As we are getting ready for the upcoming spring and summer, and all the bugs that come with it, I decided to make a roll-on lotion bug repellent. This is a similar recipe to the regular hardened lotion bars I use to moisturize, but with added bug repelling ingredients.
Roll-on Bug Repellent Lotion |
Gypsy Boots Trail |
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Prep Time
20 minutes |
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Setting Time
6 hours |
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Total Time
6 hrs 20 minutes |
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Ingredients
- 4 tbsp bees wax, grated or pellets
- 3 1/2 tbsp shea butter, raw
- 2 tbsp neem oil
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- essential oils
- I mixed together citronella, lemon grass, rosemary, mint and cedar
Directions
- In a double boiler or a heat proof bowl resting on a pot of boiling water, melt together bees wax, shea butter and neem oil
- Once all ingredients have melted, remove from heat and quickly stir in tea tree oil and essential oils
- Pour immediately into a clean, empty, deodorant container and allow to sit for 6 hours to cool and harden completely
Notes
- For a non-bug repelling lotion bar swap out the neem oil for coconut oil
- OR use a mixture of both, neem oil is not only unappealing to bugs but is known as a gentle oil to use on sensitive skin and for people with eczema
- Cleaning the bowl used in making this lotion can be a bit tricky, your best bet is first to make sure you get as much of the lotion mixture out as you can when you pour it into the container, then allow the bowl to sit for a couple minutes and scrape the remaining remnants out into the garbage... or rub into skin