Mosquito
It's that time of year - the skeeters are getting bad Skip the harsh store bought stuff and make you own mosquito repellant
Combine in a 16 oz bottle:
15 drops lavender oil
3-4 Tbsp of vanilla extract
1/4 Cup lemon juice.
Fill bottle with water. Shake.Ready to use. Make some extra to gift to your family & friends. (Trust me.. it'll be appreciated!) Share this on your wall so you'll have it handy when it's needed.
See also...
Green Bug Juice Recipe (Excerpted from Dina Falconi's book, "Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair: Natural and Health Personal Care for Everybody." More about "Earthly Bodies" book, here)
"This effective bug repellant is inspired by Juliette de Bairacli Levy's recipe in her book Traveler's Joy. Its dual action is provided by first extracting the bitter herbs into a carrier oil base, and then adding strong-acting essential oils. Apply thoroughly to your skin and then reapply as necessary.
"The effectiveness of the oil depends on the bitterness of the wormwood. Best to taste it before making. Good quality wormwood should taste disgustingly bitter and have a strong aroma.
"Green Bug Juice also makes an excellent after-bite remedy by reducing itching and swelling. And it is excellent for toning pores and softening skin.
Multiple images to help you identify Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
"Ingredients
Use the following dried herbs:
- 1/2 cup wormwood (cut)
- 1 tablespoon rue (cut)
- 1 tablespoon sage (cut)
- 1 tablespoon tansy (cut)
- 1 tablespoon pennyroyal (cut)
- 1 tablespoon southernwood (cut)
- 8 oz cold pressed olive oil
- 1 teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil
- 45 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 30 drops spearmint essential oil
"Method
Coarsely grind the herbs and place in a glass jar that is 12 oz or larger. Add the olive oil and mix well. Cap tightly and let steep for at least 3 weeks (I usually steep for at least 6 weeks). Strain through a cloth lined strainer, squeezing out as much oil as possible.
"Pour strained herbal-infused oil into a jar. (At this point you can use the oil, minus the essential oils, which I tend to do). For a stronger effect, add the essential oils, cap and shake. It is ready for use.
"Easy Bug Juice
"You can also make a simple oil with just wormwood infused in olive oil. Add the essential oils, if you have them, and apply this oil to the skin to repel bugs."