Thanks
Koren
Answers:
Mosquito Repellent
Make a mixture of 1/2 Avon Skin-so-Soft oil and 1/2 rubbing alcohol and apply to exposed areas of skin.
By truerblue (04/20/2005)
By ThriftyFun
Repelling Mosquitoes
Rub Vicks Vaporub on exposed skin to repel mosquitoes.
By truerblue (04/21/2005)
Deterring Mosquitoes
Splashing plain rubbing alcohol on yourself and allowing it to dry will deter mosquitoes from biting you. (05/10/2005)
By Diana
Citronella
Buy a small bottle of blended citronella oil to dab on yourself. If you can only buy pure oil (not diluted with a carrier oil) then blend your own. Please do not use pure essential oil directly on yourself. (05/18/2005)
By Cathy
My Recipe
In 1 cup water mix 1 tsp Soybean oil (any vegetable oil) and 1/4 tsp Palmolive liquid soap
Mix well, spray or wipe on skin, lasts at least 90 minutes as well as DEET. Some claim 5-6 hrs. Apply hourly to be sure! It doesn't smell!
Stores 2 yrs in frige.
NOTE: There is just enough soap to disperse the oil. To be sure of allergies, wipe a dot of oil, and one of the soap on your skin and wait 30 min to be sure no reaction occurs. (07/01/2005)
By Laura Wilson, WNV survivor (Found recipe too late!)
Recipe
Yes, I heard of the recipe 1/3 epsom salt, 1/3 stale beer, 1/3 listerine and he put it in the hose sprayer. That is all that was said on the news. I would like to try it. (07/12/2005)
By Cindy
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
Please what Truth or Fiction says about Lemon Joy and mosquitos.
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/j/joy-bugs.htm
I tried that 2 years ago and it didn't work. They ate me alive! lol
Jennifer
Northern Virginia (07/13/2005)
By ILuvDobes
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I found a great one for my kids. My girls seem to attract every kind of crawly, flying biteing bug. we have mosquitos, horseflys, and deerflies which all bite and bite bad. I hate using the chemicals on them because my youngest suffers from asthma. I found a recipe that calls for 1 part vinegar, 1 part oil, i used mineral oil but you can also use baby oil to make the smell better. mix together in a spray bottle and spray away. they will smell a bit like vinegar but has worked quite well and keeps those pesty things from getting anywhere near them. You can also spray this mixture on tents, chairs etc. wont hurt them at all. (07/13/2005)
By melissa
Vanilla
I own a vanilla company here in the USA and have tested many different formulas using pure vanilla extract for repelling mosquito's (using my kids as guinea pigs which I thought appropriate since our vanilla is organically grown in Papua New Guinea!). It works great for about 45 minutes, then we need to respray. This is too short of a time to be effective and am working on a method to increase effectiveness.
Single fold vanilla extract, which is generally what one would purchase in the grocery, will have 35% alcohol which is mandated by the FDA. if the bottle says "vanilla flavor" it is not pure vanilla and will not work. Most vanillas on the market have up to 40% sugar which will make you sticky. The best blend I have found so far is to dilute the single fold pure, sugarless vanilla with 50% water so that you will have a blend of 17% alcohol and then spray on exposed skin.
I am curious as to the claims of Mexican vanilla being highly effective as an insect repellent. Within the vanilla industry we are well aware of the fact that Mexican vanilla extracts often carry high levels of residual chemicals and pesticides due to poor farming practices. Perhaps this actually contributes to its effectiveness as a repellent? (07/13/2005)
By Marty
Catnip
Hi
I have heard that catnip essential oil is way more effective than even DEET on mosquitos. However, I am not sure what the dilution rate should be. Does any one know? (07/18/2005)
By Nicole
Garlic Pills Prevent Bug Bites
If you take a garlic pill every day during summer months, bugs will not bite you, especially mosquitos.
By Saundra McKenzie (07/22/2005)
By ThriftyFun
Fabric Soften Sheet
Placing a fabric sheet in your pocket with keep mosquitoes away, they hate the scent and your clothes will smell good too.
By imaqt1962 (07/28/2005)
RE: Mosquito Repellent Recipes
I know that certain Herbs and plants ward off mosquitos. I have never mixed them together and if you try you should be careful.
Marigold
Basil
Lavender
Geraniums
Lemon Thyme
Citronella Grass
Chamomile
(12/14/2005)
By Shi
Vinegar Didn't Work for Me
I have tried using vinegar with baby oil combination but to no effect,is there any other home remedy to drive to mosquito's away. (03/03/2006)
By Peter
Glycerine
Glycerine by itself seems to work reasonably well for mosquitoes. To make it much more effective, let some aromatic herbs "stew" in the glycerine before you rub it on. I use wild thyme--which has a wonderful scent--but surely marigold, basil, lavender, geraniums, lemon thyme, citronella grass, or chamomile will work also. And probably most any wild aromatic herb.
(04/22/2006)
By Haclil
Vanilla Extract
Don't laugh at me! Pure vanilla extract, on your pulse points like perfume. I have B+ blood, which they love, and I get large welts. My husband and I went camping, and he didn't put any on....and got chewed up! This was in Alaska, where Mosquito is the state bird! (04/22/2006)
By camo_angels
RE: Rubbing Alcohol
Carol, rubbing alcohol will not kill anyone by absorbing through the skin. People have and still do get massages with "rubbing" alcohol. (05/11/2006)
By D
Caress Soap Works
Mosquitos hate me. I always thought it was something about me they hated - one friend joked that I have "nutra-sweet" blood from drinking diet soda and they like the real thing. Then I tried a new soap despite a lifetime of loyalty to Caress and I have super sensitive skin. It didn't take me long to realize that I was suddenly a delicious target for the pesty bugs. I switched back and - poof! - no more mosquitos. The moral is: Caress before you dress and you'll not only soften your skin, you'll spare yourself itchy mosquito bites (and possibly viral encephilitis - how do you spell that anyway?)!
I'm curious to know if this works for anyone else. (05/17/2006)
By Tracy
Caress
Tracy, I too use Caress and have been using it for years now and come to think of it, Mosquitos rarely bit me! Wow! (06/08/2006)
By Lidia
Recipe
The recipe for mosquito repellent that has the 3 ingredients used in equal parts of 1/3 epsom salt, beer and listerine works really well. We used it last year in our yard, we mixed it up as instructed and put it in a water hose - attached dispenser that you would use when you fertilize your lawn and garden and sprayed it in the yard and around the shrubs and even sprayed closely around the house and it really worked. We were amazed, we were so desperate to try anything. Compared to everything else, it's relatively inexpensive and from what I understand, the ingredients also benefit your lawn and plants by feeding them. (06/11/2006)
By Toni
B-6
the best thing I tried was B-6. A surgeon I worked with said to take one daily starting in April (1000mg), but NOT if you are pregnant. They used that in Vietnam. (06/16/2006)
By Judy M.
Geranium Oil
I can vouch for Geranium oil. I love to work in my garden in the evening time even though it is prime feeding time for mosquitos. But I just dab a drop of Geranium essential oil on my neck, ankles, toes (if exposed) knees, wrists and I don't get bit. Plus geranium oil is safe to use directly on your skin-and you don't need much. Many health food stores carry it. (06/17/2006)
By CAT
Catnip
Catnip is toxic to mosquitos. (06/19/2006)
By violinchic
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