For a long time, we’ve been made to think that it must be a chemical for any repellant to be effective. But when did that come to be? Did humanity forget that herbs served as the medicine and repellants for mosquitoes and other insects before advancement in technology?

Plant-based repellants have been used for many generations, and ethnobotanical studies have made it possible to harness new natural products. As a result, repellants containing plant-based ingredients have gained popularity in the recent past.

 More people are becoming chemical sensitive, and chemical repellants like DEET are losing popularity.

When shopping for repellants, you must have come across a product with a label that reads “natural insect repellants.” But what is this natural insect repellant?

This article explores natural insect repellants and why they’re better.

The ingredients

The active ingredient that repellants use to repel insects is the difference between natural and synthetic insect repellants. Natural repellants like good riddance insect repellent use natural ingredients like essential oils like lemon eucalyptus, spearmint, geranium, peppermint, lemongrass, among other plant-based elements.

On the other hand, the non-natural repellants use man-made ingredients, and common among these is DEET.

DEET is a repellant that the United States Army came up within 1946 during world war 11 to keep off the insects as they fought in the mosquito-infested jungles. It was later introduced to civilian use in 1957, and up to date, it’s still in use.

The safety

Natural repellants are plat-based, meaning they are made from plant ingredients and therefore safe to use. However, EPA requires that all skin-applied repellants be registered. Still, repellants containing natural ingredients like cedar, geranium, peppermint, soybean oils, and such are considered a minimum risk, and therefore, you don’t have to be registered.

Some research studies suggest that DEET could pose a health risk in relation to the central nervous system. 

One study on Animals by Duke University showed how the chemical diffuses the brain cells and behavioral changes in rats after prolonged use.

Friendly and kind to skin

Most mosquito repellants contain synthetic chemicals like petroleum which could cause allergy and skin irritations. Natural mosquito repellent is free of such ingredients and, therefore, safe. That means you can even use it to apply to sensitive skin. In addition, you can use it where there are children because of the minimal risk.

Alternatives to DEET

Lemon eucalyptus extract

This is a potent natural repellant that is extracted from the eucalyptus tree. 80% of the plant extract comprises citronellal, used in cosmetic industries, while the waste distillate is used to make mosquito repellant.

Many plant extracts are perfect in repelling mosquitoes, with the effect lasting from minutes to hours. However, the active ingredients tend to be highly volatile, and though they are effective, they last for a short period.

Lavender

Crushed lavender flowers produce oil and a fragrance which can repel mosquitoes. Some animal studies on mice found out that lavender oil could repel mosquitoes. It has antifungal, analgesic, and antiseptic qualities. Thus, in addition to repelling mosquitoes, it calms and soothes the skin.

DEET is a chemical used to repel mosquitoes for a long time, but research has proved that it can be dangerous to humans. That’s why many people are now adopting natural repellants. These are friendly to the skin and with no harm to the environment.