Wintergreen, Spearmint or Pepperminte to Repel Insects

By

Starchild in VT

Peppermint is what you want, I am 80% sure the others are poison. and never apply oil direct to skin, this dilution method is good.
:-)
oh, and mint grows very well, comes back every year like a plague. Great plant to have.

By

Starchild in VT

I use lavendar body wash and lotion, that works too. Mint oil is very expensive and effective. I have also heard of washing your clothes with a few drops of peppermint. I just put some drops of oil on the bottom of my shirt. Oils to keep the pests away: mint, lavendar, lemongrass and thyme. Hope you don't get bugged!
p.s. washing your hair with dish soap? or do you mean the hand stuff? or does ivory soap not have de-greasers?(won't take away the shine) Thanks for the idea.

By

Beth

Do I understand correctly - you use this mixture as body wash and shampoo?

By Lynda (Guest Post)

This makes a lot of sense, AND will help diring the much needed bath after contact with sweat and insects. It beats garlic water/oil ANYDAY. I wonder if herbal mint or Lemon Balm, a member of the mints, can be freshly ground up and used in place of expensive essential oil? Wouldn't you know, my garlic and Lemon Balm have actually STOPPED repelling these HYBRID TX mosquitos this year, so far. A brief stroll through them stirs up whole families
of mosquitos nesting beneath them on the moist cool ground/shade and my ankles/backs of knees
are becoming their prime targets/feasts! I've heard of certain insects/roaches becoming "resistant" to pest sprays, requiring more to be discovered, but this is absolutely RIDICULOUS that these bugs are
doing the same thing, somehow. Regardless, I'm staying ORGANIC, and will have to find another natural repellent. God bless you. : )