As a parent, I think twice about everything that goes on my children’s skin. I’ve always tried to follow a more natural path whenever possible, especially with products we use every day.
We live in Wisconsin… and if you know, you know.
The mosquitos here are relentless. They can ruin a fishing trip or backyard BBQ in minutes.
After going through the process of creating a natural salve that helped support my son’s eczema-prone skin, I started wondering:
👉 What else could I make naturally for my family?
One of the biggest needs? Bug repellent.
Most conventional insect repellents contain strong synthetic ingredients like DEET.
While they’re commonly used, I wasn’t comfortable putting something that harsh on my kids’ skin especially when:
- they’re constantly moving
- sweating
- touching everything
- and needing frequent reapplication
I wanted something gentler. Something I didn’t have to second guess.
What if I could create something that:
- smelled good
was actually nourishing for the skin
and still helped keep mosquitos away
Using our dandelion oil base, I started experimenting with a simple, natural formula... nothing complicated, nothing unnecessary.
This didn’t happen overnight.
It took years of testing and tweaking:
- Some worked great… but smelled terrible
Some smelled amazing… but didn’t work
At one point, my boys told me they didn’t want to “smell like a fart” anymore (which was fair 😂)
But eventually, we got there.
We created a balm that:
- smells light and fresh (my boys say it smells like a fruit loop 🍊)
feels great on the skin and is actually moisturizing
can be reapplied as often as needed
and helps keep mosquitos (and other bugs) at bay
We’ve even heard from customers across the U.S. that it works well for:
- no-see-ums
- gnats
- midges
- flies
- and other flying pests
We proved it numerous times on our trips to Florida, when many people run for cover at dusk to get away from the no-see-ums, we are outside enjoying fishing, cast netting, snorkeling and all the wonderful outdoor things you want to see your children doing.
This is about more than bug repellent.
It’s about:
- feeling confident in what we put on our children’s skin
choosing simple, thoughtful ingredients
and creating products we actually use on our own family, because we do
If you’re looking for a more natural approach to bug protection—something gentle, effective, and made with care: you’re not alone.
👉 Explore our natural dandelion-based bug repellent and see if it feels right for your family.
