Compounds in the leaves of the American beauty berry plant (Callicarpa americana) apparently help ward off biting insects.
Here’s hoping they find a way to turn this into a product. Anything has to be better than citronella spray. Yech.
Speaking of natural remedies, if you apply the juice from jewel weed (Impatiens capensisto) a fresh mosquito bite, it won’t swell up or itch.
I mention jewel weed in my novel.
Dean’s driveway was so narrow that tree branches whipped the side of Maisey’s car as we drove in. I noticed the piles of brush I’d helped him move off of it after the ice storm were half-hidden now by brambles and, in the wetter places, tall pale clumps of jewel weed.
Yeah, let’s get away from the Deet.
Three cheers for natural remedies! I’ve been searching for natural repellents for ticks, and came across this article which recommends rose geranium oil, and almond oil (for its natural sulfur content). I haven’t tried the rose geranium oil, but so far almond oil alone seems helpful. :)
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/self/23
I avoid DEET pretty scrupulously, with one exception: a year ago I was at a family reunion in Minnesota over the 4th of July weekend, and I’ve never seen mosquitoes like that in my life. Citronella was like frosting to them — it didn’t even deter them for a little while. Pretty soon I was begging for anything, anything with DEET in it :-)