Has anyone found a DEET free bug repellant that WorkS?

[lizabird]

I have a lot of mosquitoes in my backyard, and all I want is to go outside with my kids in the summer and not be eaten alive. So I have tried 4 different deet free bug sprays and so far nothing really seems to work for more than about 10 minutes.

So I am wondering if anyone has found a DEET free bug spray that works well for mosquitoes?

Thanks!

[velochic]

We us Lemon Eucalyptus. Works great!

[Abarat]

I make my own, it's actually on our website. But I'm all about sharing recipes for those moms wanting to make their own so feel free to send me a message if you'd like it. It's basically a blend of essential oils in a carrier oil. Works great....and it's been tested by everyone from infants to farmers working out in the southern Georgia summer heat. Even keeps those gnats from getting all over your face too.

[mikaela]

I've used Buzz Off and All Terrain (Herbal Armor Insect Repellent). Both work well, though I think I prefer the All Terrain.

Hope that helps!

[fechera]

I found some stuff called "Badger Balm" and it works pretty well if you slather it on thick. It's kind of oily, but it worked for us down at the river preserve, which is mosquito and deer fly heaven.

[fanniefarkle]

The critters in my back yard must be mutants because no natural spray that I have used really works. So we don't use anything.

[Abarat]

Oh, another tip I read somewhere....avoid eating bananas during any season you know you'll be outside with the bugs. Something about bananas in our systems makes us so very attractive to the bugs.

[henny penny]

Another vote for Badger Anti-Bug Balm.

[tracyhos]

I like the California Baby bug spray.

[sunnysandiegan]

We don't generally have any bug problems at home. Camping, however, is another story. Especially the year we went to Yosemite!

There was a group of families all camping together. Between us all, we had a half-dozen natural bug repellants and 3-4 "regular" ones. I do not recall all the brands, but my All Terrain was the one everyone borrowed after the first evening. I also had Naturapel (sp?) that worked really well, but it was a spray and was a bit tricky to get on the little ones (all under 5 at the time).

[~Shanna~]

We use half and half Avon skin so soft and rubbing alcohol. Works great, but you have to be careful to get good coverage.

[lizabird]

Originally Posted by Abarat

Oh, another tip I read somewhere....avoid eating bananas during any season you know you'll be outside with the bugs. Something about bananas in our systems makes us so very attractive to the bugs.

Iteresting you should mention that. I did a lot of field work in very buggy places and tried all sorts of things (along with DEET bug spray which was the only thing that ever worked for me). I tried not eating bananas all summer. Didn't work. I tried eating garlic every day (didn't work for bugs but I am sure I was healthy in all other regards!) I used a sulpher based cream stuff to repel chiggers (works great if you have a chigger problem but makes you and everything you own smell like a volcano). Basically it seems that if the bugs are thick enough, there's no repelling them unless you use a physical barrier such as long pants, long sleeves, hat, and lots of bug netting. Yes, I was in some really really buggy field sites.

I can't remember the brands of natural bug repellants I have tried in my humble back yard. Two are citronella based and dont' seem to work more than a few minutes. One smells like cinnamon and I like the smell of that one, but apparently the bugs don't mind the smell either and after a few minutes they are biting me in exactly the same spots as I've just sprayed. We do have some Avon SSS, I forgot about that, and as I recall, it worked for a few minutes as well, but if you have to reapply every 15 minutes or so, it's not worth it.

ALso interesting, my littlest one is VERY yummy for mosquitoes and he comes in covered with bites. They like me too. But my older 4.5 yr old ds almost never gets bitten, or else he simply doesn't react, as I have not seen a single bite on him all summer. Maybe he's always moving too fast and the just can't catch him. Ha ha! That's the secret!

Thanks for all the replies, I think by next summer I will have a new stash of bug stuff and we'll see what works for us then.