“Quit Buggin’ Me!” Insect Repellant

A tallow-based insect repellant balm. Grass-fed tallow, beeswax, and seven plant-derived essential oils (citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, geranium, peppermint, rosemary, lavender) whipped into a solid balm you apply directly to skin. No spray bottle, no inhalation, no liquid restrictions. Built for kids, sensitive skin, and the kind of pinpoint application a spray can't do.

What it's for

• Kids and babies (3 months+) — safer than spray because there's no mist to inhale
• Mothers hiking, camping, or at parks with young children
• Pinpoint application to high-bite zones: ankles, wrists, behind the ears, back of the neck, knee creases
• Travel — solid balm, TSA-friendly, no leaks in checked or carry-on bags
• Sensitive skin that reacts to sprays, alcohol-based repellants, or DEET
• Backyard barbecues, bonfires, and outdoor dining
• Fishing, hunting, and early-morning outdoor work in mosquito season
• Anyone with a mosquito-allergic child (see Cortney's review below)

Spray vs. Balm — which to choose

• This balm (Quit Buggin' Me!) — tallow-based solid balm for direct skin application. Best for kids, babies, travel, pinpoint application, and anyone avoiding spray mists. Lasts longer per application.
• Quit Buggin' Me & My Pets Spray — water-based spray for full-coverage application on humans, dogs, and horses. Best for ranch work, large-area coverage, and pets.
• Many customers keep both — balm in the diaper bag, spray in the barn or on the porch.

What's in it

The base

• Grass-fed & finished beef tallow — slowly rendered from suet sourced from regenerative California ranches. Adds deep moisture while carrying the essential oils onto skin. This is why the balm conditions your skin instead of drying it out like alcohol-based sprays.
• Virgin organic coconut oil — softens the balm and adds glide. Helps the oils distribute evenly on contact with skin.
• Organic beeswax — gives the balm its solid shape. Creates a thin protective layer on skin so the repellent oils stay on the surface longer.

The essential oil blend (all 25(b) EPA-exempt ingredients)

• Citronella oil — the classic mosquito deterrent used in outdoor products for generations.
• Eucalyptus oil — recognized natural deterrent with a fresh, clean aroma.
• Lemongrass oil — closely related to citronella with a brighter citrus note.
• Geranium oil — particularly disliked by ticks and mosquitoes. Contains natural geraniol.
• Peppermint oil — cooling on the skin and known to deter a variety of crawling and flying insects.
• Rosemary oil — herbal undertone that adds to the deterrent blend.
• Lavender oil — soft floral note that softens the overall scent and is itself mildly deterrent to biting insects.

That's it. No DEET, no picaridin, no permethrin, no synthetic fragrances, no alcohol, no parabens, no phthalates.

How to use

1. Warm a small amount of balm between clean fingertips — about the size of a pea for a child, two peas for an adult arm
2. Apply directly to exposed skin, focusing on high-bite zones: ankles, wrists, behind ears, neck, knee creases
3. For a larger coverage area (arms, legs), warm a bigger scoop and spread with both palms
4. For children: apply for them rather than letting them apply it themselves — keeps it out of their mouths and eyes
5. Avoid the face, eyes, nostrils, and mouth — apply to the hairline and behind the ears instead if face-area coverage is needed
6. Reapply every 2-3 hours of active outdoor exposure, or after swimming, sweating, or toweling off
7. Wash hands after application, especially if you have cats at home

What to expect

• Texture: firm at room temperature, softens with body heat and melts into a thin oil layer on contact
• Color: warm cream-ivory from the tallow and beeswax
• Scent: herbal-citrusy — bright lemongrass and citronella over a deeper eucalyptus-rosemary base, softened by lavender. Many customers find the scent genuinely pleasant (unlike commercial bug sprays). Fades to a soft skin-scent within 20-30 minutes.
• Duration: 2-3 hours of protection in normal conditions. Less in heavy sweating, swimming, or high-humidity environments. Natural repellants always wear shorter than DEET — the tradeoff is skin safety.
• Finish: slightly cushioned, not greasy. Absorbs into skin within 2-3 minutes.
• Tin life: lasts 2-4 months of regular summer use, longer if used only for occasional outdoor events
• Heat sensitivity: in temperatures above 90°F the balm will soften. Refrigerate 10 minutes to re-firm.
• Travel safety: solid balm is TSA-friendly for carry-on. No liquid restrictions.

From a customer

"Purchased Quit Buggin Me, and it's the only thing I've been able to find that protects my 2-year-old. She's extremely allergic to mosquitoes — as a mom, I can't rave more about the product. Even if she gets a bite, I put this on and it seems to help the bite not get as infected as it used to."

— Cortney, verified buyer

Pairs with

For the outdoor-day kit: apply this balm in the morning, layer our TallowGlow Outdoor Balm on cheeks and lips for wind/sun-chapping protection, and clean up at the end of the day with Golden Honey Tallow Suds (Graham Crackers scent is fragrance-free, perfect for kids). Three products = one outdoor-safe family routine.

The craft

Hand-whipped in small batches in Oakdale, California. We slowly melt the tallow, coconut oil, and beeswax together, then incorporate the essential oils at the lowest heat to preserve their deterrent compounds. Each balm is hand-poured into a tin, cooled, and labeled. Shelf life 12+ months unopened.

Safety notes

• Do a patch test first — apply a small amount to the inner wrist (adults) or inner flank (children) and wait 24 hours before full use
• Not for infants under 3 months — consult your pediatrician for younger babies
• Avoid eyes, nose, mouth, and mucous membranes — rinse thoroughly with water if contact occurs
• For external use only — do not ingest
• Keep out of reach of children when not in use
• Discontinue if irritation or allergic reaction occurs

Ingredients (full list)

Grass-fed beef tallow, virgin organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, geranium oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil.