Good Flea and /Tick Repellant:
Rind of 1 Lemon
Rind of 1 Orange
Rind of 1 Grapefruit
Rind of 1 Lime
Handful of fresh Rosemary and/or Lavender (a scant Tablespoon if using dried
herbs)
1 quart boiling water
Gather your rinds and herb(s) in a heat resistant container; Pour boiling
water over ingredients; Let steep over night; Strain through cheesecloth into
Mister/Spray bottle; Refrigerate.
I have found this natural insect repellent will last for approximately three
weeks when refrigerated. You could probably add a few drops of Grapefruit
Seed Extract if you wish to extend the shelf life a bit longer, though I have not
had occasion to try this.....we use this on ourselves and the dogs all summer
so it goes rather quickly!!
Also, being a huge fan of Lavender, I often add 2 to 5 drops of Lavandula
angustifolia e.o. to this spritz after it has cooled, though this is certainly
not necessary as the base solution smells incredible in it's own right.
BTW, this solution also effectively repels mosquitoes. In addition, you
could add two Bay Leaves (dried), or NO MORE THAN 2 drops of Bay Leaf e.o.
(Pimento racemosa) to the ingredients to boost this recipe up to repelling ticks as
well.
