- 1). Do a patch test. Massage a dab of oil into the skin of your wrist and wait 24 hours. If you have an allergic reaction, try another kind of oil.
- 2). Make sure you can live with the smell. Indians find the scent of neem to be clean, "green" and refreshing, but if you don't care for it, you might avoid using or reapplying the repellent as advised, thereby defeating the purpose. You can adjust the odor by mixing in another kind of botanical oil.
- 3). Pour the ingredients into a jar or bottle and shake well until the solution emulsifies.
- 4). Rub or spray onto clean, fragrance-free skin and clothing. Botanical repellents work by tricking mosquitoes into believing that you are a species of vegetation they find obnoxious. On the other hand, they are attracted by scented toiletries like soap, shampoo, deodorant, cologne, aftershave--even scented fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Don't send mixed messages.
- 5). Keep your head covered in danger areas. Making sure your hat is well steeped in the solution eliminates the need to rub repellent into your hair and scalp but don't neglect hairline skin.
- 6). Don't tempt fate. The mosquito is the most dangerous animal on earth, responsible for more annual human fatalities than all others combined. When in India, if you think that there are too many mosquitoes around, don't give them a chance to penetrate your defenses--get out of harm's way.
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