Mosquitoes are those small insects that suck blood and leave uncomfortable and irritating bites; however, they are not only a nuisance, they are also transmitters of diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.
Therefore, it’s important to find ways to protect ourselves. Many people use commercially available repellents; however, growing concern about the chemicals these products contain has driven the search for safer, more natural alternatives.
In this context, homemade repellents made with natural ingredients such as essential oils, aromatic plants, and plant extracts have become a popular and effective option. Besides being inexpensive and easy to prepare, these products offer reliable protection without exposing the skin or the environment to toxic substances.
How to make a natural repellent?
According to a publication by UNAM, called ” Natural repellent with essential oils “, there are certain plants that help fight mosquitoes —such as lavender, citronella, and mint— and thus prevent them from bothering us.
Lavender:
The easiest way to incorporate this ingredient to repel these insects is through your cream.
Add a little lavender oil to your daily cream and apply it twice a day.
Another option is to boil 1/2 cup of water with a tablespoon of lavender. Let the liquid cool and strain the mixture.
Finally, pour it into a spray bottle and add 1/2 cup of alcohol. That’s it! You can use this mixture as a repellent.
Cetrionela:
This citronella mosquito repellent is very easy to prepare.
Add 20 drops of citronella oil to 100 milliliters of your moisturizer. Mix the oil with your cream and apply it morning and night.
Another way is to boil half a liter of water and then add 5 fresh lemongrass leaves. Let it boil for 10 minutes on the heat and then allow it to cool.
Strain the infusion through a sieve and pour it into a spray bottle.
Mint:
Finally, this other natural mosquito repellent is one of the most refreshing you can prepare.
Simply boil 1/2 cup of water with a tablespoon of dried mint leaves.
Then let the infusion cool, strain it, and pour it into a spray bottle.
Just like the previous recipe, add 1/2 cup of alcohol to the bottle, and you’re done.
Note: Remember to shake your bottles well before spraying yourself with your new natural repellents.
