During the summer I feel like there’s a sign on my back that says “drink me.” Despite the fact that mosquitos seem to love me, I can’t say the feeling is mutual. With this badger balm copycat recipe though, you’ll have effective and lasting protection to help keep the unwanted little friends away.

The dangers of camp

This summer my little guy had his first trip to an overnight camp. I wasn’t worried about him getting hurt, or being away from home for the first time… I was worried that someone would share their toxic, conventional bug spray with him. Just the idea of that poison on his little body made me cringe.

So to ease my mind I made sure to send him off with some healthy bug repellant and told the camp counselor we (strongly) preferred not to share. And in case you’re not so convinced DEET is really that bad, then take a look at all the damage it can do to not just our bodies, but animals and the environment.

Why a badger balm?

Since this recipe uses essential oils, which are very volatile substances, the balm base helps them to stay on the skin much longer than a spray. It also doubles as a nourishing skin protectant. These essential oils will deter a wide variety of pesky things, including mosquitos and ticks that can carry disease.

How to use it safely

This recipe is safe for children ages 3-4 and up, but there are some caveats. A higher concentration of essential oils are needed in order to be effective at repelling bugs, but this also means that more care is needed when using the bug balm.
A little bit can be applied to the ankles and wrists, and for older children and adults, it can also be applied to the back of the neck. This will offer optimal protection, without risking a headache from breathing in the oils for a prolonged period of time. This safety info comes from a personal conversation with Jessie Hawkins, founder of the Franklin Institute of Wellness.

The dilution rates for this are a little higher than what I typically use in a skincare product, but this is common for a bug repellant. Keep in mind that using less will decrease the effectiveness, and it’s still very safe at the concentration it’s at. It’s also something that I have no issues using on my 4 year old.

Natural bug repellant – DIY badger balm

• 50 drops citronella (5% concentration)
• 20 drops cedarwood (2% concentration)
• 10 drops lemongrass (1% concentration)
• 10 drops rosemary (1% concentration)
• 50 drops geranium (5% concentration)
• 2 T. organic beeswax pellets – get it here
• 6 T sweet almond, grapeseed or coconut oil – get carrier oils here

1. In a small saucepan combine the carrier oil and beeswax. Heat over the lowest heat possible, stirring occasionally until it’s completely melted.
2. Allow the oil and wax to cool for just a couple minutes, then stir in the essential oils.
3. Immediately pour into your tin or glass jar and cap. Since this will still be warm, you don’t want the volatile oils evaporating into the air!
4. Rub on ankles, wrists and the back of the neck to help deter pests.

How do you keep the bug’s at bay? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to share this article with the buttons below!

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