We've got some nasty bugs in Maine. We needed something to deal with them, and didn't want to use chemical repellents.  Mad Mike's Anti-Bug Brew is the result of our quest to find a natural way to repel the insects that make the great outdoors just a little less great.

Bugs

Maine’s bold coast and open salt marshes draw people from all over the U.S., a fact which doesn’t sit too well amongst some Mainers who’d rather do without the droves of vacationers that flock here each summer. There’s a saying here that the tourists and mosquitoes arrive about the same time and leave about the same time, and some can’t tell which are worse.

Well, we’ve got news for you: it’s the mosquitoes. I don’t care how much of a crusty hermit you are, any discomfort brought on by visitors can’t hold a candle to the insanity brought on by clouds of mosquitoes at feeding time. The great thing about spruce forests and marshes is that they’re absolutely beautiful. The bad thing is that mosquitoes think so too, so the bugs come with the territory. We’ve seen clouds of mosquitoes so thick and you can hear them long before they swoop in and start stabbing at anything that moves. And while it’s amusing to watch these bugs try to suck the life out of an inanimate jacket or fleece sweater, the fun ends when they find some exposed skin.

Once you hit the woods, it gets worse with the black flies. Some people feel their bites and some don’t, but just about anyone who has been attacked can tell you about the swelling and bleeding welts they can cause.

Unless you enjoy the chance to suffer silently, the act of challenging these miniature flying beasts without repellents or protective clothing is enough to drive a person mad.

Chemical repellents

Some people protect themselves with man-made repellents like DEET or Permethrin. You might not be able to pronounce their ingredients, and you might not even want to know what’s in these repellents, but there’s no doubt about it: they are effective.

Our problem with this solution is that it’s just plain unnatural. We once heard a wise man say that you should never put anything on your skin that you otherwise wouldn’t be willing to eat or drink – the reason being that anything put on the skin will quickly enter the bloodstream. You might not think of it that way ahead of time, but in hindsight, this suggestion makes total sense.

We bring this up because some of the chemical repellents are used as insecticides at higher concentrations.

Insecticides. Known toxins that kill other living creatures. That’s nasty.

We don’t know about you, but to us, that sounds like stuff we don’t want circulating through our central nervous systems and delicate internal organs. How much exposure is safe? We don’t know, and it’s not our intention to find out. We can’t think of any concentration of insecticide that we’d like in our bloodstreams.

Natural repellents

It is for this reason that many people now avoid the chemical repellents, especially for use with children. The fewer toxins people have coursing around their systems, the fewer health problems those toxins will create. Hey, why use concoctions that could make your kids grow flippers when there are natural alternatives out there?

We thought this was a good trend, so we starting trying all sorts of natural repellents designed for people who care about their health and about the environment. What we found out is that some of these repellents work and some don’t. Some smell pretty good, others are downright scary. Some smell so bad that the odor won’t leave clothing, even after several washings. I had to throw out a good pair of shorts because of this. Man, that’s a serious bummer. It’s bad enough to smell awful, but having to toss out good clothes is just adding insult to injury.

Mad Mike’s

Driven by the relentless insects that populate our state, and disappointed with the bug repellents we found on the market, we decided to take things into our own hands. We set out to create natural repellents that were effective and smelled good, even after several days of use.

Our first experiment was with a mint and citronella mixture. Being folks that avoid timid solutions at all costs, we concocted a brew that worked beyond all our expectations. We tested it at low tide at dusk, the perfect time for mosquito frenzies, and watched the insects flee in droves. It was a powerful feeling to spray that stuff and just watch the air clear instantaneously. Unfortunately, it was so powerful that just standing near someone who used it could make your eyes water. Seriously. Thus the name Mint Overload. We liked it, but we couldn’t imagine people paying good money for something powerful enough to disturb the neighbors if they happen to leave their windows open. We eventually came to our senses and toned our mixture down to the point where it was pleasant instead of overpowering, but still kept the name because it reminded us of all the fun we had testing it.

Our experience with Mint Overload convinced us to try other combinations. Using cinnamon, clove, and a touch of patchouli, we came up with a tasty fragrance that just begged to be named Spice-O-Rama. Then our love of spruce and balsam fir prompted the Woody Delight fragrance, and the simple clean smell of oranges, lemons, and limes inspired Citrus Explosion.

After hundreds of trials, we arrived at a collection of six different scents, all based on natural botanicals and essential oils.

Now we’re offering Mad Mike’s Anti-Bug Brew to others. While our original goal was only to create a supply of repellents for ourselves and some outdoor camps, we decided it would be silly to keep this a secret. Wherever we go, someone ends up enjoying one of our repellents and requesting a bottle or two. Recognizing that we aren’t the only people around who want a safe and pleasant way to keep the bugs away, we put Mad Mike’s on the web for anyone who is interested.