I tried making some up after following a thread not long ago on this topic, but it did not work for me. I used anise, vanilla, lemon, peppermint extracts. Also, I used a bit of Tiki fuel which contains citronella and lemon grass oil.

I remember some of the guys saying that they had good luck with this, so maybe I can trouble you one more time for your recipes.

I have a commercially prepared non-DEET concotion that works, but I wanted to do my own.

Thanks for riding this dead horse one more mile.

I was told you could take fresh basil leaves crush them up and rub it on your skin for mosquitoes.

Only non DEET product I tried that worked was some type of B vitamin. But MAN, the smell coming from my skin would wake me from a dead sleep.

Just get a thermocell. You don't have to rub or spray anything on your skin.

X2 on the Themacell. Amazing little invention and I've never had it spook game.

Yeah, I got a Thermacell, but was trying to go "au naturel" with a traditional home remedy, but I'm beginning to think au naturel is French for "The mosquitoes just ate me for lunch". I think I will try the basil leaves. The B1 vitamin left a noticeable smell with me also.

Sometimes au naturel takes a back seat to the stuff that causes cancer\\ in the does it work category.

I remember seeing a test on the different insect repellants and the only one that work contained deet.

Gimme the deep woods Off baby! Splash that stuff on like aftershave cologne. Keep those little blood suckin bast... off o' me.

Thermacell   works.    

Have you tried cedar oil? Someone had a repellant called "Bug Off" (or similar) that had a cedar smell. Very pleasant and effective. Some of our sponsors may still carry it. Good luck.

Thermacell uses an extract from some flower--can't recall which one.  Chrysanthemum I think.  That's pretty natural.

Homs "bite blocker".
Works incredibly well and non-deet.

Google "natural mosquito repellant". Not only will you find brands, but you will see a link to the chemistry side of how mosquitoes are attracted to people. Look over the brands and and their ingredients and decide give it  a go.

QuoteOriginally posted by owlbait:
Have you tried cedar oil? Someone had a repellant called "Bug Off" (or similar) that had a cedar smell. Very pleasant and effective. Some of our sponsors may still carry it. Good luck.

I think Rose city makes the bugg off.

I have heard of using cedar oil, so I may take a look into it.

http://rosecityarchery.com/Bugg_Off.htm  

It looks like they call it SQUASH spray now.
Anyhow,check out the link. if it don't work,at least you smell really nice.

Rose city archery makes it. I can't find any sponsors that sell it. but I am sure some do.

CTT

Go to a big box home improvement store. Go to the area that has the cedar blocks for close storage.
Most have cedar oil in a pump spray.
Cut it with a little water(as ot may irrate your skin)
Use sraight on clothes.
I take paper towels and make wipes with the liquid in an air tight container.
Its not 100% but is better than most and is also a great cover.

When I lived in SW Florida the older Florida Crackers said they always drank a cup of lime juice to repel the skeeters..i never tried it, I just used deet.. This was way before thermocells

This stuff we carry works on mosquito's and ticks. All Natural

http://stjoeriverbows.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=177&zenid=b12f02c14e0275f245018a2805224bae