Who needs a bug bite???

I ask you -- WHO NEEDS a BUG BITE? NOBODY -- right?
Pesky biting insects like the mosquito can turn a beautiful summer outing into a constant annoyance. Over the years, I’ve gathered a few simple strategies that genuinely help me feel less like a walking invitation. With camping season here, it feels like the perfect time to share.

A surprising place to begin is breakfast. What we eat can subtly influence our body chemistry—including how appealing we are to insects.
If you’re heading out for a hike or picnic, it may help to skip very sweet foods, especially fruits like berries or bananas, right before heading into wooded areas.

Instead, consider more savory, grounding options. Meals like a tomato-basil omelette, eggs with greens, or toast with nut butter provide steady energy without the sugar spike. Plain yogurt or unsweetened cereals can also be good choices, depending on your family’s preferences.

The goal isn’t restriction—it’s awareness. Even small shifts, like reducing sugary foods before outdoor time, can make a noticeable difference. Combined with other natural strategies, this simple habit may help you enjoy your time outside with fewer itchy interruptions.  I've written up a "summer checklist" for you -- Check it out here. 

Because truly… who needs a bug bite?

 

Say no to a BUG BITE !!

So.. we are avoiding FRUIT or SWEET DONUTS etc for breakfast.
Planning a shower? Choose shampoo or soaps that are not attractive to mosquitoes ~ try lavender or lemon scented. My choice would be a non-chemical shampoo with a lavender scent.

I always use good quality home-spun soaps made from local soap-makers and ....it's just as well I like lavender -- that's my favourite during the summer months for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

See below for some ideas regarding mosquito repelling plants and the resulting scents that are not going to make you a sitting target! It's so much more than 'citronella'. There are OPTIONS here to find what works well and appeals to YOU!

It's easy to make choices from this ample list so that the scents you surround yourself with, sometimes without even thinking about it, are of benefit to you and add to your enjoyment of the great outdoors!

 

Plant MOSQUITO REPELLING PLANTS -- Avoid the Bug Bite!

Whether in a pot beside the deck or on the dock or on your patio -- or any sort of 'set-up' and garden--

Most aromatic herbs repel insects because they contain volatile essential oils—compounds that evaporate into the air and interfere with an insect’s ability to smell, locate food, or sense human skin. Many of these compounds either mask our scent or actively repel or confuse insects like mosquitoes.

Here’s how each of these plants work:

 

Basil   (Ocimum basilicum)

Basil is rich in compounds like eugenol, linalool, and citronellol. These disrupt mosquito scent receptors and can act as mild insecticides.
Eugenol in particular is known to interfere with how insects detect hosts.

 

Catnip    (Nepeta cataria)

Catnip contains nepetalactone, a compound shown to be extremely effective at repelling mosquitoes
—sometimes even more than synthetic options.
It triggers avoidance behavior in insects by overstimulating their sensory systems.

 

 

Cinnamon    (Cinnamomum spp.)

Cinnamon’s active component, cinnamaldehyde, is both repellent and larvicidal.
It can deter adult insects and also inhibit the development of mosquito larvae.

 

Garlic   (Allium sativum)

Garlic releases sulfur compounds like allicin.
When consumed or applied, these compounds are excreted through the skin,
subtly altering body scent in a way that insects find unappealing.

 

Lavender   (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender contains linalool and linalyl acetate, which have calming effects for humans but act as repellents to insects.
These compounds disrupt insect nervous systems and scent detection.

 

Lemon Balm    (Melissa officinalis)

High in citral and citronellal, lemon balm has a fresh citrus scent that masks human odour and
repels mosquitoes effectively—similar to citronella plants

 

 

Peppermint   (Mentha × piperita)

Peppermint’s menthol is intensely aromatic and can overwhelm insect sensory receptors.
It also has mild insecticidal properties, making it both a repellent and deterrent.

 

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Rosemary is a wonderfully potent aromatic ally when it comes to discouraging insects.
Its essential oil contains compounds such as 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), camphor, and alpha-pinene—all of which have strong, penetrating scents that insects tend to avoid.

These compounds work in a few key ways. First, they mask human scent, making it more difficult for mosquitoes and other biting insects to locate us.
Second, certain constituents—particularly camphor and cineole—can disrupt insect nervous systems and sensory receptors, creating an inhospitable environment.
In essence, the plant’s fragrance is overwhelming and confusing to insects, even though we often find it uplifting and clarifying.

Rosemary has also been traditionally used in "smoke form" (for example, tossed onto a campfire), where the aromatic compounds are released more intensely into the air, helping to create a wider “protective field.”
This makes it especially useful for outdoor gatherings.

 

 

In summary -- all of these plants, in various ways, work together to confuse, repel, and overwhelm  the insect's senses,
while offering us a clean, herbaceous scent and an added layer of natural protection

 

Other plants which offer good support for avoiding the 'bug bite' encounters include:

Cedar, Citronella, Cloves, Geranium, Lemon, Lemon Grass, Lemon Verbena + Thyme

If you want to find an effective non-chemical remedy at your local health food store, look for products containing these herbs for a good remedy.
If you want a DIY home remedy, there are many options.

This is the "BUG OFF" remedy that I have made for years @ Studio Botanica, the shop, in Toronto's west end. It's easy. The key??
CATNIP Essential oil gives us the BEST gift of effective mosquito repelling  ability!! Here's an online source I've used for Catnip oil
It has been proven to be = OR better than chemical repellents!!

Studio BOTANICA 'BUG OFF'

8oz almond oil
10 drops Catnip essential oil
5 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops Lavender essential oil
5 drops Rosemary Essential oil
3 drops Lemon Essential oil

Slowly drip each essential oil into the 'carrier' oil.
Shake the bottle to mix
Shake the bottle before each use.
Apply a small amount to exposed areas.
(neck, wrists, ankles)

This whole 'bug avoidance thing' is an entire process.
Avoid being attractive to the bugs
Avoid 'the bug bite'
Avoid discomfort, if bitten

Here's a simple recipe, from my friend Sandy who owns Nacent Naturals, north of Toronto.
Sandy has a delightful wholesale company selling everything from essential oils to carrier oils and everything in between for making DIY products.
She prides herself in sourcing and sharing the highest quality products available.

 Cedar Insect Spray

15 drops pure cedar wood essential oil
15 drops pure lemongrass essential oil
25 ml denatured alcohol
225 ml distilled water (or reverse osmosis)
1 250 ml (8oz) glass or plastic bottle with spray cap

Add label and use when outdoors this spring/summer!

 

Check out this post about a favourite way to soothe an insect bite. PLANTAIN!

 

Here's hoping that these ideas help you to enjoy the best summer ever!!
Here's to our health!
Carol x