Bug Repellent Cream

By rsams

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp stearic acid powder or beeswax pellets
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup distilled water
• 1 vitamin E capsule
• 10 drops each of two of the following: citronella, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender (if you'd like to repel ticks), pennyroyal

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from diynatural.com

Preparation

Step 1

(Makes about 12 oz)

Directions

Melt the beeswax and/or stearic acid, Vitamin E and coconut oil over low heat. I like a double boiler or a large metal bowl on the lowest setting (around 100 ºF) in the oven.

Heat the distilled water to almost boiling, remove from heat and add the baking soda.

, pour water slowly into oil while mixing with a

hand blender

Immediately place pan in an ice water bath in the sink. Mix occasionally until evenly, and completely, cooled.

Place into the jar of your choice and add essential oils. I prefer a combination of citronella and eucalyptus for general insect repellent. Label jar well.

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Please make sure to note to use extreme caution when using penny royal. It is poisonous to animals if it is ingested and should not be used if you are pregnant or could be because it can cause a miscarriage.

Hi, I’m wondering if this could be tweeked to make bug repellent/body lotion bars… You know, how you do the beeswax and coconut oil body bar? What do you suggest?

Which of the essential oil(s) would be the best combination for mosquito’s? Can you put more than 2 types of oils in the mixture?

How long will this be good to use ? If I make some and store it over the winter, will it still be effective next summer ?

Yes, the cream generally keeps over winter. Because it doesn’t have any chemical separators, it will often “collapse” and need to be stirred up. It is usually still good though. Sometimes I add in new essential oil if the jar was open a good bit of the time and the scent escaped.

Hmm…. I’ve never tried it with anything else. It’s a bit of grit for the emulsification process… helps the oils to “grab” and for those who don’t have a sensitivity to it, it is beneficial to the skin. A replacement would have to dissolve in the water without being gummy. I thought of alumroot, but I would stay away from a thickener. I’ll keep thinking, and perhaps some other reader will have the solution before I think of something!

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