Medicine chest building ~ outdoor pests

Outdoor insect spray

Lemon or Lemongrass – 15 drops
Cedarwood – 10 drops
Peppermint – 5 drops
Geranium – 5 drops

Mix the above essential oils together in a glass bottle.

Then place several drops in any diffuser for continueous coverage. Or add to 4 oz distilled water and spray your cloths and air around you.

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Insect repellant oil

Much safer than anything you buy from stores, this is as effective as anything commercially prepared at keeping those pesky insects away.

1 part Bay leaves
1 part Pennyroyal
1 part Rosemary
1 part Eucalyptus

Add enough oil to cover the herbs, plus an inch or two.
Prepare using any of the methods above.
Add a few drops of essential oils of pennyroyal and/or eucalyptus to strengthen the scent.

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Insect repellant

If you are making large amounts of mosquito repellent, a good rule of thumb is to mix the repellent so it's 5-10% essential oil, so mix 1 part essential oil with 10-20 parts carrier oil or alcohol. For a smaller batch use:

• 10-25 drops (total) of essential oils
• 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil or alcohol

The essential oils that work well against mosquitoes are:

• cinnamon oil
• lemon eucalyptus oil
• citronella oil
• castor oil

Safe carrier oils and alcohols include:

• olive oil
• sunflower oil
• any other cooking oil
• witch hazel
• vodka

Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil or alcohol. Rub or spray the natural insect repellent onto skin or clothing, using care to avoid the sensitive eye area. You'll need to re-apply the natural product after about an hour or after swimming or exercise. Unused natural insect repellent may be stored in a dark bottle, away from heat or sunlight.