Trying to find a more natural insect repellant (for skin)

jenniewb

I tried tonight to get a can of insect repellent (the type which is applied to skin) as last year I was near enough eaten alive by mozzies and spent a long time convincing myself not-to-scratch!

I am trying to get one which will keep both mosquito's and wasps well away from me (if there is such a thing) but noticed that the main ingredient in insect repellents is DEET!

I am no scientist and what I remember is very sketchy (we're talking Key Stage 3 Science lessons many years ago!) I remember something about DEET not biodegrading and getting into the food chain and killing off smaller parts of the food chain such as algae, vital forms of bacteria in the water, fish and some small mammals. I worry about buying a DEET insect repellent as I don't want to disturb the environment anymore then it already is and I also don't want Tesco to think I support the use of DEET by purchasing this.

Has anyone had any luck with any natural products? I did hear Citron type scents were supposed to be helpful but I tried a Citronella oil last year, put it all around my windows (do not repeat- sticky mess!!) but the wasps and mozzies just kept on coming so I don't think Citronella oil works for the wasps or mozzies in my area!

Anyone know of any better products?

baby_frogmella

I use Smidge for when i'm walking in the Scottish Highlands (midge heaven) and at work in Africa wheres theres tons of Mozzies. It aint cheap but works just as well as DEET and without that nasty oily feeling you get when applying DEET based repellants.

http://2010.midgeforecast.co.uk/index.php/shop

libbyc3

hi, last year I used 'don't bite me' patches in scotland. they are like nicotine patches you stick on and relaese something that makes your blood smell horrid (apparantly!)
I don't tend to get bitten much anyway, but dd who does did get alot less bites than normal.
as an added bonus they are spose to be a hangover cure as well as they have vit b in them!!!- didn't test that out tho!

FairyShazza

As odd as it sounds when we went on honeymoon to the Carribean we just took a daily teaspoon of Marmite each morning and I didn't get bitten once.

Apparently mosuqitos, midges etc do not like Vitamin B which Marmite is full of and if you can indgest extra Vitamin B it puts them off biting you. Not sure how true it is but it worked for us.

Just for the record I usually get terribly bitten. Once after a week in Turkey I came home with 76 bites and that was after having a mossie plug in the room at night. I still believe that the Marmite helped me to come back from honeymoon bite free.

shandyclover

I was in Spain for a year and managed to get something called Dr Johnsons Natural Insect Repellent. I bought it from Bodycare, it was made up of basically essential oils, eucalyptus, lavender and something if I recall correctly. It worked fine and my friend even borrowed it to put on her 1 year old with sensitive skin and it was fine. My daughter is volunteering in Ukraine this summer and we found some insect repellent in eitheir Lidyl or Aldi - sorry I don't remember which one. This was also natural and she reports back its working fine. Have you tried looking in bigger healthfood stores for natural repellents?

As a side note I worked 14 years in malaria ridden parts of Asia. While there they suggested we take daily supplements of Vit B, Brewers Yeast, or Garlic. All of which insects hate the taste of - they can smell it through your pores and will go looking elsewhere!

richardvc

Not sure if it's natural but I use avon skin-so-soft - of them has citronella in it and it works a treat. I play a lot of golf and am prone to getting stung and it's great !

clairibel

I've used a brand called Deetfree before but i used the suntan lotion with insect repellant in it as it was on offer at local store. I never got bit and i ran out and this year already had loads of bites.

But Jason do a spray too, quit bugging me think its called. Natural.

The avon dry body oil is supposed to work but i've never tried it.

fran-o

I've got a lemongrass foot freshener spray from Bodyshop - apparently it works well as a citronella style repellent if sprayed on the body. Not tried it yet myself, but beats smelling of chemicals.

jenniewb

Thanks for all those! Quite a few to try now! Thanks for all your advice

Katiehound

If you take vitamin B12 (maybe that's Marmite?) it is supposed to keep the wretches at bay.
If you do get bitten I can recommend a little gadget called a Zapper- they are on sale in Superdrug at present.( and other places such as mail order) It contains a piezo spark- and you click the thing on the bit at least 5 times as soon as you realise they have munched you! Must not be used with spirit based repellant for obvious reasons! If you act quickly enough it seems to stop the histamine reaction and the bite completely disappears. I have used one for years and keep one in the car, one in the bag etc!
:rotfl:

mogadon

http://www.mosi-guard.com/ Mosi Guard is supposed to be one of the best natural repellents.