Bug Bites!

DEET is not without side effects. It can be an irritant under clothing, and has been connected to health disturbances in heavy users (like park employees). It also damages and dissolves synthetics. That's why guidelines limit its strength and usage, especially in children. On top of that, I've yet to find a good DEET product that doesn't stink. Some people would prefer to avoid it for those reasons.

Actually, OT, I did express how much I hate DEET, so I suppose that is what Sparty is commenting on. As for my objection to DEET, I happen to believe the research that says it should be used with caution and can cause quite a few side effects in some people - I realize that ANYTHING can cause side effects, however, I feel that essential oils, witch hazel and vanilla extract would cause far less issues with most people. My opinion, of course, based on the research I have done - there is research that shows oil of Eucalyptus Lemon to be as effective as DEET - I found this article interesting myself - http://time.com/3856309/mosquito-repellent-bug-spray/

Now, if I was out for a long period of time somewhere that the mosquitos were all over me, I would certainly use DEET in this particular circumstance, however, my day to day exposure, high up on a mountain with a lot of breeze, does not call for me to use it. I need something to use to deter them and I like the smell, feel and good results of my homemade repellant. The ingredients are relatively inexpensive and easy to get so I prefer it to any product with DEET. Also, my stepdaughter has asthma issues and she has a difficult time with all of the DEET sprays we have tried.

And, Sparty, for the record, I have never found ANY DEET product that comes close to lasting for 6 hours with one application...not for me, anyway.

And, Sparty, for the record, I have never found ANY DEET product that comes close to lasting for 6 hours with one application...not for me, anyway.

Ha Ha! 6 hours. I missed that. It's a good day when it lasts 2 or 3 for me.

80% deet products I use I get 10 hours from. If I'm not swimming or sweating profusely.

Essential oils are still chemicals and many people have reactions to them also this

http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20160513/more-children-accidently-poisoned-by-essential-oils

Different people have different reactions to everything around. As an old Hindu proverb admonishes, "Even nectar is poison if taken to excess." I can't imagine why it's a surprise that a child would become sick from drinking essential oils or be irritated if essential oils were slathered all over its skin. I use essential oils in soap making and lotions and in all "herbal" recipes one uses only a miniscule amount of essential oils.

As I said before, people can have reactions to ANYTHING, however I believe that the essential oils would have far less side effects (for MOST people) than DEET. My opinion, of course. Also, as with all things, you need to know how to use 'chemicals' safely, including essential oils. I am a massage therapist and have spent a great deal of my life studying essential oils and their uses, so I feel pretty confident in my ability to apply them safely...just trying to give people an alternative to DEET products (that actually WORK!!), in case they DO create negative side effects for them and they would like to try something else.

What in the heck is an essential oil? What makes it so essentisl to me?

Only oil I know that we can't live without is crude oil.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil

The essential part refers to the essence of the plant. It doesn't mean essential as in necessary.

What in the heck is an essential oil? What makes it so essential to me?

Only oil I know that we can't live without is crude oil.

At one point in time, before the Industrial Age, humans lived without crude oil, so we could live without it.

What in the heck is an essential oil? What makes it so essentisl to me?

Only oil I know that we can't live without is crude oil.

The whales couldn't.

At one point in time, before the Industrial Age, humans lived without crude oil, so we could live without it.

What in the heck is an essential oil? What makes it so essentisl to me?

Only oil I know that we can't live without is crude oil.

(tu)

The whales couldn't.

At one point in time, before the Industrial Age, humans lived without crude oil, so we could live without it.

What in the heck is an essential oil? What makes it so essentisl to me?

Only oil I know that we can't live without is crude oil.

To janeinstx, thanks for the reminder about the whales, which led to a mini research session for me. I did find several sources that said kerosene did not save the whales because the whale oil industry has reached its peak and was already in decline. However if kerosene had been invented much earlier it would have saved the whales.

At one point in time, before the Industrial Age, humans lived without crude oil, so we could live without it.

What in the heck is an essential oil? What makes it so essentisl to me?

Only oil I know that we can't live without is crude oil.

And lived to the ripe old age of "died at childbirth"

At one point in time, before the Industrial Age, humans lived without crude oil, so we could live without it.

What in the heck is an essential oil? What makes it so essentisl to me?

Only oil I know that we can't live without is crude oil.

And lived to the ripe old age of "died at childbirth"

Oh spartygrad, even I can't stretch that far. Enough is enough.

Yes.before 1900 the worldwide life expectancy was 30. The life expectancy worldwide had gone up to 48 by 1950 and 67 by 2010. This isn't and wasn't a stretch at all. Infant mortality rates were cut in half following industrial revolution. So before we all start waxing poetic about the simpler days of yore (from our computers and/or smartphones) let's not forget how crappy life was before the industrial revolution

Two things Sparty:
1. How do you know how crappy life was then? Maybe it wasn't that bad. At the very least it was more natural.
2. Maybe increased life expectancy is not such a good thing for us all

More natural. Oh the lols.

You know what is "natural" disease, pestilence, death. Every major improve,eat mankind has ever accomplished is to fight against nature. If it is "natural" to be dead at 32 from Diptheria.. I'll pass.

Yes.before 1900 the worldwide life expectancy was 30. The life expectancy worldwide had gone up to 48 by 1950 and 67 by 2010.

A bit off:

"Period life expectancy at birth in the mid-19th century was around 40 years for males and 42 years for females. These figures increased to around 45 and 50 years respectively by 1901. Life expectancy then rose dramatically until the mid- 1950s.
Mortality improvements and evolution of life expectancies
www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/eng/docs/deip_gallop.pdf"

http://www.who.int/global_health_histories/seminars/presentation07.pdf

Actually no. I'm not.
Your PDF deals with England and Wales. I said worldwide. My statement still stands.
Live to the ripe old age of died in childbirth.

Here in SC, I grow a lot of lemon balm. Easy to grow perennial that spreads all over. If I'm sitting around, I just grab some leaves and rub them on exposed areas. Works fine for me.

When working outside, I sweat a lot when the temps are over 90. I eat a lot of hot peppers, garlic, etc. A woman that I knew from Trinidad recommended a high hot pepper diet to keep bug bites low. This seems to work as I don't get many bites.

Here we don't have too many no nos in the summer; too hot, they just seem to go away until Fall when the temps are back in the 80s.

si, i am assuming the ops question has been answered?

Recently I tried this product:

"Repel Lemon Eucalyptus"

It worked well for me at my location (Five Corners), and it is Deet free. You may still have to use a stronger product on your legs for the sand fleas. For normal everyday use said product worked fine for me.

https://www.amazon.com/HG-24109-Eucalyptus-Natural-Insect-Repellent/dp/B010AFV1LQ/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1467722038&sr=1-1&keywords=repel+lemon+eucalyptus

P.S. I bought a couple of bottles when I was on the mainland.

si, i am assuming the ops question has been answered?

LOL. Surprisingly, yes. Back on page 1.

What in the heck is an essential oil? What makes it so essentisl to me?

Only oil I know that we can't live without is crude oil.

This will explain everything for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_Ecmciv9zI