mosquito repellant

[redrider]

15 drops of lemon grass oil, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and 2Fl oz of witch hazel. Enough to fill one of those empty eyeglass cleaner atomizers. No one in the group was bitten except for the one girl who "never gets attacked by them" and chose not to use the concoction. I suppose you could up the vanilla content for a sweeter scent.

[sbaker]

is that the formula for 100% Deet??

[redrider]

No. !00% cheap.

[pebra]

I'm interested in giving it a try.
What's witch hazel?
Might not grow around here.

[Sasquatch Jim]

Witch Hazel was a comic book character in the sixties.

[redrider]

Witch Hazel comes from the pharmacy and such. It is an astringent like rubbing alcohol. In this formula, it is an emulsifier. Shake well before use, every time. I personally like the smell of witch hazel but if you do not, rubbing alcohol or distilled spirits will suffice.

[rodekyll]

A time honored formula, which if it doesn't work on skeeters, the bears really appreciate.     

I have a skeeter hat which is a soft canvas hat with a net sewn to the rim.  If you don't like the net get a brimmed hat and sew dingleballs to it.  Skeeters hate dingleballs.

Also, if you spritz or spray you favorite concoction, spritz or spray on a tissue or hankie and wipe it on whatever you want repellantized.  That keeps it out of places you don't want it.  Remember:  DEET deteriorates nylons and plastics, as many fishermen have discovered after doping up and handling fishing line.

[LowRyter]

what is lemon grass oil ?

[redrider]

A member of the grass family. Lemon/citrus scent and the plant parts used in cooking, herbal medicine, mosquito repellant and honey bee attractant. The oil is steam distilled and mine came from IHERB 951-616-3600. A local natural foods store should have it as well.

[pebra]

Hmmm this reminds me of a time my wife asked for. "lemon oil" at the pharmacy.
Her ginger nuts smelled and tasted like repellant, they mixed something up at the pharmacy. Always funny when they do that.   

So I guess it's the lemon grass oil that's the real repellant in the recipe?

[slowmover]

I use Listerine mouthwash or a cheap generic equivalent in a spray bottle to spray around the deck or when I'm at work at a telecom terminal.I'm told it's the evaporating eucalyptus that repels them.I think its the gold color stuff that works best.Also if you're drinking booze on the job you can spray it in your mouth when the boss shows up.

[Hymes Inc.]

https://www.simplysoothing.net/  I use Bug Soother. Roughly the same ingredients. Works really well on gnats and does pretty well on skeeters.

[ohiorider]

Love Witch Hazel by itself a an after shave.

Bob

[Muzz]

Witch Hazel is the major ingredient of Optrex eye lotion; as someone else said, it is an astringent.

The plumber we used when I was a carpenter had a real  brew. He would mix a teaspoon of kerosene with a bottle of beer (750ml) and drink that. Reckoned the kerosene would continue to ooze out of the pores for about a week and keep all sucking insects at bay.

Of course, he was from a time when the women were men and the men were animals.....

[Groover]

Tea Tree oil seems to do a pretty nice job at repelling mosquitos too.

[Sasquatch Jim]

what is lemon grass oil ?

 I think it is the factory recommended oil for use in lemon grass.

 It is a proven fact that at campouts, those who drink a lot of beer get bitten by more mosquitos
they just don't notice it as much.

[cruzziguzzi]

15 drops of lemon grass oil, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and 2Fl oz of witch hazel. Enough to fill one of those empty eyeglass cleaner atomizers. No one in the group was bitten except for the one girl who "never gets attacked by them" and chose not to use the concoction. I suppose you could up the vanilla content for a sweeter scent.

Sure... Great! You want me to marinate for my bulldogs? I'll take the mosquitos.


Todd.