‘Tis the season… mosquito season, that is! And with all the rain and leftover standing water we’ve had in our area, it’s BAD. You can hardly walk outside without getting swarmed. I usually take a walk in the early mornings in the summer, and this year, every time I hit a shady patch, they’re buzzing in my ears.? Dumb things.
Enter: our Shoobug Insect Repellant.
This stuff flies off the table at the Market this time of year and with good reason. It really works!
Honestly, you can use just about any essential oil spray with mosquitoes and it will help keep them at bay. And I’ve tried quite a few, just to test that theory. But for whatever reason we’ve found our Shoobug! seems to work the best. I don’t know if it’s the combination of many oils or what, but the little buggers really don’t like it at all.
The main essential oils in it are Lemongrass and Clove. There’s also Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary. Together we think it smells a bit like Thanksgiving. Pretty pleasant compared to commercial mosquito repellents. Also in the bottle is distilled water as well as rubbing alcohol (isopropyl).
Why in the world would we use rubbing alcohol?
Well, it’s like 90-proof alcohol which helps the essential oils dilute better, making the spray much safer so you’re not getting straight essential oils on your skin. Also, water-based products have a greater potential for harboring bacteria and the alcohol in the mix much diminishes the possibility of it going rancid.
The fragrance (which you can’t smell with the essential oils we use) they put in rubbing alcohol to keep people from drinking it is likely synthetic, so that would make our Shoobug not 100% natural, but I would say it’s at least 95% (that’s just a guess; we’ve not had it tested). Considering the safety factors that are boosted with it being included, and the fact that it has a low environmental impact rating from the EWG consumer group (Environmental Working Group), we felt comfortable adding it.
For infants and toddlers, and the elderly, spray it on clothes or the surrounding area, being careful to avoid the eyes and lungs. Older children and adults may use it freely just like a regular insect repellant. The essential oils are quite aromatic, so if you’re prone to breathing problems, keep it away from your face.
Does it work on other insects? We’ve found it to work on most everything but ants. (Sorry). One of my favorite ways to use Shoobug! is on our porches. We have a terrible time with keeping red wasps at bay. Nothing worse than jerking around, jumping about, swatting the air, and trying to get away from the horrifying little terrorists. But if I spray the screen door and the porch area it will keep them away for a couple days (and my poise is restored?).
Here’s some mosquito facts and thoughts on maybe why you are the one always getting bitten:
Mosquitoes are part of the “fly family” (does that clue you into to their annoying factor?)
Mosquitoes are attracted to the odor of CO2 (carbon dioxide) gas that we naturally exhale. (So if you talk a lot, they’ll fly your way more often).
They also prefer darker colors (so dress in whites, lights or khakis)
Synthetic fragrances attract them. (So be careful of what perfume or cologne you wear and the laundry detergent you use).
Drinking alcoholic beverages may raise your body temp and make you sweat more, which is more attractive to mosquitoes.
Disclaimer: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Keep out of reach of children. If pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or if you have a medical condition consult a physician prior to use.
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