Natural Insect Repellent with Beautyberry

Here is a simple way to make insect repellent using the leaves of the American Beautyberry plant.
Collect enough leaves to mostly fill a jar, cover the leaves with alcohol , close the jar and let sit for about four days. After four days simple strain off the the alcohol mixture into a spray bottle and you're ready to repel.
The alcohol extracts the oil from the leaves. When you spray or rub it on your skin the alcohol evaporates leaving the oil needed to insects.
If you find your extraction is too dark, containing too much chlorophyll, simply dilute your mixture by adding more alcohol.Simple and very effective.

[@njmorrissey9437]

My old timer friend in Florida rubbed the leaves on us to keep the bugs off. Ate beauty berry jelly too.

[@glennwhitt7375]

Yes it works. I just boil the leaves in water and let cool and strain off the leaves and put in a spray bottle with a little alcohol. While off grid, bruise the leaves with your hands then put in a container,fill with water in 24 to 48 hours the deet will extract from the leaves .the longer you leave the leaves in the water you will get more mosquito repellant, you will see the water turn a shiny tan color like gasoline.

[@wendymoon7251]

Thank you so much. I just discovered these while getting eaten by mosquitoes. I appreciate your time.

[@BlackjackArmyCaptain]

Thank you so much, sir.For sharing your knowledge , I learned so much from watching your awesome amazing content.

[@GreebleClown]

In a pinch I’ve mashed up damp leaves in my hand and rubbed them on my limbs. Not as elegant and probably wouldn’t be as effective against a swarm, but it did the trick for the few minutes I needed it.

[@MyForestNymph]

Thank you so much for this video ! I got tons of beauty berry bushes and I was only using berries now I know about leaves - and I definitely got a ton of mosquitos !

[@esterwyman]

We have this plant growing in our yard .
I’m definitely going to try it 👍🏻

[@QuiChiYang2]

I watched this whole video & actually have this bush growing around my area. Th🤝nks for posting. Very educational.

[@stephanieclark2934]

Just made a batch! Thank you

[@TigerCreekFarm]

A change I have made is to keep it in a jar and pour some out on a paper towel or rag to apply. Wastes a little but works much better.

[@johnnapier9499]

Jolly Green Giant juice. I don't mind looking a little green around the gills if it keeps me from looking red and bumpy. Sure pass the bottle ma! 😂

[@ereynoldful3974]

So awesome. Seems you live in the south? From Georgia here but 5 miles from the Florida line. As a fair red head that is always at the river I am always bitten up by mosquitoes and yellow flies are brutal right now. Beauty berry's don't ripen here til September or October I believe. But can I still harvest the leaves to do this ?

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Near Valdosta. The leaves may get a little more potent into the summer but I don't see why you couldn't harvest some now. I believe it should work fine.

[@kayleighschwend]

This is so cool! Thanks for posting this, this was exactly what i was researching to find 😊

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@susierodgers307]

Thanks for sharing this!!

[@wendymoon7251]

I will definitely try the next video.

[@planetpisces]

Thanks for the info

[@marklane2588]

Any difference with varying strengths of rubbing alcohol? I noticed you were using 70%, which is definitely less expensive than the 91% or 99%, but would stronger alcohol accelerate the process, requiring less time to strip the oils?

[@TigerCreekFarm]

That’s a good question. My gut agrees with your conclusion. It very well may speed up the extraction process. To come up with a time frame is above my pay grade and testing abilities 😉 Some people will use Vodka (40% alcohol) which I never understood since it’s more expensive and less alcohol than 70% rubbing alcohol. My thought process is you need an extracting agent that will also work as a carrier that will evaporate leaving the oils. Good ol’ cheap 70% alcohol serves the purpose.

[@nancyshank1339]

I used the 91 percent and it worked great! Very green

[@ChasingMidnight001]

Cool video, thanks.

[@BushImports]

Have you tried steam distillation like they use to make the essential oils? I don't know if it will do what you want, it's just an idea. Thanks

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Yep. That will be the next video I spoke about.

[@richardstone2164]

Where is the video on how to make it clear? I couldn't find it on your video list. (Found some others to watch though).

[@TigerCreekFarm]

This is what you were looking for - ruclips.net/video/X2pvRGLqInA/видео.htmlsi=514hnE7P0cGdcxTp

[@richardstone2164]

Found it, thanks for the reply

[@daniellestapleton751]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@johnnapier9499]

Can I drink it if I use vodka instead of rubbing alcohol? What do mean ma the bottle is empty?😢

[@johnpaul2285]

Very cool Thank you Sir

[@esterwyman]

Thank You 🌼

[@debraweiser175]

Thanks

[@flashthompson7]

Awesome wonderful interesting I would most likely use apple cider vinegar or distilled white as extract. What are your guys thoughts?

[@esterwyman]

You can try it 👍🏻
You can also use Witch Hazel 50% -Alcohol 50%.
Or , some people add water and Dilute it more , it’s a preference 🤷‍♀️, and works differently for Different People.

[@DeliaHolland]

Could you use witch hazel ?

[@TigerCreekFarm]

I don't see why not.It just needs an evaporative carrying agent and witch hazel fits the bill.

[@richelledouglass1928]

what would the shelf life on this be??

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Nothing official but I have had good luck making it one year and using it the next. I keep it in a dark bottle in a cupboard.

[@bossybootshomestead5361]

That is excellent. Do you know if it will work on chiggers! Lol

[@TigerCreekFarm]

It should

[@bossybootshomestead5361]

@@TigerCreekFarm Thank you so much

[@themakersapprentice6041]

Chlorophyll not chloroform

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Yep. I said chlorophyll. The accent.

[@themakersapprentice6041]

@@TigerCreekFarm the accent is good :‐) no worries. Thanks for the reply