How to Use Castor Oil as an Insect Repellent

Pure castor oil, which is extracted from castor beans, is an odorless and tasteless oil that is used for a variety of skin ailments. In recent years, castor oil has been used in conjunction with other natural oils, such as rosemary oil and peppermint oil, to make a safe and effective natural insect repellent.

Things You'll Need

• Castor oil
• Other natural oils, such as rosemary, lemon eucalyptus, cedar, cinnamon and geranium oils
• Rubbing alcohol

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Instructions

• 1

  Purchase castor oil that has been manufactured through cold-pressing and filtering processes that eliminate ricin, a toxin protein that can cause nerve damage. While most castor oil sold in the United States is perfectly safe to use externally and internally, beware of castor oil products that have been imported from countries such as India, Brazil and China, which may not have been processed correctly.

• 2

  Mix castor oil with other natural types of oils that act as insect repellents, such as lemon eucalyptus oil, cedar oil, rosemary oil, cinnamon oil and geranium oil. While castor oil on its own will act as an insect repellent, you will need to re-apply the oil every 1 to 2 hours for the best results. Using other types of natural oils, especially lemon eucalyptus oil, will prolong the effectiveness of castor oil for up to 6 hours.

• 3

  Use castor oil as an insect repellent by applying it evenly to all exposed areas of your skin. Since castor oil is relatively safe for both internal and external use, you can apply it to sensitive areas such as lips, and on your nose. If you feel that castor oil is too greasy to apply to your skin, mix 1 part castor oil to 10 parts rubbing alcohol for a smoother, drier feel to your skin.

• 4

  Add castor oil to your favorite moisturizing lotion or sunscreen for an effective all-purpose cream. Since castor oil is odorless and colorless in its pure form, you can add as much of it as you want to other products without altering the safety or effectiveness of the original formula.

• 5

  Put a little castor oil in your favorite shampoo or liquid soap for extra protection against insects.