Learn how to make this natural herbal mosquito repellent that repels mosquitoes when they attack.
Natural Remedies: An Herbal Mosquito Repellent
Herbal Mosquito Repellent Recipe
2 1/2, teaspoons total of any combination of the following essential oils (available at health food stores): basil, cedarwood, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, palmarosa, pine, rose geranium and/or rosemary.
1 cup 190-proof grain alcohol (available in liquor stores).
Place ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously. Transfer to small bottles for storage. To use, rub a small amount on any exposed skin (test first to be sure your skin will not be adversely affected by the repellent) or dab it on clothing.
Experiment a little to find which essential oils work best with your body chemistry. If you’re lucky, you also will like the way they smell; otherwise, add a few drops of peppermint oil to fine-tune the fragrance.
Barbara Pleasant, a regular contributor to MOTHER EARTH NEWS, is the author of The Gardener’s Bug Book. Her most recent book, Garden Stone, received the Garden Globe award from the Garden Writers of America.
