Recently I learned how to make an herbal mosquito repellent on the news. Since we seem to have so many mosquitoes this year I decided to try it. Short of having any catnip essential oils, I'm using dried catnip, boiling it in water for five minutes, then straining out the leaves. Then I'm mixing the liquid with a cup of witch hazel and put the combination in a spray bottle to spritz on before going out of doors. I was able to get witch hazel at my local pharmacy on the shelves near the hydrogen peroxide and the same with the catnip in the pet section. This combination is supposed just as effective as deet products but without the associated hazards. Ideally I'd use the essential oil of the catnip that is distilled with steam. I'll see if I can find some of that to use next time. In the meantime I can't wait to try my new herbal mosquito repellent.
Check out this Timely Tuesday Etsy treasury I put together. Image for this post was borrowed from the net. I love all of your comments, thanks for visiting..
I haven't experienced mosquito bites in years.
ReplyDeleteHi Gigi, thanks, do they not have mosquitos in Hawaii? You are lucky we have tons this year here in Florida. I think this spray will repel other insects as well.
ReplyDeleteI need to try this, thanks Linda.
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith, thanks, other items can be used as carriers too, check the link for the catnip on wikipedia, I think the witchhazel is an astringent so may not be the best for dry skin, but might be better in humid weather. I hate using that stuff with Deet all the time since it is so toxic.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I will try that for I get bites all the time.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the cats think about it *smile*.
Hugs
Elna
This is news. I knew about citronella but not catnip. We can probably use this on the dogs too, I'll have to try it, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Elna, thanks, my cats love the catnip I sprinkle a little on the floor and they roll around in it happy as larks.
ReplyDeleteHi Lori, thanks, yes I think you can spritz the dogs too, just cover their eyes before you do it, same with people too.
ReplyDeleteThat concoction sounds like it would be much safer and a lot cheaper!
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting Linda - a natural repellent. I might have to try this one myself. DEET is so horrible. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI found this online shop that sell catnip essential oil:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dreamingearth.com/catalog/pc/Catnip-Oil-Essential-Oil-27p18.htm
I should give it a try, I can't stand commercial bug spray... the smell, the feel, and the chemical badness.
Hi Linda! Thank you for the post and the information. We spend a lot of money on organic, environmentally friendly fly and mosquito sprays for our dairy cows. I am going to mix this up and give it a try!
ReplyDeleteAt least that is not full of chemicals.Hope it works for you.
ReplyDeleteI always heard there were no mosquoitoes in the Ozarks and I believe. Nary a bite nor hum in 8 years.
Thank you, Linda. We don't have any problems with mosquitoes. Mainly because of the mosquito abatement programs around here and it's too cool most of the year. But I will keep it in mind for camping trips as my family only use natural products.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Sparrow, thanks, yes much nicer smelling too I bet, Ha.
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica, thanks, I agree I hate the thought of using that Deet.
Hi Julia, thanks, I should think this could be used on many an animal.
Hi Patti, thanks, I am amazed you don't have mosquitos there, what about walking in the woods? that's where we would get them when we lived there, of course we were more in the middle of the state.
Hi Charlene, thanks, we have mosquito abatement here too but for some reason this year they are worse than the other years and if we go to the drum circle at the beach they are really bad there too.
so does the mosquito repellant work? i'm intrigued...
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, thanks, supposedly the essential oil of catnip is just as effective as deet, but I am using dried catnip I will be checking Michele's link for essential oil, I read a research article about it several years ago and also wikipedia says it is effective,
ReplyDeletethe research article submitted arms into a container with one arm sprayed with deet and the other arm sprayed with the catnip and the deet arm got more bites than the catnip one, good enough for me. Ha.