We all love sitting outside on a warm summer night. That is, until the mosquitoes show up. You end up waking up in the morning covered in itchy red bites that seem to take forever to go away. The first thing most people run to is a bottle of smelly insect repellent. As horrible as this stuff smells, it’s still a necessity because mosquitoes and ticks can carry some nasty diseases. Long-sleeved shirts and pants are always an option as well, but that’s usually not practical in the middle of the summer.
The active ingredient in most insect repellents is N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or DEET. While this has been proven effective, it has been known to cause cognition problems in some animal tests.
There is, however, a third option that will let you stay itch free and you won’t have to worry about what the weird chemicals are doing to your brain. Here are five natural insect repellents that work just as well as the chemically made, smelly kind.
Aubrey Organics Gone – $7 for a 4oz bottle
Herbal, DEET-free bug spray that also offers SPF protection. Badger Balm Push-Up Stick and Tin – $10 for 1.5oz stick or $10 for a 2oz tin
Balm that soothes dry skin and repels bugs with citronella, rosemary, cedar and geranium. Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Repellant – $7.75 for a 4oz bottle
Proven effective against mosquitoes, deer ticks and no-see-ems for up to six hours. The use of lemon oil has been listed by the CDC as proven effective for the repellant of mosquitoes that carry the west Nile virus. Bite Blocker – Comes in a variety of formulas including one with SPF 20. Made with organic herbal ingredients. Bite Blocker Herbal Wipes – $8.99 for 4oz
Specially designed for babies and children. You can apply this natural herbal insect repellant without getting any in their eyes or mouth.