It’s late-spring. The sun is shining. You feel happy and refreshed and thankful that the ridiculously long winter has come to an end. You decide to celebrate this momentous occasion by doing something special, something that has been denied to you by cold Canadian winter weather for what seems like years. You decide to enjoy the sun and commemorate the beauty of this moment with a truly unforgettable experience: a calm walk in the woods!

So you go for your walk. It is absolutely wonderful, and you enjoy yourself at every moment, listening to the sound of birds chirping and soaking in the rays of afternoon sun. Everything is calm and quiet, and you are at peace.

But then.

Upon returning to your home, you notice something: a very small dot on your arm that was not there before. You inspect it, curious as to whether it is a new freckle or perhaps a fleck of dirt. But then you realize the truth. The horrid, horrid truth.

There is an evil tick from the depths of hell that has implanted itself into the skin on your helpless arm.
What can be done?! What can rectify this situation?! Who can save you now?!

Okay okay, so I’m being a little melodramatic. I know. But I honestly cannot help it. This is one of my greatest outdoor fears. Being someone who enjoys the beauty of nature and loves the challenge of a long hike in the conservation area near my country home, ticks—and all other carnivorous insects, for that matter—are an ever-present concern. One of the first things I do after returning from a hike is check my entire body for ticks. While they are small, they can be more than just a minor nuisance. For example, ticks are the primary transmitters of Lyme disease, making them quite dangerous in certain locations.

There are a number of extremely important safety tips that people need to know about protecting themselves against ticks, including: wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants; checking your clothing for ticks and tumble drying clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing; and showering/checking your body for ticks after being outdoor.

Now, one of the most common recommendations is using an insect repellent with DEET and using products containing permethrin to treat your boots, clothing, camping gear, etc. My dilemma is that, while I hate ticks, I also hate chemicals and the negative side-effects they have on me and my family.

So here’s the deal:

There are so many amazing essential oils that do wonders as insect repellants, and I would highly recommend that you check some of them out/purchase some of them before you go on another outdoor adventure in a woody or grassy area. I won’t go through all of the essential oils for repelling insects—which include Arborvitae, Cedar, Cinnamon, Citronella, Clove, Spearmint, Peppermint, Rosemary, and Thyme—but here are a few of the top ones that you can use to seriously tick-off some ticks!!