Mosquito & tick repellent

[cygnet7]

Every year I run into the same dilemma:  how to keep the noxious insects away without wallowing in toxic chemicals, If I am outside working in a particular location I can use a citronella lantern, but I am usually moving around from one place to another. In addition, I react badly to some essential oils, but haven't been able to narrow down which

Comments

[virginiadear]

Some people have had great success at preventing mosquitoes from landing (and biting!) by taking B-vitamin supplements "to a certain blood concentration." I don't know how much "a certain" concentration is, but I am given to understand that you'll also want to eliminate sugary things or anything which can make you "taste sweeter."

Catnip (!) is supposed to keep mosquitoes away, and is most effective when the leaves are crushed and rubbed on the skin. I haven't tried this, but you should test it carefully: some people do react negatively to whatever it is in the catnip's oil/s which deflects the mosquitoes.
Re: ticks, nothing is coming to mind other than the Skin-So-Soft another commenter has already suggested.