Home remedies for mosquitoes.

As a child, I often spent holidays playing in my grandparents' garden. Every day I became someone else there, I was: a cook, a builder or a warrior with a branch imitating a sword. Regardless of the role played and the available weapons, my grandmother smeared my ears and neck with a thin layer of fragrant oil.

I could have sworn on all my toys that I took these treatments unopposed and saw nothing special about it. Today I know that thanks to this simple act, my grandmother protected my skin from bloodthirsty creatures. Animals whose gentle bite caused unpleasant itching, buzzing over the ear, ready to attack unexpectedly - mosquitoes. Now that I am a mother myself, I try to protect my own children.

Mosquito repellent available in stores and drug stores

The summer sun brings to life not only insects. It is also a signal for stores that, as one man, put bottles with chemicals in sight to protect us from mosquitoes, flies and God knows what. However, if anyone who throws a product into the basket looks at its composition first, they may feel dizzy at best. In two words: I do not recommend. Let me mention that one of the most popular ingredients that such a mosquito repellent contains has been used by farmers as an insecticide. It is nature that has endowed us with substances that keep mosquitoes at bay. Cheaper, healthier, without irritation, choking smell of spray, non-ecological, plastic packaging and aerosols.

What essential oil repels mosquitoes?

I am writing about essential oils that contain hundreds of compounds that insects hate, because they are one of the most effective methods in fighting these animals. What essential oils do I mean and how to use them?

I present a proven, brave army: lemongrass, eucalyptus, lemon eucalyptus, patchouli, lavender, rosemary, mint, citronella, cinnamon and clove oil.

In each of them, we find substances that are particularly unpleasant to insects and safe for humans. A pleasant smell for humans is the one hated by a mosquito. He has a well-developed sense of smell recognition. It is able to track the victim from a long distance. He is attracted by carbon dioxide exhaled with the air, or lactic acid, which is a component of sweat. However, if there is an essential oil on our skin, its heat causes volatile compounds to dissipate around the body. Thus, the discouraged animal will depart.

It should be remembered that oils that are applied undiluted to the skin may irritate it. Oils can be successfully spread in water, with the use of spirit or base oil (I especially recommend sweet almond, jojoba, grape seed oil) in a concentration of 5-10%. Andiroba oil will also be a good base, as it repels not only mosquitoes, but also ticks. Due to its density, it is worth mixing it with one of the base oils mentioned above.

In a bottle with an atomizer, mix 25 ml of spirit with ten drops of the selected oil and make up to 100 ml with water. Just remember to shake the bottle thoroughly before use. Later, you can spray the liquid on your clothes without fear.

If oil is used - mix 100 ml of the product with 60 drops of the oil. in this concentration, the mixture is safe for adults and children. If the oil is intended only for adults, you can mix 100 ml of base oil with about 300 drops of essential oils. Apply a small amount of the mixture to parts of the body that are prone to bites, including wrists, ankles and neck. Despite the fact that the oily solution can stain clothes, it is my favorite mosquito repellent. The fragrance of the essential oil lasts longer than when you use water.

Home remedy for mosquitoes

We can successfully use several types of essential oils to create one mosquito repellent blend. They say that there is strength in a group - and this is also the case here. Personally, I use the following recipes, depending on what oils I have at hand:

Recipe for a universal mixture:

• Oil-based solution: 100 ml of base oil (preferably grape seed oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil) mix: 20 drops of lavender oil, 20 drops of patchouli oil, 10 drops of rosemary oil, 10 drops of mint oil and 5 drops of lemongrass oil
• Water-based solution: combine 100 ml of water with 5 drops of lemongrass essential oil and 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Ready!
• Recipe for a mixture for adults (oil concentration 10%):
• Oil-based solution: into an empty glass bottle with a capacity of 100 ml, add essential oils in a total amount of approx. 300 drops: 70 drops of peppermint oil, 40 drops of patchouli oil, 30 drops of lavender oil, 50 drops of lemon eucalyptus oil , 20 drops of lemongrass essential oil, 90 drops of citonella essential oil. Finally, fill the bottle with the base oil to 100 ml. Before adding