The Best Natural Mosquito Repellents

Summer brings the sunshine and the weekends spent in nature.

Unfortunately with the pleasant activities come some uncomfortable guests, like most bugs and insects.

The fiercest of them is the mosquito.

They are attracted by dark clothing, moisture, body temperature, sweet-floral fragrances and carbon dioxide.

There is nothing more annoying than spending a lovely evening by a river or lake and be bitten by hundreds of mosquitoes attracted by our blood.

There are a few lucky people around, who don’t seem to be affected by these little villains, but unfortunately I am not one of them.

Mosquitoes carry illnesses as well, but if someone is allergic to their bite, like I am, it will cause many white nights. Recently I heard that the usual repellents, which contain DEET, may cause brain and neurological damage so I thought about trying some natural remedies.

Natural remedies

One of the best natural mosquito repellents is garlic. Eating fresh garlic keeps the mosquitoes far away for quite a while, because they can sense it even in our sweat. Unfortunately I can’t stand garlic and on a sweaty summer day the smell might become uncomfortable.

My personal favorite of natures’ options is lavender. It always works perfectly against mosquitoes. The oil smells great and fresh and also keeps most insects away. It is easy to find in most pharmacies and there are plenty of cosmetics that contain lavender oil.

According to a research conducted by Iowa State University, catnip oil is ten times more effective than DEET. Peppermint, cinnamon and lemongrass oil are just a few of the great oils that help us keep these insects away.

Another easy and cheap natural remedy against mosquitoes is soy oil. It is considered to be just as effective as most mosquito repellents. On the plus side it is a great body moisturizer, and can slow down body hair growth.

What do we do if we’ve already been bitten?

Applying ice pack on the bite, toothpaste, or rubbing a paste made of baking soda with water might soothe the itch. Also, lavender is a good repellent, but it’s also good for treating the bites. Mix some lavender with tea tree oil and apply on the bite.

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