Spending time outside in nature, camping, picnicking, fishing, and getting plenty of vitamin D are synonymous with summertime around here. Like many active families, we do our best to protect ourselves from harmful sun damage and bug bites while we're out enjoying nature. 
Did you know that rates of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease are on the rise, along with West Nile Virus and other diseases carried and spread by our six-legged neighbors? Thank goodness for bug spray... right? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the main active ingredient in most bug sprays, DEET, is known to cause adverse effects such as neurological deficits, seizures, skin rashes, and cardiovascular events. Just like the toxins found in your sunscreens, this stuff is almost as detrimental to your health as the bugs you're trying to repel! 
Don't worry, avoiding DEET doesn’t mean you have to avoid bug spray altogether. There are a variety of plants that bugs HATE -- especially parasitic bugs like ticks and mosquitoes. You can grow certain plants around your yard, or if your family is always on-the-go like mine, you can use our Bug Off essential oil blend to avoid bites and stings!
Our Bug off essential oil blend contains:
- Peppermint - In addition to repelling bugs, peppermint oil soothes away the itch of existing bug bites.
- Lavender - Repels ticks and mosquitoes, and soothes the skin.
- Ravintsara - bugs hate the camphorous notes of this essential oil.
- Helichrysum - The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of this oil help soothe existing bites and kill bacteria.
- Citronella - No bug spray is complete without citronella because mosquitoes TOTALLY suck.
- Tagetes - The essential oil extracted from marigolds repels bed bugs, lice, mosquitos & fleas as well as common household pests like cockroaches, ants & termites.
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Lemon Eucalyptus: This oil has strong tick repelling properties comparable to DEET in studies.
You can dilute 10 drops of Bug Off in 1 tsp carrier oil and rub it on your body as a bug repellent or use this recipe for a spray bug repellent:
- 1 Tsp Bug Off
- 1 Tbsp rubbing alcohol or vodka
- 1/2 cup witch hazel
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray liberally on your body, clothes, pets, etc.
All online orders over $60 placed in June 2019 will receive a FREE bottle of Bug Off, so place your order today!
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