Commercial insect repellents are, by definition, pesticides. If you research this topic online you will be sent to any number of governmental websites including the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Because of the intended use of these class of products, they are highly regulated. Due to the regulation of this class of product, you are required to register your "natural" bug-fighting concoction with the government and submit the formula for independent testing prior to selling it commercially. Labeling requirements for insect "repellent" products are also very different and require that the approved biopesticide (active) ingredients are listed by percentage of the formula as well as by standard INCI requirements for cosmetic ingredients labeling.
If you advertise (in print, online, by word of mouth or by any other means) that your product "kills", "repels", "protects against" or imply that the intended use of your product is to perform these functions, you are making a claim and thereby need to prove it through independent testing and registration of your product or face intervention by the FDA, FTC and/or EPA.
If you, however, want something for personal use, there are a plethora of recipes floating around that work to varying degrees. The following blend is my personal favorite and as a runner, I see my share of annoying insect pests. This recipe is light, non-greasy, smells nice and has yet to let me down!
You will need:
4 oz Coconut Oil, Fractionated
4 oz Cyclomethicone
5 ml (1 tsp) DEET Buster Essential Oil Blend
Combine all ingredients in a bottle with a fine mist sprayer application. Shake well to incorporate. I keep a bottle in each car so it is always handy!
FYI: Because this essential oil blend is a proprietary formula, your label will read as follows:
Ingredients: Fractionated Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Oil, Cyclomethicone & Fragrance.
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1 comments:
Very educational blog. Thank you for the information.
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