Summer time is upon us and with that hopefully, more time outdoors or at the very least more time with the doors open. With fresh breezes can come creepy crawlies and their aerial cousins.
One way to encourage bugs to not be so friendly is with aromas they don’t like. This is a simple mixture of coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax with a combination of essential oils for just that purpose.
You will need:
1/2 oz. Shea Butter
1/2 oz. Coconut Oil
1/2 oz. Beeswax
50 drops essential oil ( Lavender, Lemongrass, Cedarwood equal mix )
Container
I teach candlemaking so I have lots of little bits and pieces of beeswax left over. This is what in the bag in the picture above. If you roll beeswax candles, be sure to keep any bits and bobs that break or are leftover, They work in making soap as well.
The nice thing about sheets of beeswax is that the wax is thin and will melt quickly. Of the three ingredients, the beeswax has the highest melt temperature and therefore thick chunks mean the coconut oil and shea butter will be at a higher temperature for a longer period of time compared to beeswax in thinner pieces. Bulk beeswax is also an option when finely grated or chopped.
Place the coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax in a pot over medium heat and stir until melted.
A microwave is also an option for short bursts of time. Place in a pyrex measuring cup with a spout and you will be ready for easy pouring.
Once melted, take off the heat and add in the essentail oils. Stir well, very well. The essential oils have varying viscosities ( thicknesses ) and if not well mixed the oils can settle to the bottom.
Do not let the mixture cool too much before pouring it into your container. The cooler the mixture gets, the more will be left in the pot. This recipe will make one small batch and can be expanded as needed.
Allow to solidify and put on the cap. Lable for easy reference. It really is that easy.
I used a mixture of lemon grass, lavender and cedarwood, much nicer than traditional citronella but in truth what bugs one bug will not turn away another so some experimenting might be in order against what calls your part of the world home.
Here are some additional essential oil suggestions:
- Flies: Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Melaleuca, Patchouli, Peppermint, Rosemary
- Mosquitoes: Cinnamon, Clove, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme
- Ticks: Cedarwood, Geranium, Melaleuca, Peppermint, Thyme
Use your finger to swipe and rub on, just as you would use a solid perfume. It smells much nicer than traditional bug repellents and is good for your skin too. Bonus!
Solid Bug Lotion from My Kitchen Wand
