Posted by Les Mauvaises Herbes
Gnats, mosquitoes, mosquitos… they may be small, but they’re probably in your top 3 summer annoyances! Even though Quebec mosquitoes aren't disease vectors like in some tropical countries, their bites are still very unpleasant. When biting, the mosquito injects its saliva, which prevents blood from clotting, causing our immune system to release histamine at the site of the bite, leading to the typical swelling, redness, and itching.
One trick not to be overlooked: a drop of organic spike lavender essential oil (Lavandula latifolia), a chewed-up plantain leaf applied directly to the bite, or our Great Outdoors soothing balm works wonders to calm the itching!
GET PEACE OF MIND NATURALLY
Keep your property from becoming a mosquito nursery
Before chasing them away, let’s start by reducing their population at the source! Since mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, start by emptying water from patio furniture, watering cans, and any containers where it is likely to accumulate after rain. If you have a body of water as part of your landscaping, it's good to know that the presence of predators like frogs and fish reduces the mosquito population.
Plant flowers and aromatic herbs
Strong scents from flowers and herbs are unpleasant to mosquitoes and tend to repel them. In particular lavender, calendula, basil, mint, rosemary, lemon balm, and catnip are famous natural repellents. All the more reason to cultivate a garden or surround your terrace or balcony with fragrant plants!
Use bug-repelling essential oils
Several essential oils have proven themselves as mosquito repellents. They can be used either in a body spray or diffused via a candle (see our recipes below).
The three natural components responsible for this anti-bug effect are geraniol, citronellol, and citronellal. One or the other of these molecules is found in large quantities in the following essential oils:
- organic lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora)
- citronella (Cymbopogon nardus)
- lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
- organic rose geranium (Pelargonium x asperum)
- organic lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) – this one has a relatively low geraniol content, but it also seems to show good mosquito-repellent capacity!
Other interesting essential oils to use for chasing away mosquitoes:
- catnip (Nepeta cataria) – expensive, but ultra-effective*!
- organic true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- organic lavandin super (Lavandula burnatii)
- organic clove (Eugenia caryophyllus)
- litsea cubeba (Litsea cubeba)
*You can replace the essential oil with a maceration of fresh or dried catnip in fractionated coconut oil or soybean oil.
Choosing the right carrier oils for your bug-repellent oil
Although insect-repellent essential oils are very effective, the problem is their volatility, which makes their effectiveness short-lived. However, certain ingredients, such as fractionated coconut oil (also called caprylis) and soybean oil, help limit the volatility of essential oils, significantly improving their effectiveness.
Another oil not to be overlooked: neem oil. Yes, it smells a bit like roast beef, but you quickly get over it once you see how effective it is. Neem oil is known for its insect-repellent and insecticide properties. It has been used in India for a very long time. Its effectiveness is surprising! Note that this oil tends to solidify; if that happens, simply place the bottle in a bain-marie until the oil is completely melted.
Using mosquito-repellent candles
Everyone knows the good old green spiral coil you light to chase away mosquitoes, but did you know you can make your own repellent candle? You add essential oils like those mentioned above and light it at dusk, the time when mosquitoes come out of hiding to attack our bare ankles! All the essential oils mentioned above have a high enough flash point not to denature in candles. Since anti-mosquito candles have a limited range, we recommend making three or four to place strategically.
What we think about DEET
In recent years, we’ve tried various chemical and natural mosquito repellents in search of the best of the best. After several trials, we’ve found that none repel mosquitoes 100%, but the most effective ones remain those containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), a chemical product to be used with caution. It must be said that Audrey worked in Northern Quebec (James Bay, North Shore) and the flies there are particularly voracious! Because of its high efficacy, Health Canada recommends the use of DEET to prevent certain insect-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus. However, this product can pose significant risks to the nervous system if abused. That is why it is very important to follow the dosage prescribed by Health Canada:
- Adults and children over 12: maximum DEET concentration of 30% (see product packaging). Reapply every 6 hours maximum. Effectiveness: 6 hours or less.
- Prolonged use is not recommended for children under 12
- Children aged 2 to 12: maximum DEET concentration of 10%. Reapply every 3 hours maximum. Three applications per day maximum. Effectiveness: 3 hours.
- Children aged 6 months to 2 years: maximum DEET concentration of 10% (see product packaging). Only one application per day maximum. Effectiveness: 3 hours.
- Children under 6 months: do not apply insect repellent containing DEET to a baby under six months old. Instead, use mosquito netting.
The percentage of DEET dictates the duration of effectiveness. However, the duration of effectiveness of products containing DEET still does not go beyond the prescribed dosage. There is inevitably a moment when the product stops working, where you want to cry, but you still have to wait before reapplying. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the repellent can also be altered by perspiration, water, or skin friction, just like all other repellents. So, what do we do? We opt for essential oils!
Whether you are pro-chemical or natural repellent, you must have a natural product on hand if you need to apply a mosquito repellent containing DEET more often than is prescribed.
TRY OUR RECIPES!
Anti-mosquito oil for babies and children
Some oils and essential oils can be irritating to the delicate skin of babies and children. From the age of 6, children's skin is generally resistant enough to use adult mosquito repellent recipes. Before this age, milder formulas are preferred, like the ones we are presenting to you here!
Préparation
5 minutes
Conservation
6 mois
Rendement
50 ml
Mosquito repellent candle
Making your own mosquito repellent candles, a great idea to enjoy the beautiful season, right?
You've never made candles and you'd like to see it in action? Watch Marie at work in the video below. It'll shed some light (uhuh) on things! You can also check out our article on the subject.
Préparation
30 min
Conservation
indéfinie
Rendement
4 bougies de 125 ml
SOS Itching: DIY Calamine Lotion
I am THE person who comes back from camping with their legs devoured by mosquitoes, biting midges, and deer flies, while your friends only have 2-3 small bites... If this is also you, you'll love my calamine-style lotion recipe made with simple, medicinal, and effective ingredients!
- Mariane
Préparation
20 min
Conservation
1-6 mois
Rendement
125 ml
Insect repellent oil for "buffet dog"
Your dog is being devoured in the forest and you don't want to apply a DEET-containing product? We understand! Here's a simple recipe that only requires a vegetable oil and a few mosquito and parasite repellent essential oils.
Préparation
5 min
Conservation
6-12 mois
Rendement
30 ml
