Gnats. No-see-ums. Mosquitoes. We’ve got them all in the Florida Keys for about 9 months of the year.
I don’t like to use sprays with DEET, as (1) they are hard on the skin, (2) can ruin many plastics (read about this), and (3) we have the world’s lickingest dog and it’s not good for her to lick it off my skin.
So I’ve made some homemade sprays — they were better than anything else I’d tried short of DEET — and just lived with the bites I did get.
Then, a few weeks ago, we went to see a movie in the city park next to the marina. Sitting in chairs on the grass, my shins and ankles got just covered in bites.
Coincidentally, the next day Dave was at the local hardware store and saw little spray bottles of something called No Natz. People ahead of him in line were talking about it and saying how good it was, so he bought a bottle.
Last week, we were anchored out on the north side of Bahia Honda in the Florida Keys. It’s a wonderful anchorage for dog Paz, with sandbars that appear at low tide. Dark skies for stargazing (read more). And a shoreline covered in mangroves and filled with various biting bugs. If there’s a breeze, it keeps the bugs away.
Our third night there, there was just no wind. The bugs swarmed. And so I pulled out my new bottle of No Natz and started spraying.
I was seriously impressed. I’m not going to say that I had zero bites, as I did get a few. But very few. And that was without lighting any bug coils or candles (I always worry about fire with those).
Since then, back in the harbor, we’ve had a few more windless nights and No Natz has continued to work well.
It’s all natural — rosemary, lemongrass, and geranium essential oils — in an olive and coconut oil base with water, lecithin and rubbing alcohol. The company says it’s safe for pets but you should check with their doctor before using on pregnant women or infants. It has not left greasy marks on any of my clothes or the furniture and it even smells nice.
It is supposedly also good at repelling chiggers and biting flies. We haven’t had either of those problems here, so I can’t give my personal experience on them.
I had never seen No Natz until Dave brought it home, but it’s available on Amazon. The larger bottles are definitely a better buy.
- No Natz on Amazon – See related products for other sizes.
I recently discovered that the company also makes a product called No Mosquitoz that includes citronella oil to repel skeeters. I haven’t tried it yet as we’re not having a problem with them yet, but I have ordered a bottle in case we have to tie into the mangroves for a hurricane (mosquitoes can be a huge problem if you’re trying into mangroves).
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Jennifer Sampica says
Ordering right away!
The no see ums LOVE me and I actually think I’m a tad allergic to their bites…they don’t itch that bad anymore, they just leave big and ugly spots!
Abby Carter says
I love the Cutter brand lemon eucalyptus. Works great on mosquitos and gnats. No tick coverage. Smells less like moth balls.
Janae King says
Oh!!! I’ve been on a mission to find something without DEET that works since moving to Panama! Can’t wait to try it!
Connie Klimek Conway says
This stuff is AMAZING! Been using it for 5 years
Bill Parr says
Get some!
Tamera Slay Wattenbarger says
Jackie Slay Robin Slay y’all might want to get some of this!!!
Jackie Slay says
Thanks Princess. 🙂
Trish Vitaz says
A couple of years ago, in preparation for a trip to Tampa Bay during tha zicka scare, I wanted something that would keep the bugs away. I, too, am a biting bug magnet. I found Picaridin Insect Repellant. It was ranked highest amongst all other repellants. It does come with its share of warnings, but I have found it to be very effective.
Cindy says
There is also a product called Cedar Cide. It’s made from the oil in cedar trees. It works reqally good and is also kid and pet friendly.
Lori Steinbrunner says
I swear by the No Natz… I think I may actually be allergic to noseeum bites I react so badly, but we’ve found their mosquito repellant to be less effective. I’ll be interested to hear about your experience.
John Norman says
I make a mix of baby oil ,Detol disinfectant,eucalyptus oil,lavender oil mix equal parts but less of the baby oil put in a spray bottle and shake,
Also a teaspoon of Vegemite a day helps
Ellen Dawson says
We’ve been using Bug Band insect repellent for several years. It is made from mint oil, rosemary oil, geranium oil, soybean oil, and geraniol. It has a pleasant smell, and though it is like a very light lotion on the skin, it’s not greasy feeling. We spray it onto our hands, rub them together, then rub our hands on our exposed skin and hair. It works to keep gnats, mosquitoes, horseflies, and deer flies away, though you have to reapply it occasionally. We love it.
Here is the link to their website. I have no financial interest in the company, just a happy customer.
http://www.bugband.net
Desiree Golen says
Love this stuff!
Jim Allen says
the people at Sugarloaf KOA swear by a spray with an ingredient called Picaridin. I have found it in the brand names Sawyer and Natrapel. NO DEET found it on amazon
Diane Mercaldo says
While sailing in the Bahamas this winter one good tip we heard was using Vanilla scented lotion. Of course we couldn’t get any in the Bahamas but could take vanilla extract and add it to any lotion. Apparently the bugs don’t like vanilla.
Lindy Zimmerman says
Excuse my ignorance. Why is deet so bad.
Andy DeYoung says
I am blessed to live on Wilmington Island where No Natz was born! I started using this product over a decade ago and still use it today. I really like to use it when I get out of the shower, spray it on like product, it keeps the gnats out of my hair and from around my face.
Andyndy
Barbara Lowell says
I am going to make a list of all the recommended ones and put them in my armamentarium! I am plagued by insects while everyone around me has little problem because THEY ARE ALL AFTER ME!!! Yikes. I have tried many formulae and they might work for 5 minutes. Sometimes the bugs land right on it after I have applied it. Thanx for all the suggestions.
Michelle Bellwood says
Living in coastal Georgia on sailboat, No Natz is mandatory. Most favorite thing is you don’t feel as if you need to wash it off because it smells great!
Anonymous says
We have ours.
Anonymous says
thank you.
Anonymous says
Just a reminder …citronella can be toxic for cats. I’m not sure if it is a problem for dogs. It’s always better to check reactions to ingredients if you have pets
Carolyn Shearlock says
From what I read, it’s not toxic to dogs, but they really don’t like the smell. It’s often used as the spray in anti-bark collars.
Anonymous says
Bought some of this product in the marina store along the icw. Complete waste of money.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I’m sorry to hear that it didn’t work for you. Most people I’ve talked to down here in the Keys have found it really helpful.
Anonymous says
Good stuff. Carolyn, have you had occasion to try their mosquito repellant yet? Didn’t work for me, but I’d be curious to hear your experience.
The Boat Galley says
Not yet . . .