Natural Bug repelent????

[njcarita]

I refuse to use deet on my family !!!!!!!!

and Avon no longer sell the natural Bug guard-- they have the stuff with IR355.

Does any one know of any affective , natural bug repellents that actually work and where I can order them from

TIA

 

[golfgal]

Try Cutter Advanced. It is made with something other then DEET and it works pretty well (I am in Minnesota so if it works on mosquitoes here, it will work anywhere). The great thing about this stuff is there is NO smell.

 

[babytrees]

My friend uses a dab of peppermint oil at pressure points and it works great for her family and my girls when they are over there. I just haven't gotten around to getting it for my house.

 

[TTFN]

I really like Off Botanicals. I couldn't find it this year at the discount places, but it was available at a drug store (I think I got it at a CVS). It is a plant based repellent, and is a lotion. It works great for me; usually I am the mosquitos first choice!

 

[njcarita]

Try Cutter Advanced. It is made with something other then DEET and it works pretty well (I am in Minnesota so if it works on mosquitoes here, it will work anywhere). The great thing about this stuff is there is NO smell.

I looked up the ingrediate and its Picaridin

does any one know how safe it is to use--

 

[njcarita]

I really like Off Botanicals. I couldn't find it this year at the discount places, but it was available at a drug store (I think I got it at a CVS). It is a plant based repellent, and is a lotion. It works great for me; usually I am the mosquitos first choice!

I haven't see this locally--
but I'm going to run out this afternnoon and hit some store and see if I can find it

thanks

 

[Jynohn]

I've been getting a lot of criticism from MIL lately for the same reason. I just don't like the idea of spraying chemicals on my kids. DD went to camp last week though and got eaten alive, so I found a natural bug repellant at the Kittery Trading Post in Maine. I'm at work and can't remember the name offhand, but I do know the active ingredient was geranium oil.

When the bottle runs out I think I'll just buy some geranium essential oil and put it on her instead. It smells very nice, and seems to be working.

 

[HayGan]

Just out of curiosity, what is wrong with the IR355 stuff? I use the Avon stuff exclusively on my kids.

I'm not trying to be sarcastic - I honestly don't know and I've never heard anything bad about it before.

 

[vsimeone]

My DD18 swears by rubbing Bounce fabric softener sheets on your skin and clothes and then tying it in a belt loop. I haven't tried it but it seems to be working for her!

 

[golfgal]

I don't know how bad the mosquitoes are around you but most of these things don't work on mosquitoes here, the fabric softener, peppermint oil, etc. A little DEET is better then West Nile, Malaria or any other mosquito borne disease.

 

[njcarita]

Just out of curiosity, what is wrong with the IR355 stuff? I use the Avon stuff exclusively on my kids.

I'm not trying to be sarcastic - I honestly don't know and I've never heard anything bad about it before.

ir3535 is Ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate-- I have not researched it enough to determine whether it is a compound I want lathered on to my kids skin every day.

I use to use Avons original natural version of Bugguard and loved it-- but they went over to the IR3535 a few years back and I haven't warmed up to it.

I was a research scientist at a large pharmeceutical company before becoming a sahm and I guess all those years of working with compounds and reading all those tox studies has made me very leary of what we use .

There are so many compounds once considered safe that are now carcinogens, teratogens etc... So thus leading me to wanting to find a more natural product.

May be one of the dis family has looked into IR3535 and can share some info????

 

[shamrock30]

Bite Blocker herbal lotion really works, but you have to reapply after about 2 hours. I ordered ours online last year, after doing a google search of places that carried it.

 

[Dizzy for Dsny]

I don't like to use Deet on myself or my DS. I have had much success with essential oils. All bugs hate lavendar, lemongrass and thyme. If you can only get one - get lavendar. I have been using this year on my legs when I go water my gardens and they don't touch me! I also just read in my essential oil book that there has been much success with sprinkling these oils on the mattress of hotel rooms when your traveling to prevent bedbug bites. I'm definately going to use as a preventitive! Let me know if you would like combination of 3 oils above (drop amounts for each - I'll be happy to share).

 

[Hedy]

If you don't mind smelling like citronella, Buzz Away (I got it at Whole Foods, but it's at Drugstore.com) is great.

 

[njcarita]

well I searched high and low and the only natural repellent I could find by me was
Bite Blocker Extreme --
I picked it up today-- I'll let you all know how it works

 

[Disneyaunt4]

I have used Off for years works good for me. I forgot to put some on 4th of July for the fireworks and became a human buffet. Please,please don't leave home without your repellant.