Environmentally safe insect repellent composition

Abstract

An insect repellent composition containing citronella oil, D-limonene, 2 or more synergists, and 3 or more essential oils as the active ingredients. The preferred essential oils are geranium oil, rosemary oil and peppermint oil, but other essential oils may be used. In the preferred embodiment the synergists are aldehyde C-14 and aldehyde C-18. As desired, vanillin may be used as a stabilizer, and fragrances, fragrance enhancers and surfactants may be utilized.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An insect repellent composition comprising as active ingredients: citronella oil; D-limonene; 2 or more synergists; and 3 or more essential oils.  
     
     
         2 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the essential oils are geranium oil, rosemary oil and peppermint oil.  
     
     
         3 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the synergists are aldehyde C-14 and aldehyde C-18.  
     
     
         4 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the synergists are aldehyde C-14 and aldehyde C-18.  
     
     
         5 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the essential oils are selected from the group consisting of geranium oil, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil, spearmint oil, pine needle oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil, grapefruit oil, lavandin oil, cinnamon oil, clove oil, thyme oil, wintergreen oil, cedar oil, lemon grass oil, mandarin oil, tangerine oil, orange oil, citrus oil, lime oil, coriander oil, pomegranate oil, walnut oil, peanut oil, corn oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, linseed oil, safflower oil and olive oil.  
     
     
         6 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the synergists are selected from the group consisting of aldehyde C-14, aldehyde C-18, iso-bornyl acetate, N-amyl alcohol, devanaoil, nootkatone, litsea cubeba and benzoic acid.  
     
     
         7 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the synergists are selected from the group consisting of aldehyde C-14, aldehyde C-18, iso-bornyl acetate, N-amyl alcohol, devanaoil, nootkatone, litsea cubeba and benzoic acid.  
     
     
         8 . An insect repellent composition according to any one of claims  1 - 7 , further comprising a terpene.  
     
     
         9 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the terpene is is selected from the group consisting of orange terpenes, lemon terpenes, mandarin terpenes, tangerine terpenes, lime terpenes and grapefruit terpenes.  
     
     
         10 . An insect repellent composition according to any one of the claims  1 - 7 , further comprising a stabilizer.  
     
     
         11 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 11 , wherein said stabilizer is vanillin.  
     
     
         12 . An insect repellent composition according to any one of the claims  1 - 7 , further comprising a fragrance.  
     
     
         13 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the fragrance is selected from the group consisting of neroli oil, anethole, rose oil, violet extract, mandarin oil, methylionone, sandal wood, musk and patchouly.  
     
     
         14 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 12 , further comprising a fragrance enhancer.  
     
     
         15 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 13 , further comprising a fragrance enhancer.  
     
     
         16 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the fragrance enhancer is selected from the group consisting of citral, heliotropine, aldehyde C-10, linalool and oil petigrain mandarin.  
     
     
         17 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the fragrance enhancer is selected from the group consisting of citral, heliotropine, aldehyde C-10, linalool and oil petigrain mandarin.  
     
     
         18 . An insect repellent composition according to any one of the claims  1 - 7 , further comprising a surfactant.  
     
     
         19 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group comprising sodium lauryl sulfate and polysorbate 80.  
     
     
         20 . An insect repellent composition according to any one of the claims  1 - 7 , further comprising a terpene, a stabilizer, a fragrance and a fragrance enhancer.  
     
     
         21 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 20 , wherein the terpene is is selected from the group consisting of orange terpenes, lemon terpenes, mandarin terpenes, tangerine terpenes and lime terpenes, wherein said stabilizer is vanillin, wherein the fragrance is selected from the group consisting of neroli oil, anethole, rose oil, violet extract, mandarin oil, methylionone, sandal wood, musk and patchouly, and wherein the fragrance enhancer is selected from the group consisting of citral, heliotropine, aldehyde C-10, linalool and oil petigrain mandarin.  
     
     
         22 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 20 , further comprising a surfactant.  
     
     
         23 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group comprising sodium lauryl sulfate and polysorbate 80.  
     
     
         24 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 21 , further comprising a surfactant.  
     
     
         25 . An insect repellent composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group comprising sodium lauryl sulfate and polysorbate 80.