Insects are simply a part of life, especially in the warmer months, when it feels like every flying or crawling pest is after you. A good repellent makes all the difference. But most conventional repellents rely on potent synthetic chemicals. Is there another way? Yes. Keep reading.
People have been repelling insects with plants for centuries. Today's natural repellents are the best version of that idea: plant-based, effective, and gentle on your skin. Here's why you might want to make the switch.
A Better Way
Luckily, today's natural insect repellents are effective and easy to use. They're made from plant-based ingredients, gentle on your skin, and many people find them just as effective as conventional options for everyday time outdoors.
No Synthetic Chemicals
Most conventional repellents are built around DEET, a synthetic chemical many families would rather not have on their skin, let alone stored in the house with kids and pets around. A natural repellent skips all of that. No harsh synthetics, no rinsing off at the end of the day, no worries about little hands.
Skin Friendly
Conventional repellents can be rough on skin, especially sensitive skin. Once skin is irritated, they're off the table entirely. Natural products are a gentler path. Some, like our All-Natural Insect Repellent, are made to nurture skin while they protect it, with nourishing goat milk and plant oils right in the formula.
That's the clean-ingredient difference: protection that treats your skin well at the same time.
Great Scent
Chemical bug sprays have a smell nobody loves. Natural repellents smell like the plants they're made from: citronella, lemongrass, and other pure essential oils. It beats that chemical smell every time, and so will you.
Works Just as Well (Or Better)
The number one question about natural repellent: does it actually work? Ours does. Our Insect Repelling Lotion Stick and Insect Repellent Goat Milk Soap use a specialty blend of pure essential oils that insects don't like. Our customers have taken them all over the world (Africa, South America, Alaska) and come home bite-free.
How to Use It
It helps to use the two formats together. Shower with the repellent soap in the morning to lay down a base layer of protection. Then toss the lotion stick in your bag for touch-ups. A few swipes on exposed skin is all it takes. Reapply after swimming or if you're working up a good sweat, just like you would with sunscreen. One of our customers even stores a spare bar of the soap with their outdoor clothes so the scent adds another layer of protection. Clever.
Good for the Whole Family
Because there's nothing harsh in the formula, the whole crew can use it. Kids heading to the backyard, dogs along for the hike, grandparents with sensitive skin. No special handling, no keeping it out of reach, no rinsing off at the end of the day. Just swipe and go.
Why Reapplying Is Normal
Here's an honest note: pure essential oils are volatile, which means they evaporate faster than synthetic repellents. That's simply how plant oils behave. The trade-off is a reapplication every few hours in buggy conditions. The good news is the stick format makes it effortless. A few swipes and you're covered again. No spraying, no rubbing in, no sticky hands.
Storing Your Repellent
Keep the lotion stick at room temperature. Because it's made with coconut oil and beeswax, it can soften if it sits in a hot car or direct sun. The soap bar is hardier. Just let it dry between uses on a draining dish and it will last.
One Simple Bug-Season Routine
Morning: shower with the repellent soap. Day: keep the lotion stick in your bag and swipe exposed skin before heading outside, reapplying every few hours. Evening: you're done. No harsh residue to wash off, just skin that was protected and moisturized all day.
Kinder to the Outdoors, Too
There's an environmental side to this choice as well. Aerosol sprays release propellants into the air and leave empty cans behind. Our repellent comes as a solid stick and a bar of soap. No propellants, no pressurized cans, no overspray drifting where you didn't aim it. And when you're done, the stick tube and the soap's minimal packaging are a fraction of the waste. It's a small thing, but it adds up over a whole bug season.
Quick Answers
How often should I reapply? Every few hours in buggy conditions, and right after swimming or heavy sweating.
Can I use it with sunscreen? Yes. Apply sunscreen first, let it soak in, then swipe the lotion stick over the top.
Does it work on ticks too? Our blend is made to help you enjoy time outside with plant-based protection against biting pests. As with any repellent, do a tick check after time in tall grass or woods.
Key Takeaways
At the end of the day, it comes down to this: you can protect yourself from bugs with clean, natural ingredients that are also good for your skin, or you can go the synthetic route. We know which one we'd pick.
Our All-Natural Insect Repellent is made without synthetic chemicals. Just a specialty blend of pure essential oils that keeps bugs far away, plus nourishing goat milk, coconut oil, and olive oil to moisturize while it protects. No mess, no waste like traditional sprays. The lotion stick goes exactly where you want it. Clean, natural, and it works. That's the whole philosophy. Shop the collection here.
Until Next Time,
Madd House Hill