It’s finally summer. Okay, it’s been summer for a long time already and our days are already getting shorter, but it still doesn’t feel like it. Every day I look at the leaves on the trees and think this can’t really be summer yet. But it is.
I think part of my season confusion comes from the fact that we pretty much skipped from winter to summer. There was no spring. We jumped right up into 90-degree temps and that was that.
With summer comes camping season. And bugs. Lots and lots of mosquitos (vampires).
So how do you scare away a vampire bugs without using all the harsh chemicals (that are just as bad for you) in standard store-bought bug spray? Essential oils.
And now you guys know that I’m a hippie at heart.
But not just any old essential oil will do, certain ones work better for repelling bugs than others. I’ve narrowed it down to a few of my favorite essentials oils for camping.
Tea Tree Oil
This is one of my favorite essential oils ever. I love the smell of it. The vampires hate the smell of it.
Tea tree oil is also good to use as a disinfectant and you can make a homemade version of Neosporin to take with.
Peppermint Oil
Another favorite of mine. I love minty things. Aside from the wonderful minty-ness it can help with deterring bugs. But the deterrent of bugs isn’t the only reason to keep it with you while camping.
Peppermint essential oil creates a wonderful cooling sensation. If you have a little bit of a headache or migraine, rubbing a small amount of peppermint oil on your temples can help to relieve the tension.
I mainly use it to relieve headaches. My oil is kept in a cobalt blue rollerball for ease of application.
Lavender Oil
Honesty time, I don’t like the smell of lavender essential oil at all. Unfortunately for me, lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils that can be used for pretty much everything from promoting a calm and relaxing atmosphere, to soothing angry skin.
The best use for lavender while camping is to soothe angry skin. Lavender can help with soothing the bites from vampires, calming the irritation, and even reducing the itchiness.
Remember when I talked about learning the sunscreen lesson the hard way every year and shared that embarrassing photo (scroll down) of my sunburnt striped arms? Well, if you’re stupid like me, lavender oil can also help to soothe the angry red sunburn.
Keep lavender in your camping supplies even if you hate the soapy smell of it.
Where to Buy Essential Oils
With the increase in popularity of essential oils, there are now tons of places to buy them.
I buy mine from Organic Creations. Many of the essential oils and other products on the site are USDA organic certified and they seem to be cheaper. Plus you can earn rewards points on every purchase.
Another popular place to buy essential oils is Mountain Rose Herbs. They have just about every oil you can imagine in inventory.
And of course, there is Doterra. I do really like Doterra for some of their blends that I can’t get anywhere else, like Past Tense.
When I need an essential oil immediately, typically for a soap recipe, I pop into the store and pick up a bottle of Now Essential Oils.
Do you take essential oils with you while camping? Share your favorites in the comments!
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