Photo by iStock
Summer means spending plenty of time outdoors and in the garden. It also means the height of bug-bite season. Many commercial repellents include DEET, a chemical with a questionable health safety profile. Fortunately, making your own natural repellent is a simple process, and can also be made alcohol-free for those with sensitivities.
Make your own using this Natural Insect Repellent Recipe.
If you’d prefer to buy a natural repellent, try these effective products:
Lafe’s Organic Insect Repellent
Developed to deter mosquitoes and ticks, Lafe’s oil-based, cruelty-free formula employs geranium, cedar and lemongrass essential oils to ward off bugs.
Buy Lafe’s organic repellent: $9
Photo courtesy Lafe’s Organic
Herbal Insect Repellent Spray
Meow Meow Tweet’s vegan, handcrafted spray combines essential oils and skin toners for a nontoxic blend that’s safe for everyone.
Buy Meow Meow Tweet’s spray: $8
Photo courtesy Meow Meow Tweet
Bug-Bouncer Concentrated Repellent
With 30 years of road-testing to its name, Bug-Bouncer contains ultra-effective, potent essential oils.
Buy Bug-Bouncer: $10
Photo courtesy Bug Bouncer
Bite & Burn Spray
Treat bites (as well as minor burns) with Fat and the Moon’s Bite & Burn Spray, which uses yarrow, witch hazel and tea tree oil to disinfect and promote healing.
Buy Fat and the Moon’s spray: $10
Photo courtesy Fat and the Moon
Bug Soother
Simply Soothing’s Bug Soother repels a range of insects, from mosquitoes to sand fleas. Its castor-oil formula is safe for adults, kids and even animals.
Buy Simply Soothing repellent: $4
Photo courtesy Simply Soothing