July 02, 2018 0 Comments
Summer is a very fun chunk of the year. There’s so much be enjoyed, yet there’s so much to also avoid. Like sunburns, scorching hot temperatures, humidity and frizzy hair, underarm sweat marks, very oily skin and... bug bites. It’s hard to think of ways to combat all of these summer woes, so we’re here to make at least one of those annoyances a thing of the past.
Mosquitoes come out to play this time of year, whether we like it or not. Around water? Humid environments? It gets even worse. There are myths that claim mosquitoes are more attracted to certain color clothing or certain types of aromas and perfumes. Who knows if those theories are true. What we do know?
You need a bug repellant all summer, and a natural insect repellant is a wiser choice than its chemical counterpart.
Chemical bug repellants contain DEET. DEET, also known as diethyltoluamide, is the chemical active ingredient in many bug repellants. It was created during World War II and used by the U.S. Army in jungle warfare, before becoming available to the general public. It works by distracting the odor receptors on mosquitoes’ antennae. When a mosquito is looking for a target to bite, it takes three things into account: body heat, carbon dioxide that we exhale and chemicals that the body naturally excretes through skin, like lactic acid. DEET makes mosquitoes’ receptors useless to these three things, effectively preventing them from biting. But, it’s a controversial chemical ingredient that some believe is not safe for humans and their skin.
So, why is it problematic?
If you’re still on the fence and can’t quite choose between chemical or plant-based bug repellants, you’re likely going to find differing opinions as you conduct your own research. You’ll find opinions that claim DEET, a chemical, man-made conventional repellant is actually safe when used correctly. You’ll find that some believe DEET protects skin better than bug repellants made with plant-based ingredients.
But because we believe in living a natural lifestyle and protecting our Earth as much as possible, we encourage natural alternatives to just about anything. Our All Natural Bug Spray is completely DEET-free; it is instead formulated with natural ingredients like citronella, peppermint, vanilla, and lemongrass to ward off insects. It’s safe for you, and safe for the environment.
Citronella, one of the main ingredients in our bug spray, is identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a bio-pesticide, meaning it's totally safe for us to use and is non-toxic to our bodies. It's effective at repelling mosquitoes because it masks the scents on our skin that they are most attracted to. And, studies even show that when citronella is combined with vanillin, another ingredient in our bug spray, it becomes even more effective at warding off mosquitoes for up to three hours.
It even has a pleasant smell that is much more tolerable than harsh chemical bug sprays. Try it for yourself:
February 01, 2023 0 Comments