Four Thieves Insect Repellent Spray * Organic

4 oz (118ml)

• Organic
• Handmade in small batches
• Non-toxic
• Safe to use

*Witch Hazel, *Apple Cider Vinegar, *Salvia officinalis (Sage), *Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary), *Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) *Thymus satureioides (Thyme), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) & *Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella) essential oils.

Fair warning: this stuff stinks when it is wet, though the smell disappears as it dries. It works incredibly well though, and this is the one that is used when in the woods or in tick infested areas. It is based on a recipe that was supposedly used by thieves during the Black Plague to keep from getting sick. They used it internally and externally to avoid catching the disease and to keep the flies and other pests away. According to legend, it worked and they survived… but it definitely makes a great insect repellent these days!

One of our most important priority is avoiding chemicals like DEET, which are present in many commercial insect repellents. According to Green Your Body:One of the most widely used ingredients in store-bought conventional bug sprays for personal use is N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide, or DEET, as it’s commonly known. DEET, which is designed to repel, rather than kill, insects. DEET is used by an estimated one-third of the US population each year.

Although DEET is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is a known eye irritant and can cause rashes, soreness, or blistering when applied to the skin. Additionally, DEET has been linked to neurological problems; according to the EPA, at least 18 different cases of children suffering adverse neurological effects, as well as the deaths of two adults, have been associated with DEET. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that DEET causes diffuse brain cell death and behavioral changes in rats.

DEET has been shown to have a negative impact on wildlife and water sources in production and during use. It is toxic to birds and aquatic life. DEET has been found in approximately 75 percent of U.S. water sources, including the Mississippi River.