natural outdoor bug repellents?

[jtsmom]

Our yard is just crawling with black flies and misquitos. It is completely unbearable to be out there more than 5 minutes. We live in the woods and the bugs are worse here than any other place I have been so far in this area. Are bat houses a good idea? I don't want to invite them over if they will try to enter the house, we have enough critters in here already.

I remember that the old boards had some suggestions including some essential oils, but I don't remember what they were.

TIA
jtsmom

[Elismama]

I used to use Buzz Away and it worked great. Active ingredients were listed as citronella (5%), cedar (5%), lemongrass (1%), and peppermint (1%)essential oils. Now I make my own using these ratios and adding the oil to water. I put it in a spritzer bottle (I use the original Buzz Away bottle) and it works just as well.

-jeanie

[jtsmom]

Are all of those things available at the health food store? Does it work on black flies, too? (I assume you have them too in Vermont!)

[Elismama]

Works great on black flies- we have a major black fly population here!

You should be able to get the essential oils I listed at a health food store- especially citronella, peppermint, and cedar. And you will probably be able to get Buzz Away too. I've also used Natrapel in the past and it works too- it only contains citronella. If you can get just one oil- go for the citronella.

-jeanie