Natural insect repellent

I've been noddleing this for awhile; if skeeters smell you and don't like it won't everything? Any hunters out there? Deer and wild game in general aren't dumb, so if you're smelling like an Italian Festival or a scented candle, won't your game know you're there? Scent discipline is also a part of proper camoflauge; I'm just throwing this one out there. Sorry, if I'm hijackin' the thread.
 
Myakka said:
What works and what doesn't, What have tried or tested.
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Southern bayberry aka Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) although the links uses a different genus.

Used it for years when in the woods as a forester in the southeast. Stuff is everywhere in the pine flatwoods. I haven't used insect repellent in 10+ years primarily because of this plant, however, when the gnats, deer flys, or mosquitoes get real bad I would use a headnet.

Simply pull the leaves off the stem and crush between your hands then rub over your exposed skin. Gives about 15-20 minutes of protection depending on how much you sweat, etc.

Its usually a medium to large bush but can be a small multi-stemmed tree. Leave are persistent - if you look at the underside with a magnifying lens you can see tiny globes, these contain an oil. A good way to check as see if you have the right plant is to smear the underside of the leaf on a white piece of paper as it will leave a green yellow streak which I believe can only be confused with a few plants in the Heath family. By the way, this plant is very flammable even when green.

I know you are near Tampa - its very prevalent there.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=172

http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch

Another natural repellent is our own oils. If I am going to the woods, I avoid taking a shower as I am convinced the soap perfumes and/or removal of natural oils from my skin attracts mosquitoes and gnats.
 
Not sure if this would work with lemon or if it would repel mosquito's as I have yet to try it, but I was drinking alot of ice water with lime juice for a while and my rugby jersey started to smell of lime once I got a sweat going.

-Lindey
 
Myakka said:
Here is Nessmuk's Fly Medicine recipe:

Three ounces pine tar, two ounces castor oil, one-ounce pennyroyal oil. Simmer all together over a slow fire, and bottle for use.
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I remember seeing that and wondering what "pennyroyal oil" is. Haven't done any googling, but maybe someone could share?
 
the possum said:
I remember seeing that and wondering what "pennyroyal oil" is. Haven't done any googling, but maybe someone could share?
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According to Petersons Edible Wild Plants, Eastern/Central North America, p 140, American Pennyroyal, Hedeoma pulegioides, "Where Found: dry soil, fields, roadsides, open woods. Minn. to Quebec, South to Okla., Ark., Ala., and Fla."

So I'm thinking pennyroyal oil is made from boiling the plant and separating out the oil, but if you know what to look for, it seems to be pretty widely available. Otherwise you'd have to buy online and take your chances with freshness, concentration, etc.
 
OK, I got off my lazy butt & did a bit of searching, and it is indeed the essential oil of a plant. For some reason from the name I assumed it was some kind of lotion or something that was popular back in Nessmuk's day.

I also found out the stuff is seriously deadly poisonous if ingested. I thought castor oil was toxic enough, but this stuff sounds much worse. It sure does make me leary of keeping my body coated with it. I sure as heck wouldn't apply any to my two year old daughter. Also, a very, very weak diluted tea made from leaves of this plant is considered an effective natural abortion tonic, so if you guys use this stuff, ya might not wanna let a pregnant woman use it.
 
A friend of mine swears that B1 vitamin patches will keep the skeeters from biting. They are made for that application, but I don't recall the name. Google would know.

right on
 
Bigfoot sweat mixed with equal parts of badger musk and petroleum jelly will keep everything away! :D
 
DOC-CANADA said:
I know Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) can be used as a fish poison, but I didn't know it worked for repelling insects. What part is used? Leaves?

Doc
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I would like to hear this too. I think it is juglans that is the chemical that provide aleopathic capabilities to black walnut, but haven't heard insect repellent.

The chemical is also very prevalent in the nuts of mockernut hickory, Carya tomentosa, great to put on the grill when green. Gives great flavor to steak!
 
Quiet Bear-
Says it's made from geraniums. They naturally contain pyrethroids, an effective insecticide, which is also manufactured artificially on a large scale. That site seemed to emphasize its "all natural" qualites, but poison hemlock is "all natural" too.
 
Spray down your pant legs with Lysol to keep the chiggers off. Not natural, but it works.
Terry
 
the possum said:
Quiet Bear-
Says it's made from geraniums. They naturally contain pyrethroids, an effective insecticide, which is also manufactured artificially on a large scale. That site seemed to emphasize its "all natural" qualites, but poison hemlock is "all natural" too.
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Not trying to defend the product; although I let my kids use it, but...

1. Because it is derived from geraniums doesn't necessarily mean it contains pyrethrins (pyrethroid is the synthetic version). The active ingredient in the product is geraniol:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraniol
The MSDS even states its not toxic even if ingested.

2. Although you are not directly comparing it to poison hemlock, mentioning of another plant that is very toxic (internally, not topically) in such a broad statement clouds the issue.

3. Compare it to DEET.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deet
 
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