Balms and Oils

Fresh-Scent Bug Balm #1

Love the fragrance of rosemary, peppermint, and eucalyptus? Then this solid repellent balm is for you. It conditions your skin while making you smell oh-so-fresh. Everyone around you will find your herbal aroma appealing, but the annoying bugs won’t. It’s convenient to carry and spillproof, too!

  • 4 tablespoons shea butter (refined or unrefined)
  • 12 drops rosemary essential oil
  • 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
  • 8 drops peppermint essential oil
  • Small saucepan; stirring utensil; 2-ounce jar or tin

  1. 1. Warm the shea butter in the saucepan over low heat until just melted. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Add the rosemary, eucalyptus, and peppermint essential oils, and stir a few times. Pour into storage container, cap, and set aside until the balm has thickened.
  2. 2. Unlike beeswax, shea butter can take a long time to completely thicken, and this formula may need up to 24 hours, depending on the temperature. When ready, it will be very thick, semi-hard, and white (or creamy yellow if you use unrefined shea butter).
  3. 3. Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

Application: If wearing long sleeves and long pants, dab a little on any entry point for biting bugs, such as wrists and ankles, as well as on temples, earlobes, nape of neck, and top of head. If wearing shorts and short sleeves, also apply a very light coating to bare arms and legs. Reapply as needed.

Fresh-Scent Bug Balm #2

This formula keeps skin-loving shea butter as the base, but these bug-deterring essential oils lend a floral-lemony scent. Follow the instructions for Fresh-Scent Bug Balm #1, substituting these essential oils.

  • 4 tablespoons shea butter (refined or unrefined)
  • 20 drops lavender essential oil
  • 15 drops lemongrass essential oil
  • 10 drops citronella essential oil

Lavender Ice: Mentholated Healing Oil

This skin-soothing and calming recipe, first published in my book Hands-On Healing Remedies, was originally developed to help heal bruised skin, but it also works amazingly well to comfort skin irritated by bug bites and stings, so I’ve included it here. The combination of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial lavender essential oil and ultracool cornmint-derived menthol crystals quickly soothes and reduces painful swelling, itchiness, and potential infection. This is strong but gentle medicine: your skin will feel quite chilled upon application, which is a good thing!

Caution: This is an aromatherapeutically concentrated formula. Use by the drop only as directed. Avoid contact with the mucous membranes — the nose, eyes, and mouth. Wash hands immediately after handling menthol crystals.

  1. 1. Combine the oil and menthol crystals in the saucepan over low heat. Gently warm the mixture just until the crystals dissolve. Remove from the heat. Stir a few times to blend the mixture thoroughly. Pour into a storage bottle and add the lavender essential oil. Screw the top on the bottle, then shake vigorously for 2 minutes to blend. Allow the oil to synergize for 1 hour.
  2. 2. Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

Application: Shake well before using. Gently massage 1 drop into each insect bite. Repeat three or four times per day for 2 days, or until the itching, heat, and swelling subside. Wash your hands after each application, unless treatment is intended for your fingers or hands, in which case I recommend wearing cotton gloves while the oil soaks in so that you don’t unintentionally rub your eyes or nose with the formula.

How Often to Apply Natural Repellents

Everyone’s experience with the effectiveness of these formulations will vary. My observation has been that natural repellents may need to be reapplied as often as every 20 to 30 minutes, but that depends on the type of formula (oil-based applications tend to work longer than water- or alcohol-based ones), the conditions, and individual chemistry (some people are just more attractive to bugs — see Don’t Be a Mosquito Magnet).

Keep an on eye on how it’s working. Bugs won’t land on you at first, but as the potency wanes, they will begin to hover or land on your skin. That’s the time to reapply, before they begin actually biting.

Fend-Off Oil

This pleasantly fragranced repellent — originally published in my book Organic Body Care Recipes — is one of my favorites. I use it every day when bugs are at their worst. It’s gentle enough to be used as bath oil, hair conditioner, scalp massage oil, after-shower oil, and all-purpose moisturizing oil. The bugs stay away, and as a bonus, my skin is very soft and conditioned. I even get occasional compliments on my unusual “perfume.” If they only knew!

Note: Soybean oil is used as a base for its natural bug-repellent properties, but you can substitute your favorite lightweight base oil, such as jojoba, sunflower, almond, or grapeseed.

  1. 1. Add the lemongrass, geranium, catnip, and eucalyptus essential oils to the container, then add the soybean oil. Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously to blend. Allow the oil to synergize for 1 hour.
  2. 2. Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

Application: Shake the bottle prior to each use. I like to put a bit of this formula onto my palms first, then massage the oil into areas that need bug protection. It is designed to penetrate quickly. If your skin feels greasy after application, you’ve used too much. Reapply as needed.

Essential Tick-Repellent Clothing Drops

This formulation combines 100 percent undiluted essential oils for a potent aroma that most humans find appealing, but ticks and flying insects absolutely abhor. When applied by the drop — to clothing, shoes, or accessories only — it creates an aromatic aura that repels these nasty pests for hours.

Caution: This is an aromatherapeutically concentrated formula, so use only by the drop as directed. Do not apply to spandex or rayon fabrics or plastic surfaces.

  • 2 drops each of the following essential oils: geranium, catnip, and peppermint
  • 1 scant tablespoon lavender essential oil
  • 1⁄2-ounce glass bottle with screw cap

  1. 1. Add the geranium, catnip, peppermint, and lavender essential oils to the storage container. Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously to blend. Allow the oil to synergize for 1 hour.
  2. 2. Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 2 years. Do not store the bottle with a dropper top, as the strong vapors will degrade the rubber tip. Store only with a screw cap.

Application: Shake well before using. Apply a few drops to your hat, bandanna or neck scarf, lower leg and hem of pants, hem of untucked shirt, cuffs or ends of shirt sleeves, inside shirt collar, and on socks. Reapply up to 3 times per day.

Bug-Me-Not Balm

This formula has a woodsy, somewhat nutty, earthy, green herbal aroma that is generally pleasing but rather potent. Those who prefer a convenient, solid repellent will find it to their liking.

Note: I use soybean oil for its bug-repelling properties, but any lightweight base oil will do.

  • 3 tablespoons organic soybean base oil
  • 2 teaspoons neem base oil
  • 2 teaspoons beeswax
  • 6 drops each of the following essential oils: lemongrass, rosemary, cedarwood, thyme (chemotype linalool)
  • Small saucepan; stirring utensil; 2-ounce jar or tin

  1. 1. Warm the base oils and the beeswax over low heat until the wax is just melted. Stir the mixture gently a few times. Remove from the heat and allow the blend to cool for 5 minutes. Add the lemongrass, rosemary, cedarwood, and thyme essential oils and stir a few more times.
  2. 2. Pour into storage container(s) and cap. Allow the balm to set and synergize for 1 hour. I like to store this formula in small containers that I keep handy in my car, my purse, and my backpack, in case I need bug protection.
  3. 3. Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

Application: If wearing long pants and sleeves, dab on exposed skin, or apply a very light coating to bare arms and legs. Don’t forget your temples, earlobes, the back of your neck, and the top of your head!

Geranium Tick-Repellent Balm

Geranium (rose geranium) essential oil is an amazing natural repellent and insecticide — bugs of all kinds hate it, but especially ticks. This convenient solid repellent with a fresh, rosy aroma really works to make you less attractive to ticks and flying insects. I like to store it in small containers in my car, my purse, or my backpack.

Note: Soybean oil has bug-repellent properties, but you can substitute jojoba, sunflower, grapeseed, or almond, if desired.

  • 7 tablespoons organic soybean base oil
  • 1–2 tablespoons beeswax (use the larger amount for a firmer balm)
  • 48 drops geranium essential oil
  • Small saucepan; stirring utensil; 4-ounce jar or tin

  1. 1. Warm the base oil and the beeswax over low heat until the wax is just melted. Stir the mixture gently, then remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Add the geranium essential oil and stir a few more times.
  2. 2. Pour into storage container(s) and cap. Allow the balm to set and synergize for 1 hour.
  3. 3. Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

Application: If wearing long sleeves and long pants, dab a little on any entry point for biting bugs, such as wrists and ankles, as well as on temples, earlobes, nape of neck, and top of head. If wearing shorts and short sleeves, also apply a light coating to bare arms and legs. Reapply as needed.

Bug-Ban Balm

One of my favorite solid insect-repellent balms, this one uses shea butter as the base. It penetrates quickly to create a pleasingly fragrant, skin-conditioning bug barrier.

  • 4 tablespoons shea butter (refined or unrefined)
  • 20 drops lavender essential oil
  • 14 drops thyme (chemotype linalool) essential oil
  • 14 drops geranium essential oil
  • Small saucepan; stirring utensil; 2-ounce jar or tin

  1. 1. Warm the shea butter over low heat until it has just melted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Add the lavender, thyme, and geranium essential oils and stir a few times to blend. Pour into storage container, cap, and set aside until the balm has thickened. Unlike beeswax, shea butter can take a long time to completely thicken, and this formula may need up to 24 hours, depending on the temperature in your home. When ready, the balm will be very thick, semi-hard, and white (or creamy yellow if you use unrefined shea butter).
  2. 2. Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

Application: If wearing long sleeves and long pants, dab a little on any entry point for biting bugs, such as wrists and ankles, as well as on temples, earlobes, nape of neck, and top of head. If wearing shorts and short sleeves, also apply a light coating to bare arms and legs. Reapply as needed.

Coconut Body Oil #1: Light, Cool Floral

This blend makes a silky-smooth, moisturizing body oil that just happens to fend off mildly to moderately hungry insects. Condition your skin while naturally repelling bugs — what a concept! The aroma of the essential oils is scarcely noticeable at first, but the lovely scent develops when this blend is massaged into warm skin.

  • 10 drops each of the following essential oils: eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, sweet orange, and peppermint
  • 1⁄2 cup extra-virgin, unrefined coconut base oil
  • 4-ounce plastic squeeze bottle

  1. 1. Add the eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, sweet orange, and peppermint essential oils to the bottle, then add the coconut oil. If the coconut oil is solid or semi-solid, simply set the container in a shallow pan of hot water to liquefy — it melts quickly. Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously to blend. Allow the oil to synergize for 1 hour.
  2. 2. Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

Application: Shake the bottle prior to each use. (Coconut oil solidifies below 76°F [25°C]. If this happens, simply warm the bottle in a shallow pan of hot water or set it in a sunny window for 30 minutes or so to liquefy.) Because the oil penetrates the skin so easily, you can apply it to damp or dry skin. If your skin feels greasy after application, you’ve used too much. Reapply as needed to repel bugs.

Coconut Body Oil #2: Warm, Woodsy Herbal

Here’s another coconut oil–based body oil recipe blend that’s effective against mildly to moderately hungry bugs. This one has a warmer, woodsy herbal aroma that becomes detectable after it is massaged into warm skin. Follow the instructions for Coconut Body Oil #1, substituting these essential oils.

  • 15 drops rosemary essential oil
  • 10 drops cedarwood essential oil
  • 8 drops lemongrass essential oil
  • 7 drops tea tree essential oil
  • 4 drops lemon essential oil
  • 4 drops patchouli essential oil
  • 1⁄2 cup extra-virgin, unrefined coconut base oil
  • 4-ounce plastic squeeze bottle

Edible Mosquito & Tick Repellents

Some readers might be skeptical about this — “Seriously, bug repellents that I can eat?” — but it’s true. Eating certain foods on a regular basis makes you less attractive to blood-seeking pests. Just make sure the whole family does it, so you aren’t repelling each other!

Garlic. Mosquitoes and ticks abhor the taste of garlicky blood. Garlic is rich in a variety of powerful sulfur-containing compounds — the best known is allicin — that are responsible for its pungent odor, as well as its antiviral, antibiotic, antifungal, and vermicidal properties, among other health-promoting effects. Sulfur compounds can also be detected on your breath as well in your sweat and sebum (the natural oil on your skin), resulting in a bug-repelling aura around your body.

In order to release the potent bug-repelling compounds, garlic cloves must first be finely chopped and exposed to air. Eat them raw in salads, as a tapenade, or in garlic butter. For cooking, wait 10 minutes after chopping before adding minced garlic to a hot pan. Try to eat one to two cloves of garlic per day during bug season.

Strong-Tasting Vegetables. Other yummy foods that infuse your blood with sulfur are: kale, broccoli, and cabbage; mustard, collard, and turnip greens; onions, shallots, scallions, and chives. As an extra benefit, these foods are also rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, folic acid, and bountiful antioxidants.

B vitamins. Mosquitoes and ticks dislike the flavor and scent of human sweat impregnated with B vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine). The richest food sources of thiamine include brewer’s or nutritional yeast (not baking yeast), brown rice and rice bran, egg yolks, legumes, blackstrap molasses, wheat germ, peanuts, whole grains, fish, peas, organic pork, and poultry.

Adding a natural B-complex supplement that includes up to 50 mg of B1 to your daily diet might be wise if you happen to live in an area heavily infested with mosquitoes and ticks. The B vitamins are water soluble, so any excess that you don’t use nutritionally will leave your body via your sweat, breath, and urine — forming a bite-free vapor barrier between you and the bugs!

Keep Mosquitoes in Check While Dining on Your Deck

According to the American Mosquito Control Association, “Mosquitoes are relatively weak fliers, so placing a large fan on your deck can provide a low-tech solution.” Another effective idea, and a more attractive one, is the addition of a chiminea or backyard brazier to your deck decor. Offering a welcoming glow and comforting warmth, they emit just enough smoke to deter biting bugs. The smoke can be aromatically enhanced by adding fragrant woods such as pinion, mesquite, apple, or resinous dry pine, creating a most alluring outdoor atmosphere.

And let’s not forget the old standbys for creating a bug-repelling shield around your deck: burning citronella candles, tiki torches, and incense sticks or plain punks, along with moxa sticks and herbal smudge blends (see Outdoor Repellent Smudge).