Winter is nearing its end but the transition in seasons brings in more infections and health woes. Besides harmful viruses and bacteria lingering around, it is also a breeding time for mosquitoes. Though most of use mosquito nets, screens and sprays to protect ourselves from mosquito bites, we may still get targeted by those painful stings. Also Read: Repel Mosquitoes the Natural Way
Mosquito bites are the primary reason behind deadly fevers like malaria, typhoid, dengue etc. If you want to protect your family with natural products, imbued with essential oils and other herbal constituents, try these DIY mosquito repellent Bars.
The blend of different types of essential oils gives these insect-repellent bars a strong fragrance that facades your smell from insects while protecting it sans any annoying irritation.
Keep mosquitoes and bugs away, with these chemical-free, easy to make homemade mosquito repellent bars: Also Read: 5 Must-have Essential Oils for Monsoons
Rosemary-Citronella Insect-Repellent Bar
Ingredients
1/2 cup mango butter
1 cup almond oil
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
1/2 cup beeswax
2 tsp dried whole cloves
2 tbsp dried or fresh thyme leaves
1/3 cup fresh or dried rosemary leaves
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/2 tsp cinnamon bark pieces
1 tsp Vitamin E oil
10-12 drops of citronella essential oil
10-12 drops of Lavender essential oil
1 soap mould
Method
Boil the dry or fresh herbs, i.e. mint, thyme, rosemary, cloves and cinnamon in almond oil using a double boiler.
Once the colour of oil becomes dark brown, remove it from the boiler and strain the oil using a muslin cloth to remove the residual herbal matter.
Again, put the oil back in the double boiler and heat it to reduce the volume of oil a bit.
While boiling, add mango butter and beeswax and stir it properly so that it mixes well.
Remove the vessel from the burner and add the essential oils and vitamin E oil.
Pour it into moulds and put it inside the freezer, to speed up the process.
Rub the lotion bar before stepping outside or even at home to thwart off mosquitoes and other insects.
How It Works:
Imbued with Vitamin C, mango butter brightens and nourishes the skin. Addition of the dried herbs and essential oils having potent anti-microbial properties prevents infections, thwarts off insects and bugs and also imparts a soothing sensation to the skin.
Kokum Butter-Lavender Oil Insect-Repellent Bar
Ingredients
1 cup kokum butter
1/3 cup almond butter
½ cup of virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup apricot kernel oil
½ cup beeswax granules
1/2 cup arrowroot powder
15-20 drops of lemongrass essential oil
15-20 drops of lavender essential oil
15-20 drops of geranium essential oil
1 soap mould
Method:
Melt the beeswax granules in a double boiler and add both kokum and almond butter to it.
Keep stirring and add virgin coconut oil, apricot kernel oil and arrowroot powder in the melted butter solution.
Stir occasionally, until the ingredients in the boiler have completely melted without the presence of any lumps.
Put it away from the heat and one by one add the essential oils with simultaneous stirring.
Pour them into different shaped moulds and allow the bars to freeze in the freezer.
Store it in glass jars away from sunlight at room temperature for future use.
How It Works:
Both kokum and almond butter are extremely effective to lock in the moisture within the skin and nurture it from with. The arrowroot powder added to the bar keeps the skin non-sticky whereas the essential oils of lemongrass and geranium extract prevent mosquitoes and other bugs.
Cocoa Butter-Olive Oil Bug Repellent Bar
Ingredients
1 cup beeswax pellets
1 cup of cocoa butter
1/3 cup shea butter
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup sesame oil
10 drops of Bug Off essential oil (a blend of nine essential oils that repel mosquitoes which are peppermint, lemongrass, citronella, basil, lemon, catnip, thyme, eucalyptus, coconut, almond, and olive oils)
1 soap mould
Method:
Liquify the beeswax pellets in a double boiler and add the body butters to it while stirring.
Add olive oil and sesame oil in the melted butter solution.
Put it away from the heat and add the bug off repellent oil with simultaneous stirring.
Pour them into the soap moulds and allow the bars to freeze in the freezer.
Store it in airtight glass jars away from sunlight at room temperature for future use.
How It Works:
Being free of chemicals, this bug repellent oil is a careful blend of none essential oils, all of which when applied on the skin, targets towards repelling mosquitoes, bugs and other insects. Addition of shea and coconut butter not only moisturises and hydrates the skin but also prevents other skin infections.
