Home made insect repellents

[Roybeth]

Hi all

Any good receipes for insect repellents.

Been to Geehi recently and the horse flies bit me to death  - right through my clothes and everything. Had a variety of proprietory sprays and creams (I recommend the Rid cream its always good) But would like to make our own as well that's not so heavy on the nasty chemicals, and also a spray.

Ta
Helen

[shrek4]

Not a recipie but a natural alternative to the norm is Vanilla Mozi

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanilla-Mozi

[nath81]

being from vic and working up in wadeye for the first time the midgies killed me, used to use equal parts baby oil, dettol and metho. Be careful in the sun though also heard of people putting sun cream in the mix as well but i just put the sun cream on first. seemed to work really well on all flying insects, not the most fragrant mix though.

[Duchess]

I have seen what equal parts metho, dettol and oil can do to skin...its not pretty. I'd recommend Not using this.

Rather, I'd suggest Lavender. I use a lavender spray that seems to keep the biting bugs at bay. I use an Innoxa product but I am sure that any lavender scented spray would be fine. I like it because its the best smell compared to Aeroguard and even that Off product (which to me smells like dirty socks.) and you're not spraying yourself with chemicals either.

[Kit_e_kat9]

Rather, I'd suggest Lavender.

Luckily for me, my parents have a lavender farm and are always giving me the cast off water from distilling the lavender oil.  I use it two ways:  Insect Repellent & Ironing Aid, but it's also nice to use a cooling, relaxing spritzer (which unfortunately for me is how they are now selling it).

Kit_e

[Tjupurula]

Not exactly "home made', but I find simply burning some extremely dry cattle dung seems to work really well to keep a wide variety of insects away from a camp.  No, it doesn't stink, well no worse than my armpits after a day in the sun.

[qlddsl]

^^^^^ x2, works wonders better than mozzie coils

[Roybeth]

lol - not a lot of cattle dung usually where we go camping - would have to collect it and carry it with us, not sure how it will go stockpiled in the back of the wagon.

 

[Tjupurula]

Hi Roybeth
A couple of cow pats (very dry and kept that way) inside a small rubbish bag and not much more is needed.
Just a thought.
Tjupurula