Tick repellent.

Give this tick repellent a shot, for dogs and people. It has helped at least one dog, which used to get 6+ ticks a day -- since using this, the dog has had none at all. Dunno how effective it is elsewhere, but I'd love some feedback:

Peppermint EO tick repellent

First, make some spirit of peppermint:

1 part peppermint EO
10 parts 95 % ethanol (sugar cane, potato or grain alcohol) -- essentially, any nontoxic alcohol you can lay your hands on

Pour the essential oil of peppermint into the alcohol, mix.

Here's King's take on the matter. (I chose not to add dried peppermint, as I don't care what color the peppermint spirit is).

Then, dilute this with water:

1 part spirit of peppermint
5-10 parts water

Mix, pour into a small spritzer (nebulizer) bottle, and spray on your pets. One short spray is enough for a small dog.

Do let me know how this works for you!

I've also given it to a lady, to try for her horse, which is troubled by horseflies and similar biters. Haven't heard back from her yet, though.)

Do not use this on cats! Cats can't take essential oils, even in minute diluted doses!

Comments:

Prisse K.:
Thanks, it seems to work!
Today I was not popping by at the stable early enough to spread it, and the horse had been "eaten alive" unlike on those days when I have put it on.
Even "half-a-day" with the peppermint is obviously better than a day completely without.
The same results from last week. (One day without = eaten, then remembered to add it.)
It is just that spraying is not a favourite thing, so I have noticed that adding it "as a liquid lotion" has to be done carefully.
I was wondering why the "funny stepping" of a horse, and then the burning cold sensation started on my hand which was soaked in the peppermint dilution.
I suppose it can (on excessive amounts) to affect cold reseptors?
So, after that I have been more careful not to avoid only eyes, mouth, and inner parts of the ears, but also not too directly on genitals...
The effect of the dilution seems to decay slowly within some hours, but it will still be better with applying it, than completely without.
And if it is not evenly distributed, it is obvious that horseflies, and other insects seem to choose a part of a horse without the dilution to land on.
Not a tick so far. (In the previous summers there has been a tick or two on him.)
Although, besides all the positive effects, I cannot say it is not 100% proof as mosquitos seem to be a bit immune to that stuff.
So I was wondering whether I could try it with "something else" to see if the repelling effect would be both prolonged, and would be more obvious also against mosquitos.
ps. A mare with her foal are using it, too. No complains! But they are not on the pasture, so the results are not as obvious as for my horse who stays where "the insects are"... :-)

Henriette:
As the alcohol in the mix evaporates, it cools you off. Also, the menthol in peppermint oil feels cold ... I could try to add some meadowsweet tincture to it, that usually repels mosquitoes.
Ho hum, could try to make a liniment (= add a fatty oil), that'd help a bit with the "don't like the spray" and would probably warm it a bit as well.

Prisse K.:
Hehee, yes - it was a very strong effect, after I had managed to soak my hand in it. So no wonder my little horse looked also a bit taken by surprise... :-P
Well, actually - I think it might not be overly bad to have a liniment with oil. Now that mr K is no more spending his time at the sand paddock, it is no prob! (There the dust&sand would have been glued to his coat with oil.)