Cat Nip - Not Just For Cats Anymore!

The infamous Cat Nip - watch your kitties roll around and rub their faces in the dried herb, then watch them act like a stoner and sleep away the next few hours! That's what comes to mind when you say Cat Nip...but not anymore. Cat Nip is the next best thing to deet as an effective mosquito repellent (and the American Chemical Society says it may be more effective!) You can find it in my concentrated blend Bug Begonya

For those of you who want to delve deeper into the studies around Cat Nip and deet, here's a link: Repellancy Assessment of Nepeta cataria Essential Oils. Deet comes with a whole host of public concern and warnings, including not suitable for children or those pregnant or nursing, can be absorbed quickly through the skin, toxic chemical, etc.

My original formula for a bug repellent was developed the summer of 2000 when I had my "test" store in Ocean Beach, Fire Island, NY. Not many had heard of essential oils, nor a Certified Aromatherpist, so I was testing the concept. I was asked for Insect Repellant often, so I developed one that I thought to be effective. I could hardly keep it in stock! People would buy it, use it, tell friends and it went on and on. The landscapers asked if it was effective against ticks and I told them to try. They came back with positive feedback and bought more. My original formula contained Citronella, Lemongrass, Geranium, Lavender, Cedarwood and Basil.

Fast forward to 2015 when a friend was off to Indonesia. He asked if I could add Cat Nip to my formula, he bought some from a local his last trip that contained Cat Nip. I hadn't heard of using Cat Nip at the time, but said sure after a little research into the herb. He reported back the results were AMAZING! That's how our latest version of Bug Begonya was born, and old favorite made better with Cat Nip.

It's easy to make spray bottles of Insect Repellent - add 35 drops of Bug Begonya to a spray bottle (optional: add a teaspoon or 2 of witch hazel to the bottle first) then fill with distilled water and shake well before each use to combine the oils with the water. Voila! We've got you covered!!