RE: Insect Repellant/ Anti-Bug Lotion

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara,

 

 

> Thanks, too!

> And I'd like to ask, if someone would know and share how to prepare

an

> insect repellant. I'm working for hours in my garden, and in our

area

> there's still a lot of anxiety and caution regarding the West Nile

> Virus attacks, but the officially recommended DEET isn't my choice

)-;

 

 

Catnip EO has been proven to be MORE effective than DEET in repelling

skeeters!

http://www.av-at.com/catnip.html

 

 

But catnip isn't the best smelling oil, so when I make my blend I use it

in there, but make sure that I've got other nice smelling, insect

repelling oils in there to make it all smell good (and be effective).

 

> I was thinking about a mixture of cedarwood (very effective in

lotions

> I had in Germany) and citronella (??),

 

 

Cedarwood - Atlas (Cedrus atlantica) is one of the ones I use in my

recipe, but I don't use Citronella. I find that Lemon Tea Tree

(Leptospermum petersonii) is more effective.

 

> and your suggestion of lemon

> tea tree and catnip oils (where would I get those?) is helpful.

 

I happen to carry them both

 

> But

> I'm at a loss how to prepare something like a lotion that's easy and

> pleasant to apply to the skin, not necessarily a spray, but just

not

> such a thick oily balm as discussed.

 

 

One easy way to do it is to get some unscented lotion to use as a base

and then add your EO blend to that.

 

I personally like to have a spray and a lotion. The lotion can be made

diluted enough to not be a skin irritant, and then the spray can be made

more concentrated and used on clothing, hair and surroundings (say if

you're in a tent) for an added kick!

 

> Thanks for any information you're willing to share.

> * * * * Barbara

 

Happy to oblige!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

LAST DAY For The Helichrysum Special!

http://www.alittleolfactory.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I used catnip mixed with who knows what last year for camping... Gads that

stuff pongs! But you know what, I sprayed the whole darn campsite, tent and

clothes... Not one bite. Not one flipping bite and no buzzing around the

ears either (which just really drives me up a tree... the buzz I mean, not

the absence of). Glad I've got my hugely smelly catnip for this year too.

;-)

 

Cheers!

Kathleen Petrides

The Woobey Queen

The Warming Touch, Therapeutic Pillows

http://www.woobeyworld.com

 

 

> Cedarwood - Atlas (Cedrus atlantica) is one of the ones I use in my

> recipe, but I don't use Citronella. I find that Lemon Tea Tree

> (Leptospermum petersonii) is more effective.

>

> > and your suggestion of lemon

> > tea tree and catnip oils (where would I get those?) is helpful.

>

> I happen to carry them both

>

> > But

> > I'm at a loss how to prepare something like a lotion that's easy and

> > pleasant to apply to the skin, not necessarily a spray, but just

> not

> > such a thick oily balm as discussed.

>

>

> One easy way to do it is to get some unscented lotion to use as a base

> and then add your EO blend to that.

>

> I personally like to have a spray and a lotion. The lotion can be made

> diluted enough to not be a skin irritant, and then the spray can be made

> more concentrated and used on clothing, hair and surroundings (say if

> you're in a tent) for an added kick!

>

> > Thanks for any information you're willing to share.

> > * * * * Barbara

>

> Happy to oblige!

>

> *Smile*

> Chris (list mom)

>

> LAST DAY For The Helichrysum Special!

> http://www.alittleolfactory.com/

[Guest guest]

Thanks to you all for tips and advice for the mosquito repellent!

 

The lotion mix is a great idea, I have some bottles from an " organic " store.

I just wasn't sure if the EOs would do good with commercial preparations.

So I'll mix (with ref. to Martin Watt's Safety Manual ;-) Catnip, Cedarwood

and Lemon Tea Tree oil into the lotion.

And I guess I can use the same EO-mix in the oil-diffuser to

" de-insecticize " the bedroom?

 

BTW, do you have any experience about how Essential Oils would do

when diluted with normal rubbing alcohol? Perhaps I'd better mix them

with distilled water, as Juliet suggested.

 

Thought of Citronella first because it's often the agent in bug repellent

candles and sprays. And isn't also Pyrethrum (from Chrysanthemes)

used for insecticide plug-ins and sprays?

 

An article in our newspaper recently said, that now there are

plant-based alternatives to DEET available, containing oil of " lemon

eucalyptus "

(mixture? or single plant source? 30% concentration) and " picaridin "

- whatever that is (7%)...

 

Wow, this field is so interesting and exciting, I'm just digging into all

websites and books I can get a hand on ;-)

 

Thanks again for your valuable info!

* * * * Barbara

 

On 4/28/05, Christine Ziegler <chrisziggy wrote:

> as reply to my questions:

> > And I'd like to ask, if someone would know and share how to prepare

> > an insect repellant. I'm working for hours in my garden, and in our

> > area there's still a lot of anxiety and caution regarding the West Nile

> > Virus attacks, but the officially recommended DEET isn't my choice

> )-;

>

> Catnip EO has been proven to be MORE effective than DEET in repelling

> skeeters!

> http://www.av-at.com/catnip.html

>

> But catnip isn't the best smelling oil, so when I make my blend I use it

> in there, but make sure that I've got other nice smelling, insect

> repelling oils in there to make it all smell good (and be effective).

>

> > I was thinking about a mixture of cedarwood (very effective in

> > lotions I had in Germany) and citronella (??),

>

> Cedarwood - Atlas (Cedrus atlantica) is one of the ones I use in

> my recipe, but I don't use Citronella. I find that Lemon Tea Tree

> (Leptospermum petersonii) is more effective.

>

> > But I'm at a loss how to prepare something like a lotion that's

> > easy and pleasant to apply to the skin, ...

>

> One easy way to do it is to get some unscented lotion to use as a base

> and then add your EO blend to that.

>

> I personally like to have a spray and a lotion. The lotion can be made

> diluted enough to not be a skin irritant, and then the spray can be made

> more concentrated and used on clothing, hair and surroundings (say if

> you're in a tent) for an added kick!

>

[Guest guest]

On May 3, 2005, at 2:02 AM, lavandin wrote:

 

> Thanks to you all for tips and advice for the mosquito repellent!

>

> The lotion mix is a great idea, I have some bottles from an " organic "

> store.

> I just wasn't sure if the EOs would do good with commercial

> preparations.

> So I'll mix (with ref. to Martin Watt's Safety Manual ;-) Catnip,

> Cedarwood

> and Lemon Tea Tree oil into the lotion.

> And I guess I can use the same EO-mix in the oil-diffuser to

> " de-insecticize " the bedroom?

 

Beware that (the scent of) Catnip oil absolutely STINKS. There is no

way I would use it in my home. There are many insect repellant

essential oils and several considerations when making a product. Here

are a few considerations:

 

Who is using it?

Age matters as well as skin sensitivity.

I would not use the same product in the same dilution for adults and

children. I would also make it very clear on the label what was safe

for various ages. You *can* formulate so it can be used by either, but

you will obviously this is not the same blend you take to the amazon

for adults. Overkill is not necessary or good however- and you do not

need a heavy hitting product in many places and for younger, elderly,

or sensitive individuals. Context matters in other words.

 

Where will it be used?

In the amazon or in NYC? Or somewhere in between ;-)

How strong does it need to be? What kinds of insects are you deterring?

Some oils are more effective with some than others. Nice to consider

when blending.

 

Where will it be applied (lot's of safety issues)?

Skin? Where?

Hair?

Clothes?

Other surface? What kind?

Airborne? How safe to inhale?

This is obviously an important consideration when formulating a product

and considering a base.

A base also will effect the longevity of the product (and it's

effectiveness) on the skin.

 

Scent and attractiveness:

There are lot's of options for making a blend- I could literally make

hundreds of different insect product that are effective. Aromatherapy

combines art and science ;-) Making a an effective blend that is still

pleasant and appealing is important. How important? Depends on your

market. For me it is not something I will compromise, although

certainly I am not formulating my insect repellant products the way I

do my natural perfumes. Still, I never leave my nose out of the

process. Some people may not care what a products smells like, feels,

like, etc, but most do care. I do make a hard hitting bug blend (for

adults and older children) that I'm not crazy about the scent- but my

customer still say they love- I am fussy- very.

 

 

>

> BTW, do you have any experience about how Essential Oils would do

> when diluted with normal rubbing alcohol? Perhaps I'd better mix them

> with distilled water, as Juliet suggested.

 

I would never use rubbing alcohol- period- for any reason and

especially not in a natural product of any kind.

This is not an ingredient to consider in aromatherapy.

 

> An article in our newspaper recently said, that now there are

> plant-based alternatives to DEET available, containing oil of " lemon

> eucalyptus "

 

My adult blend contains many essential oils- including Lemon Eucalyptus

and Lemon Tea Tree.

There are lot's of oils that work- again- many considerations that go

into the formulation process.

 

>

> Wow, this field is so interesting and exciting, I'm just digging into

> all

> websites and books I can get a hand on ;-)

 

Good idea!! Learning is the key. It is endless.

 

 

>

> Thanks again for your valuable info!

> * * * *  Barbara

>

>

 

Good luck! Have fun and play safe ;-)

 

Elizabeth

Whole Life Essentials

http://www.WholeLifeEssentials.com

Request Free Samples with your order!