Why We Chose Buggsy’s Plant-Based Insect Repellent Ingredients
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When we started developing Buggsy on our Michigan family farm, we wanted to make a plant-based insect repellent with thoughtfully chosen ingredients. The question was which ingredients belonged in the bottle—and why.
Getting there took research, a disappointing setback and a decision to keep going.
Our first idea—and a change in direction
Our first experiments involved catnip and lavender, inspired by our farm. But bringing that original formula to market would have required a regulatory process beyond what we could afford as a small family business.
We had to pause and ask ourselves whether we still wanted to pursue the bug spray idea.
We decided we did. That meant looking beyond our original ingredients and researching other plant-based options for insect repellency.
Our research led us to geraniol, lemongrass oil and peppermint oil—the three active ingredients in Buggsy today.
Chosen for repellency, not perfume
Mosquitoes use several cues to find people, including the odors our bodies give off. Repellents can affect how mosquitoes detect or respond to those cues, helping discourage them from approaching.
That was what interested us about these plant-based ingredients. We were looking for a repellent formula, rather than simply a pleasant blend of scents.
Research has examined geraniol, citral and peppermint oil for insect-repellent properties. Those findings helped inform our choices, while reminding us that the finished formula matters, too.
Geraniol
Geraniol is a naturally occurring aromatic compound found in several plants, including geranium and citronella.
Its familiar floral scent is only part of its story. Researchers have also investigated geraniol’s effects on mosquito host-seeking behavior—the process mosquitoes use to locate a person or animal to bite.
That research made geraniol an ingredient we wanted to explore for Buggsy.
Lemongrass oil
Lemongrass oil contains citral, one of its main naturally occurring compounds. Citral has also been studied for its effects on mosquito behavior.
We chose lemongrass oil as an active ingredient after researching its use in repellents. Its citrus aroma is recognizable, but scent alone wasn’t our reason for including it.
Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil contains menthol and other naturally occurring plant compounds. Alongside its familiar mint character, it has been investigated for insect-repellent properties.
It became the third active ingredient in our formula through the same process: researching plant-based options and choosing ingredients for a purpose.
Every ingredient needed a reason to be there
We knew these ingredients weren’t exclusive to Buggsy. We didn’t want to add extra oils simply to make our formula sound different.
Our priorities were effectiveness, plant-based ingredients and a purposeful formula. We wanted to understand our choices and be open with customers about what goes into the bottle.
Lavender remains part of our farm’s story, even though lavender oil isn’t in the finished repellent. Changing direction was disappointing, but it didn’t change our desire to build something our family could stand behind.
You can read more about that journey in Our Story.
What’s in your bottle?
Buggsy is a DEET-free, plant-based insect repellent that helps repel mosquitoes and flies when used as directed.
Our Ingredients page lists every ingredient and its percentage, along with precautions and first-aid information. Always follow the bottle label for application instructions.
Buggsy comes in 4 fl oz and 8 fl oz spray bottles, available individually or in multipacks for gardening, fishing, camping and time in the backyard.
Explore Buggsy Plant-Based Insect Repellent.
Supporting research and further reading
For readers who want to learn more, these resources explore the ingredients and science discussed above. They concern individual ingredients and repellent research; they do not test Buggsy’s finished formula or establish how long it provides repellency.
- Geraniol, citral and mosquito host-seeking behavior: A laboratory study examining how exposure to several aromatic compounds affected mosquito host-seeking and blood-feeding behavior.
- Peppermint and peppermint oil — Cornell University: An ingredient profile covering peppermint oil’s composition, uses and research, including insect-repellent properties.
- Essential Oils as Repellents against Arthropods: A research review exploring plant-derived repellents, insect odor detection and the factors that influence repellent performance.