I read where Iowa University did a test on herbal repellant capabilities of herbs and they found that Catnip Oil in several dilutions out performed Deet. I believe the University applied for a patent for the chemical compound. I found a cat toy refreshner at the local pet supply and my wife used it when she was planting flowers late at night. She said they were all around her but non landed or bite her. I will test it at the boat landing when working for Evasive Species inspections. Deet is a nasty chemical and I remember when fishing and perspiring and having the deet solution run into my eyes. If I had it to do over again I would not spray my children with Deet. Deet didn't help the fishing when you got it on your lure.

I quess with the sensitivity of cats noses to detect smell; not to much catnip oil is put into the spray refreshers. I would suggest taking real catnip; about 2-3 cups of the leaves. Crush them with a rolling pin and then cover them with rice vinegar and keep it in a darkplace and shake it every day for 2 weeks. Then strain it and put it in a spary bottle. The interesting thing that I learned is that if the plant is fertylized to much and the plant grows too fast the amount of oil is lessened in the leaves.