Re: Natural, Non-Toxic Tick Repllent Recipe that Works

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane and all,

I wonder if the geranium essential oil repels some species of ticks

but not others? I did an experiment last year, and made up a formula

very similar to the one

you mention below, and sprayed a strip of the formula on a tall

rubber boot I wear when walking out in the yard. Then, I placed 3

ticks (we specialize in the buggers around here!!!) on the bottom

part of my boot to see if they would cross the sprayed area, and lo

and behold, they marched right across all that strong smelling rose

geranium oil. hummmm,,those ticks are wily creatures!

Suzy

On 6/29/2012 5:01 AM, its_just_talk

wrote:

Like Lena, I also use Geranium Essential Oil, as the

active ingredient in a homemade tick repellent recipe. I

just use tap water (not distilled), and it works fine.

Geranium Essential Oil smells good to humans, but

apparently, not to ticks. It is non-toxic, and ticks do

not attach, because the smell is offensive to them (for

some reason).

I originally found this recipe on Lady Barbara's webiste,

at this link:

http://www.ladybarbara.net/html/rose_geranium_tick_repellent.html

In a spray bottle containing 8 oz. of water, add:

1 teaspoon of Geranium Essential Oil

(I use Aura Cacia brand, available in Whole Foods Market,

or online)

1 teaspoon of either Vodka or Rubbing Alcohol

(your choice - I use Vodka, as it has no odor of its own)

That's it! Be sure to shake the bottle before spraying, as

the oil tends to float on top of the water.

Apply this spray liberally to shoes and clothing that may

brush against grass and shrubs, etc. It will not stain,

dries quickly, and must be applied each time you venture

outdoors into the brush or on the trail.

You can spray bare skin, but do a test first on a small

area, to see the reaction. It is non-toxic, but some

people might be sensitive to it - I'm usually sensitive to

everything, but even I can use it on bare skin with no

problems.

I'm a hiker, and I keep a bottle of it in the car at all

times. I cannot do without this repellent. It really works

to repel ticks. Note however, that it does not repel

insects in general - just ticks (which BTW, are not

insects, proper - they are arachnids, like spiders and

scorpions).

- Jane

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzy,That's disconcerting, but maybe even geranium oil wouldn't stop a tick from moving across a barren rubber surface toward the smell of a blood-meal beyond. Just a thought. I really don't trust any repellant absolutely. it's just one of several precautions needed to stay safer. For that matter, lemon oil repels spiders, which are arachnids, like ticks, (spray Pledge in the corners where they web), but not sure if lemon oil would do.Be well,Léna

Hi Jane and all,

I wonder if the geranium essential oil repels some species of ticks

but not others? I did an experiment last year, and made up a formula

very similar to the one

you mention below, and sprayed a strip of the formula on a tall

rubber boot I wear when walking out in the yard. Then, I placed 3

ticks (we specialize in the buggers around here!!!) on the bottom

part of my boot to see if they would cross the sprayed area, and lo

and behold, they marched right across all that strong smelling rose

geranium oil. hummmm,,those ticks are wily creatures!

Suzy

On 6/29/2012 5:01 AM, its_just_talk

wrote:

Like Lena, I also use Geranium Essential Oil, as the

active ingredient in a homemade tick repellent recipe. I

just use tap water (not distilled), and it works fine.

Geranium Essential Oil smells good to humans, but

apparently, not to ticks. It is non-toxic, and ticks do

not attach, because the smell is offensive to them (for

some reason).

I originally found this recipe on Lady Barbara's webiste,

at this link:

http://www.ladybarbara.net/html/rose_geranium_tick_repellent.html

In a spray bottle containing 8 oz. of water, add:

1 teaspoon of Geranium Essential Oil

(I use Aura Cacia brand, available in Whole Foods Market,

or online)

1 teaspoon of either Vodka or Rubbing Alcohol

(your choice - I use Vodka, as it has no odor of its own)

That's it! Be sure to shake the bottle before spraying, as

the oil tends to float on top of the water.

Apply this spray liberally to shoes and clothing that may

brush against grass and shrubs, etc. It will not stain,

dries quickly, and must be applied each time you venture

outdoors into the brush or on the trail.

You can spray bare skin, but do a test first on a small

area, to see the reaction. It is non-toxic, but some

people might be sensitive to it - I'm usually sensitive to

everything, but even I can use it on bare skin with no

problems.

I'm a hiker, and I keep a bottle of it in the car at all

times. I cannot do without this repellent. It really works

to repel ticks. Note however, that it does not repel

insects in general - just ticks (which BTW, are not

insects, proper - they are arachnids, like spiders and

scorpions).

- Jane

[Guest guest]

That's interesting, Suzy. Did you do your experiment using deer ticks or dog

ticks? If you look at herbalist Lady Barbars's webpage with the recipe, she does

say she tested it on deer ticks.

http://www.ladybarbara.net/html/rose_geranium_tick_repellent.html

She states:

" . . . it was the only essential oil with insect repelling qualities that

actually made live deer ticks RUN. Yes, I tested it myself, YEARS ago, with live

ticks I pulled off my cat. Everything else they just marched THROUGH, Rose

Geranium made them LEAVE – over and over. "

and she also says:

" . . . I was for many years in stressful, high-responsibility professional

gardening jobs. My last year in NY State I was not bitten even once. "

What to think?

- Jane

> >

> > Like Lena, I also use Geranium Essential Oil, as the active ingredient

> > in a homemade tick repellent recipe. I just use tap water (not

> > distilled), and it works fine. Geranium Essential Oil smells good to

> > humans, but apparently, not to ticks. It is non-toxic, and ticks do

> > not attach, because the smell is offensive to them (for some reason).

> >

> > I originally found this recipe on Lady Barbara's webiste, at this link:

> > http://www.ladybarbara.net/html/rose_geranium_tick_repellent.html

> >

> > In a spray bottle containing 8 oz. of water, add:

> >

> > 1 teaspoon of Geranium Essential Oil

> > (I use Aura Cacia brand, available in Whole Foods Market, or online)

> >

> > 1 teaspoon of either Vodka or Rubbing Alcohol

> > (your choice - I use Vodka, as it has no odor of its own)

> >

> > That's it! Be sure to shake the bottle before spraying, as the oil

> > tends to float on top of the water.

> >

> > Apply this spray liberally to shoes and clothing that may brush

> > against grass and shrubs, etc. It will not stain, dries quickly, and

> > must be applied each time you venture outdoors into the brush or on

> > the trail.

> >

> > You can spray bare skin, but do a test first on a small area, to see

> > the reaction. It is non-toxic, but some people might be sensitive to

> > it - I'm usually sensitive to everything, but even I can use it on

> > bare skin with no problems.

> >

> > I'm a hiker, and I keep a bottle of it in the car at all times. I

> > cannot do without this repellent. It really works to repel ticks. Note

> > however, that it does not repel insects in general - just ticks (which

> > BTW, are not insects, proper - they are arachnids, like spiders and

> > scorpions).

> >

> > - Jane

> >

>