Naturally Bug Free: 75 Nontoxic Recipes for Repelling Mosquitoes, Ticks, Fleas, Ants

Protect your family, pets, and home from biting insects without resorting to harsh chemicals. Herbalist Stephanie L. Tourles delivers 75 practical, all-natural recipes you can mix up at home to create effective repellents in formats you’ll actually use—sprays, balms, body oils, tinctures, and more. From outdoor dining to everyday living, this book makes botanical bug protection simple, personal, and safe.

What makes this book stand apart

• Extensive, hands-on library of 75 recipes covering mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, ants, and pantry pests—so you’re prepared for every season and scenario.
• Comprehensive formats—not just sprays. Find body balms, scented oils, tinctures, pet care solutions (shampoos, bedding formulas, flea-and-tick powders and collars), and home protection aids (sachets, carpet powders, pantry repellents).
• All-natural ingredient science with an ingredient dictionary that explains the properties of herbs, essential oils, and other components, helping you tailor blends to scent preferences and sensitivities.
• Family- and pet-friendly approach designed to minimize chemical exposure while delivering reliable protection for kids and animals.

What you’ll be able to make and use

• Outdoor protection for dining, gardening, and playtime with bug-repellent sprays and balms scented with eucalyptus, floral notes, lemon, vanilla, or woodsy spices.
• Pest control for pets herbal shampoos, bedding formulations, and flea-and-tick powders and collars that reduce exposure to harsh chemicals for your furry friends.
• Home and closet protection sachets to deter moths, carpet powders to repel fleas and ants, and essential-oil blends to keep pantry pests at bay.
• Practical, real-world use cases including camping, backyard gatherings, kids’ play zones, and pet-friendly households.

How it works and why it matters

Nature provides potent alternatives to synthetic repellents. This book leverages herbs, essential oils, and other botanical ingredients to create targeted blends that insects dislike but people love. The result is a customizable approach to bug control—one that respects home environments, food safety, and sensitive skin, while still delivering dependable protection from biting pests.

Who this book is for

• Families seeking non-toxic ways to protect kids during outdoor activities and at home.
• Pet owners who want safer flea- and tick-prevention options beyond conventional chemicals.
• DIY enthusiasts who enjoy crafting personalized scents and formulations for home and wardrobe.
• Anyone curious about natural aromatherapy-inspired bug repellents and their practical applications.

Author credentials you can trust

Stephanie L. Tourles is a best-selling author known for Organic Body Care Recipes. With formal training in herbalism, aromatherapy, and nutritional science, she brings a practical, evidence-informed approach to natural living. Her experience as a respected educator and practitioner informs every recipe, helping you translate botanical knowledge into safe, effective solutions for everyday life.

Book specifics you’ll appreciate

• Pages: 176
• Illustrated: Yes
• Publication date: March 8, 2016
• Dimensions: 0.6 x 6.9 x 5 inches

Practical tips for getting the best results

• Start with a scent you enjoy. If you prefer a lighter aroma, blend with a neutral carrier oil and test on a small skin patch before broader use.
• Patch-test all body products on a small area of skin and avoid eyes, mucous membranes, and broken skin.
• Follow pet-specific guidance for any products applied around animals, and consult a veterinarian if you have concerns about sensitivities or health conditions.
• Store blends in cool, dark places to preserve potency and extend shelf life of essential oils and herbal extracts.
• Use the ingredient dictionary to swap in herbs or oils you already love, creating a personalized bug-repellent routine that fits your climate and lifestyle.

With Naturally Bug Free, you gain a practical, respectful approach to bug protection—one that respects your environment, supports family health, and keeps pests at bay through thoughtful, plant-powered blends.

by Stephanie L. Tourles (Author)

Protect yourself, your children, your pets, and your home from bugs -- without using harsh or toxic chemicals Herbalist Stephanie Tourles offers 75 simple recipes for safe, effective bug repellents you can make at home from all-natural ingredients. For protection from mosquitos, ticks, and other biting insects, there are sprays, balms, body oils, and tinctures, with scents ranging from eucalyptus to floral, lemon, vanilla, and woodsy spice. There are also recipes for pets, such as herbal shampoo, bedding formulas, and flea-and-tick collars and powders. And Tourles includes repellents for the home, such as sachets that repel moths, carpet powders that repel fleas and ants, and essential oil repellents to keep your pantry pest-free. A detailed ingredient dictionary explains the properties of all the herbs, essential oils, and other key ingredients.

Back Jacket

Herbal Formulas That Really Work

Mother Nature gave us insects, but she also gave us the means to deal with them. Using herbs, essential oilas, and other natural ingredients, you can make insect-repellent sprays and balms, sachets, pet shampoos, flea and tick powders, and cleaning products that are safe for you and your family.

Use fragrances you love (but bugs hate!) to:

• Repel mosquitoes
• Keep ticks and fleas off your pets
• Protect your pantry
• Rid your closets of moths
• Dine outdoors pest-free

Author Biography

Stephanie L. Tourles is the best-selling author of Organic Body Care Recipes (125,000 copies in print), Raw Energy, and Raw Energy in a Glass. She has extensive training in herbalism, aromatherapy, and nutritional science and is a licensed esthetician. She is a popular speaker on natural body care and healthy living topics and lives in Maine.