Banish bugs with natural insect repellents

Published on June 05, 2024

Protect yourself against insect bites during outdoor adventures and backyard hangs this summer. But ditch the harsh chemical aerosol sprays that sting your eyes. Instead, use bug repellents made with natural ingredients. 

Bug repellents that are safe for bodies

Lenexa Farmers Market vendors Madd House Hill, Next to Nature Farm and Mindfully Made offer a range of effective bug repellent products. They are moisturizing and made with high-quality essential oils.

Keep bugs at bay with Madd House Hill’s Bug Off product line. During the summer, many customers switch to their insect repelling goat milk soap bar. You can also swipe their top-selling lotion stick on arms, ankles and neck without having to coat all exposed skin.  

Next to Nature Farm’s Buzz-Off Bugs lotion bar contains a mixture of citronella, lavender, geranium, spearmint, and cedarwood essential oils. No sticky feeling left behind!

Mindfully Made offers a botanically-based bug spray to deter mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers. If you forget to protect yourself, Natural Neo salve will help your skin heal from insect bites. Their concentrated Itch Away balm relieves irritation from oak mite lesions, chigger welts, mosquito bites and poison oak/ivy rash. 

Plant scents deter mosquitos

Don't forget that you can also ward off pesky biting insects with aromatic plants and herbs. Introduce them around your deck, porch, patio or yard. Look for flowers like marigolds, zinnias, lantana, lavender and geraniums. Several Market vendors also sell potted herbs like basil, lemongrass, rosemary, mint, lemon balm, sage and thyme.