Bug Off!

Have Fun Without Itching

Can you believe the Fourth of July has come and gone? Wow! While July 4 represents the unofficial midpoint of summer because it falls between Memorial Day and Labor Day, we truly do have a lot more of this beautiful season left.

What do you want to do this summer? Spend more time outside? Try something new? Whether you have kids out of school or you're just enjoying the weekends and maybe some time off work, it's great to get outdoors. Do you like to go to the mountains, woods, lake, or beach? All of these provide great escapes and opportunity for adventure or relaxation…but they also provide opportunity for bug bites!

Have you ever been doing something like kayaking or paddle boarding and felt a bug land on your leg? If your hands are busy, it's kind of hard to slap them off! Besides being annoying and itchy, mosquito bites can lead to Zika and other diseases.

Of course you can purchase insect repellent anywhere—and there are even some decent natural ones available—but why not just make your own to be sure you have a natural and organic product that won't harm your children or the environment? We've talked a lot about essential oils in these posts, and many of them have wonderful bug repellent properties. Lavender, citrus (orange, lemon, lemongrass, citronella), tea tree, cinnamon, eucalyptus, thyme, Greek catnip, and even basil! Yes, there are a lot.

Try This:

In an 8 oz. spray bottle, combine the following:

• 1/3 cup witch hazel
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon almond oil
• 10 drops citronella essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil

Shake well, apply liberally, and make sure you get places like ears, feet, and hands. Don't forget to rub it in!

If you really dislike the fragrance of one of the essential oils shown in this list—or if, on the other hand, you really like one shown in the previous paragraph—you can customize your bug spray accordingly.

Summer is short enough, don't waste it itching.

Try some different combinations, and please let us know what you like and what works for you!

*NOTE: We always prefer natural and organic whenever possible, but if you're traveling to places with a high risk of Zika or other disease, DEET is highly recommended to protect yourselves and your families.