I have what you might call sweet blood. Mosquitos love me. In fact, if you don’t want to risk getting bit, just come and sit next to me, and chances are they will choose me over you. I don’t know what it is and haven't found much science to explain it. Needless to say, I have personally tried just about every natural remedy out there to no avail.
So what would a problem solver like myself do? Start making her own recipes of course.
This is the recipe I finally landed on. I took the best of several products that work for other people and put them all in one concoction. The glycerin and coconut oil seem to make the solution last longer on the surface of the skin rather than soaking in requiring fewer applications. The witch hazel feels refreshing on the skin on a hot day and the smell is very pleasant. I recommend making larger batches because you will go through it quickly, especially if you have kids, enjoy the outdoors regularly, or do activities like gardening or hiking in wooded areas.
Here are some factoids about bug spray:
DEET, the common ingredient in most over the counter products mosquito repellents is a dangerous neurotoxin linked to seizures and possibly cancer in the amounts that are required to be effective. Lemon eucalyptus oil (different than eucalyptus) has been shown in studies to be almost as effective as DEET in repelling mosquitos as well as ticks! Lemon eucalyptus was shown to be 95% effective according to a study by J Am Mosq Control listed in the National Library of Medicine.
Just remember to apply often, especially when sweating or swimming. Natural remedies tend to need more regular applications that their chemical counterparts.
More information on product safety located at ewg.org