Let’s face it, we love to be attractive - that is, until insects find us irresistible! Home remedies can be used to deter insects naturally. Additionally there are plenty of things we can do to reduce our beauty to bugs without compromising it to others. Attention to cleanliness routines, avoiding certain body care products and making your own insect repellents are all great ways to enjoy the outdoors without letting the insects enjoy you!
How to Make Yourself Unattractive to Insects
While people are not fond of sweat, insects often are! Helping your body to regulate its sweating through alkalizing can help. Alkalizing can also reduce your body odor, which is something else the insects can be attracted to.
1. Alkalizing drinks
One tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water each morning can help to alkalize your body. Alternately, squeeze a fresh lemon into a glass of water for a refreshing and alkalizing start to your day. To either you can add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda if you wish. Some find it makes these drinks easier to take while providing the added health benefits of bicarbonates.
2. Chlorophyll Supplements
Chlorophyll can neutralize body odor, which makes you less interesting to insects. Tablets or liquid chlorophyll are usually taken.
3. Start the Day Clean and Scent Free
On days you know you will be dealing with lots of bugs, start with a shower with unscented soap. If you find you find that you deal with deodorant failure during the day, keep a spray bottle of alcohol in your purse or back pack. Spritz your underarms to kill bacteria and reduce odor.
4. Brewer's Yeast
Brewer’s yeast is a nutritional supplement which some claim helps to reduce attractiveness to insects. Pet owners often give it to their dogs to make them less hospitable to insects. Brewer’s yeast is high in B vitamins, so its effect may be similar to that of a B complex supplement.
5. B Complex Supplements
Whether or not supplementing with B1 (thiamine) can reduce your attractiveness to insects is controversial. But taking a B complex supplement is an easy way to find out for yourself. B complex often improves energy and overall health so it isn’t a bad supplement to consider anyway. It is not recommended to take only B1. The B vitamins work together and taking them in a combination supplement protects against imbalances in the system.
6. Reduce Sugar Consumption
Reducing your sugar intake can make you less sweet to insects. Whether it is the sugar itself or the acidifying effect on the body that attracts insects is not clear, but cutting back your sugar intake is generally a good step in improving your own overall health, anyway.
7. Natural Insect Repellent Spray
- 8 ounces witch hazel
- 2 ounces water
- 25 drops each – lemongrass, geranium, peppermint, cedar
- Mix together and pour into a spray bottle.
- Shake spray well before each use
- Spray your skin and clothes hourly when you are outside
8. Insect Repellent Lotion Bar
Lotion bars are fun to make and moisturize your skin while deterring pests. If you add the optional zinc oxide (non-nanoparticle) you will have a lotion bar that also doubles are a mild sunscreen bar.
- 2/3 cup beeswax
- 2/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup shea butter
- 1/3 cup cocoa butter
- (2 T. zinc oxide - optional)
- 30 drops each – citronella and lemongrass essential oils
- 15 drops each geranium essential oils
- 15 peppermint essential oil
- Melt the wax, coconut oil, shea butter and cocoa butter in a double boiler. When they are melted together, remove from heat and stir in the zinc oxide (avoid breathing the dust!)
- Stir in essential oils
- Pour into silicone molds.
- Cool. Remove and place into containers.
- Apple the lotion to your skin before going out and after swimming.
9. Avoid Scented Products
Hair products, body care products and perfumes can be too much of a good thing. Bugs are attracted to the scents of many body care care products and flowery perfumes.
Consider natural body products that are unscented or scented with essential oils that insects do not like. (Lavender, peppermint, tea tree, geranium, and lemongrass to name a few!)
10. Wear Cotton Clothes
Cotton clothes breathe better and are less likely to retain odors, especially body odors that insects enjoy. Ideally you will wash your clothes with unscented laundry soap. A vinegar rinse is a good idea too.
Wearing solid and light colored clothing will make insects that land on your easier to find and eliminate as well.
Do you have a way to keep the bugs away? Please send us some feedback!
