Summer time brings with it the bugs that bite, and we reach for the bug-spray. Whether you’re away on your holidays, going camping for the weekend, or just spending some time in your back garden, instead of going for the usual toxic DEET option, try something more natural, and just as effective.

DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) has been shown to have adverse effects on people, especially in children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. The effects range from skin irritation to more serious problems like dizziness, disorientation, and difficulty concentrating.

These days there are many natural insect repellent options available to us, and they’re proving to be just as effective as DEET, although they may need to be applied a little more often. That’s not a bad price to pay for a less toxic product.

Try Lifesystems natural insect repellent, formulated from a derivative of the lemon eucalyptus plan; Bug Geroff Essential Oil Insect Repellent, for application on bedding, on floors or to be used in aromatherapy burners; and Mosi-guard Natural Aerosol, hailed as nature’s most effective insect repellent.