Insect repellent with essential oils

So summer is here in Australia. I absolutely hate spring and summer due to severe hayfever, anhidrosis and nose bleeds.

BUT that's not the reason for this post! Summer means mosquitoes, flies, and winged, unfriendly foes!

I did my research and came up with my simple mix of insect repellent with essential oils. According to the dosing instructions, 5 drops of EO to 10ml carrier (I used water):

• Rosemary essential oil
• Tea Tree essential oil
• Lavender essential oil
• Water

If you'd like to apply topically onto skin for bites, switch the water to an oil-based carrier such as jojoba (not oil-based but great for skin!) or olive oil or sweet almond oil. 

If you are confused between Essential Oils and Extracts, BUBBLE AND BEE's page have a really good explanation of both. Essential oils in my opinion are pure and more beneficial especially for the skin.

I would NOT recommend any Citrus essential oils (Orange, Lemon, Tangerine, Mandarin, Bergamot, Lime, Grapefruit, any citrusy essential oils!) to use on skin as they are phototoxic unless you are not planning to see the sun for at least 24-48 hours. There are some Citrus essential oils that some websites stated that it's safe but I do not use it altogether because I don't want to risk my skin! 

Anyway, I am sharing my super easy recipe for making a non-chemical laced insect repellent. Enjoy! :D

Whipped Body Butter Tutorial with pictures

 WHIPPED BODY BUTTER TUTORIAL

• 300g Shea Butter
• 2 tablespoons of Coconut Oil 

Melt Shea Butter and Coconut Oil

• 1oz Jojoba 
• 1oz Meadowfoam Seed Oil
• 2oz Sweet Almond Oil
• 12 Vitamin E capsules (popped and liquid added to soft/liquid oils)

Measure soft/liquid oils in Pyrex measuring cup and add to the cool melted Shea Butter and Coconut Oil concoction

• 15 drops of Lavender Essential Oil 

Add Lavender Essential Oil to whipped mixture

 I had to melt the Shea Butter and Coconut Oil because the last time it blended all grainy and lumpy.

I don't know how Soap Queen does it but hers blended so smoothly!

Note the doubler boiler system instead of heating it directly over the fire.

While waiting for the Shea Butter and Coconut Oil concoction to cool to paste-like consistency, I measured out the soft/liquid oils into the pyrex cup.

I added the soft/liquid oils to the Shea Butter and Coconut Oil concoction when it cooled to about 30C/Cool to the touch.

I didn't have to wait almost 2 hours to cool for the last batch. I didn't put this in the fridge but just waited for it to cool at room temperature. As you could see, the paste-like consistency traced the whip when I lift/tilt the Kitchenaid mixer.

 Whip back into the bowl!

That's how I determine when to start whipping. There's no point whipping while it's still in liquid state because it will take as long as the cooling period to whip and increase in volume.

Start whipping from medium for 5 minutes and then fast until the concoction looks whipped and increased in volume.

After much whipping, there's a volume increase. 

Add the Lavender Essential Oil and whip on fast again.

Beautiful whip consistency!!

Looks yummy enough to eat!

Scoop into washed clean and dry containers.

I filled 2x 500ml and a little bit into another container of Whipped Body Butter that I'm still using.

There's roughly 430grams of ingredients when it is unwhipped.

Freshly Whipped Body Butter!!

ENJOY!!