Insect Repellent

Bug Off + Skin Soother
All-natural. Plant-powered. Tough on bugs. Gentle on you.

Meet your new go-to for Florida's outdoors — a USDA-researched, plant-based insect repellent handcrafted from Florida-native and Florida-grown botanicals. No harsh chemicals, no synthetic fragrances, no DEET. Just nature doing what it's always done — only now it comes in a bottle.

🛡️ What It Does

• Repels: Mosquitoes, no-see-ums, fleas & ticks
• Soothes: Bug bites, jellyfish stings & sunburn
• Fast-drying: Water-based with a touch of alcohol for quick absorption and a fresh, clean feel
• Smells great: Light, herbal scent from real plants — not synthetic perfume

🌿 What's Inside

• Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) — a Florida-native plant with USDA-confirmed insect-repelling compounds; see science section below
• Lemongrass — naturally high in citronellal, a well-known mosquito deterrent
• Rosemary — aromatic and effective against a broad range of insects
• Catmint (Nepeta cataria) — contains nepetalactone, a compound shown in peer-reviewed research to be a highly potent insect repellent; see science section below
• Orange peels — natural d-limonene content deters insects while leaving a fresh citrus note
• Aloe vera — added for its renowned skin-calming and moisturizing properties, helping the formula feel gentle and nourishing rather than drying

🌺 The Star Ingredient: Florida Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana — the American Beautyberry — is a native Florida shrub used for generations across the Southeastern U.S. as a natural insect repellent. Indigenous communities and rural folk alike would crush the leaves and rub them directly on skin or tuck them under animal harnesses to keep bugs at bay.

That folk wisdom caught the attention of the USDA, which conducted formal laboratory research and confirmed what generations already knew:

• Scientists isolated two active compounds — callicarpenal and intermedeol — from Beautyberry leaves
• In lab tests, cloth treated with callicarpenal repelled over 95% of blacklegged tick nymphs, with complete protection lasting 3 hours
• In mosquito trials (Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi), callicarpenal performed comparably to SS220, a USDA-developed repellent with potency similar to DEET
• Beautyberry compounds also deter fire ants — a welcome bonus for Florida gardeners

As ScienceDaily reported: "Scientists Confirm Folk Remedy Repels Mosquitoes" — beautyberry extracts match DEET in laboratory settings.

🔬 Catmint: The Surprising Science

Catmint (Nepeta cataria) has long been known to repel insects, but the science behind it is striking. In a landmark study published in the journal Science (Eisner, 2001) and widely reported by Iowa State University researchers, the active compound nepetalactone was found to be roughly 10 times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes in laboratory conditions — requiring far less of the compound to achieve the same deterrent effect.

Subsequent research has confirmed nepetalactone's repellent activity against mosquitoes, cockroaches, and other insects, making catmint one of the most scientifically compelling botanicals in natural pest control. We include it here not as a novelty, but because the research supports it.

📊 Beautyberry vs. DEET — At a Glance

🧔 Skin-Soothing Bonus

Already got bitten? This formula doubles as a skin soother. The botanical blend — anchored by aloe vera's well-documented anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties — helps calm the itch and irritation from bug bites. The same cooling, fast-absorbing base also provides relief from jellyfish stings and mild sunburn. It's the one spray you'll want in your beach bag, garden kit, and hiking pack.

📝 How to Use

• Shake well before use
• Spray or apply to exposed skin and clothing before heading outdoors
• Reapply every 2–3 hours or after swimming or sweating
• For bug bite or sting relief, apply directly to the affected area and allow to absorb
• Avoid contact with eyes; keep out of reach of young children
• Patch test recommended for sensitive skin

Handcrafted in Florida 🌿 | Plant-based & DEET-free | Grown and made with care by What's Growing on Florida?