Natural Insect Repellant For Dogs (and People!)

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

11 Mar 2006 09:54 AM

Man or pooch, nobody likes bug bites. For effectiveness, you can't beat products like Frontline for your pets. But sometimes you both need a little extra protection! Maybe you're going to take a nature walk or a hike through some extra buggy wilds. You can protect yourself and your pooch with a natural insect repellant spray!

What you'll need:

• A spray bottle
• Water
• Lemongrass Essential Oil
• Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Peppermint Essential Oil

You want to mix your oils in this proportion: 1 drop lemongrass: 1 drop eucalyptus: 2 drops lavender: 1 drop peppermint

If you only have a 2oz spray bottle, that recipe is just fine. If you have a 4oz spray bottle, double everything. For a 10oz spray bottle, multiply everything by five. Shake well and spray liberally over arms, legs, and body.

You can add a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol to your mixture to help the oils stay mixed into the water.

THIS SPRAY IS NOT FOR USE ON THE FACE. Essential oils are concentrated plant essences. Even diluted in the water and misted, you want to keep them away from your eyes. (Especially if you've added rubbing alcohol to help keep the oils mixed into the water!)

This spray smells a lot better than commercial insect repellants, and does not include DEET. The lemongrass oil has the same effect as citronella -- those candles you light during the summer to keep bugs away -- but smells better. Even lemon essential oil has some of the same insect-chasing properties! Lavender and eucalyptus are good all-around natural insect repellants. Peppermint keeps fleas, flies, and mosquitoes away.

Where to find your supplies:

• Most drug stores offer empty spray bottles; your local dollar store may have them in stock too!
• Feel free to use distilled water for your spray, though tap water will work just as well.
• Essential oils are often available at your local health food store, or by mail order. You can substitute lemon essential oil for lemongrass, if lemongrass isn't available. You can also substitute the cheaper lavender derivative lavandin for true lavender.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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