Herbal tick/flea/mosquito repellant

[WildWolf]

Hello! As the weather's getting warmer, the fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are coming out...

Has anyone made a herbal spray that repels ticks, fleas, and/or mosquitoes? I want an alternative to the chemical repellents for my dogs. I've tried diatomaceous earth, and it worked as far as I could tell (we put it on after the major tick season), but I didn't like how easy it was to inhale the DE. You're not supposed to inhale it, but that's nearly impossible to avoid when applying it. It didn't cause any damage, but I'd still like to try something else (or maybe in addition to DE).

I found many herbs that are said to repel those pests from dogs (and humans). Peppermint, citronella, spearmint, lavendar, rosemarry (especially for fleas), and lemon balm.

But, I was wondering- could you combine all those herbs and get a spray that repels ticks, fleas, AND mosquitoes? Or would it not work as well?

Thanks in advance!

[am1too]

Originally Posted by WildWolf

Hello! As the weather's getting warmer, the fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are coming out...

Has anyone made a herbal spray that repels ticks, fleas, and/or mosquitoes? I want an alternative to the chemical repellents for my dogs. I've tried diatomaceous earth, and it worked as far as I could tell (we put it on after the major tick season), but I didn't like how easy it was to inhale the DE. You're not supposed to inhale it, but that's nearly impossible to avoid when applying it. It didn't cause any damage, but I'd still like to try something else (or maybe in addition to DE).

I found many herbs that are said to repel those pests from dogs (and humans). Peppermint, citronella, spearmint, lavendar, rosemarry (especially for fleas), and lemon balm.

But, I was wondering- could you combine all those herbs and get a spray that repels ticks, fleas, AND mosquitoes? Or would it not work as well?

Thanks in advance!

I understand ticks don't like sulfur. Its in garlic and onions. My dogs don't like garlic or onions either. That is why you see sulfur blocks for cattle.

[WildWolf]

Originally Posted by am1too

I understand ticks don't like sulfur. Its in garlic and onions. My dogs don't like garlic or onions either. That is why you see sulfur blocks for cattle.

Right, I saw that when I was researching. I was looking for more herbal recipes, mainly because- like you pointed out- dogs don't like garlic or onions, and sulfur smells terrible.

[chickenista]

http://thehennerytraditionals.blogsp...quid-swat.html

[Janetm]

I have used essential oils of all the herbs you mentioned, mixed them in a spray bottle with alcohol, witch hazel or vodka. Shake before using and spray it on the dogs before we go out. They don't particularly love the smell but it works. There are a bunch of recipes online, I use what I have on hand.

[WildWolf]

Thanks! I just wanted to be sure that I could mix all those herbs and have it still work.

Could I use apple cider vinegar instead of vodka/alcohol/witch hazel? I think that the alcohol is added as a sort of preservative, and I *think* apple cider vinegar would work well too.