Ahh, summertime! Historically a favored time of year for warm weather, family vacations, outdoor sports and backyard barbecues. Of course 2020 looks a little different and has brought many life changes. As we begin to gradually come out of quarantine many of those cherished activities - limited as they may be - will be ours to enjoy again. One consistent of summertime? Those dreaded mosquitoes. Yes, those uninvited guests buzzing about are a fixture of summer and sure can ruin a good time.
So what do we do?
On the topic of mosquitoes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta states on its agency website has this to say “Avoid Mosquito Bites: Use insect repellents when you go outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, pic aridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection.”
Avoiding mosquito bites is pretty much common sense. And using insect repellent seems pretty logical as well. Exactly which type of insect repellent is best? That is the question!
Did you notice those words in bold above? “some oil of lemon eucalyptus”? Yes! The CDC is recognizing and publicly stating that some essential oils are effective and provide longer-lasting protection in repelling mosquitoes. And even better? Essential oil based repellents are non-toxic and safer for your family. Longer lasting protection and safer for your family? Now that’s a winning combination!
Most commercial sprays contain DEET. And while it is an effective ingredient in repelling mosquitoes, DEET can also bring some serious side effects such as skin irritation, rashes, headaches, nausea and difficulty concentrating. When applied to the skin a certain amount of DEET is absorbed into the bloodstream. And the toxicity of the chemical increases when it is combined with isopropyl alcohol or Freon, both of which are common ingredients in commercial insect repellent products.
On the flip side, essential oils are non-toxic and use nature’s own repelling characteristics to offer a safer alternative to DEET-based products.
Not all essential oils are effective as an insect repellent, and finding the right combination is key.
At Naturally Inspired Scents, our “BUG OFF!” natural, hand-crafted insect repellent uses a mixture of several oils to offer the broadest coverage against a variety of pesky critters. In our area of Texas, gnats have been especially bothersome this year and our unique blend has been effective in keeping them at bay as well. The 10ml rollerball is convenient to keep in car, sports bag or locker and is easily applied without arrant spray getting into little ones' eyes or mouths.
So if you’re looking for a natural, safer, effective insect repelle
nt for your family’s daily use (that also has a pleasant aroma!), please visit us at NaturallyInspiredScents.com and start protecting your family naturally, today!