Bugs be gone Millinocket woman makes natural products to foil flies

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Mike and Sandi McDaniel of Millinocket like nothing more than sitting in their small fishing boat casting lines as the early morning mist slowly rises off the water. But the peaceful silence is usually broken by the high-pitched whining of a squadron of mosquitoes flying in for an attack.

Mike McDaniel was constantly swatting the bloodthirsty insects away from his ears and neck. Sandi would slather herself with greasy, smelly bug repellent to keep them away.

But not anymore. The Millinocket couple, who love to fish, now have a weapon called Bug Be Gone.

It’s made by Millinocket resident Priscilla “Sam” MacPherson who recently gave up her job as a papermaker to become a certified aromatherapist.

At her shop, Sam’s Bounty, next to Jack’s Barber Shop on Central Street, MacPherson sells lines of aromatherapy, health and beauty products. She scents her products according to her customers’ wishes with pure essential oils she blends herself.

“It works great,” said Sandi McDaniel. She notes the lotion has a built-in SPF 25 sunscreen. She likes how it soaks into her skin and doesn’t feel greasy. “It doesn’t have all of those chemicals. I use it all of the time. I’m getting two [products] in one and the price is right.”

MacPherson had her 6-year-old granddaughter Morgan Deane of Bangor in mind when she created the lotion to repel black flies and mosquitoes. She didn’t want the child to use a repellent that was strong, smelly or loaded with chemicals.

Bug Be Gone is a scented lotion that doesn’t contain DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) or PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid). None of MacPherson’s products contain colorants, dyes or petroleum.

Bug Be Gone, a blend of pure essential oils, repels specifically mosquitoes and black flies.

“There are certain scents bugs don’t like,” said the aromatherapist. “They don’t like bay, cedarwood, lavender, lime, geranium, lemon grass, or eucalyptus.”

One of MacPherson’s insect repellents, Woodsy, is made from plants such as bay, cedarwood, pine, lime and geranium. The other, Grassy, is made from plants such as eucalyptus, cageput (derived from the southern yellow pine) and patchouli. These oils are blended with a base lotion containing aloe, sunflower and rose hips, cocoa butter, vegetable emulsifying wax, vitamin E and DMDM hydantoin. Titanium dioxide is added to provide sunscreen protection.

“They have nice clean smells to them,” said MacPherson. “They don’t have that heavy chemical odor and they keep the bugs off.”

MacPherson, who freely gives samples of her products, says many people try them and come back for more. A Rhode Island attorney purchased a bottle of the insect repellent at a conference she attended in Stratton and later called to order some.

She also makes a bug spray for horses made from glycerin, citronella oil, mineral oil, vitamin E and lavender. The concentrate is mixed with water and the solution can either be sprayed on or wiped down with a cloth. It’s being used by horse owners in Millinocket and even some in Warren. It can be used for dogs and cats and animals won’t be harmed if they lick it.

MacPherson’s bug products are catching on, but she says they aren’t her biggest sellers.

Her Nail Fungus Buster lotion and psoriasis cream are among her top selling products. Showing photographs, MacPherson related how a girlfriend had nail fungus so bad her toenails were turning orange and were so thick she had a hard time cutting them.

But, after using Nail Fungus Buster for a month, her friend’s toenails lost their orange tinge and the nails became easier to cut and the fungus had disappeared four months later.

The aromatherapist recalled how a 60-year-old man, who had a bad case of athlete’s foot for decades, used the nail anti-fungal cream for three months and his affliction is almost 90 percent gone. The man’s foot doctor is now seeking the product.

To make Nail Fungus Buster, MacPherson starts with a very light-base lotion rich in natural emollients that restore moisture. She adds essential oils with antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral and deodorant properties.

“These oils help stimulate the immune system to fight off infection,” she said. She said the deodorizing action helps the skin cope with excess heat and moisture.

Another product that is catching on is MacPherson’s lip balm. It is made from a base of moisturizing oil, beeswax and vitamin E and one of three scents – sweet orange, wintergreen, or vanilla.

Chuck James of Millinocket, whose lips are chapped all winter, frequently uses the lip balm.

MacPherson also makes a “Peppermint Pick Me Up,” foot cream, which she describes as a creamy, nourishing foot rub for overworked feet. Her product line also includes shampoos, conditioners, bath oil, shower gels and bath salts. Customers can pick their own scents or try one of her synergy blends, a blend of three or more oils. She says one bath blend, PMS Make My Day, eases tension. It’s made of Epson salts, baking soda, sea salt and other ingredients.

MacPherson even makes a spray to help curb hot flashes. It’s made of a hydrating mist, water and essential oils for hormonal balance such as lavender, sage and peppermint.

Some customers ask whether the lotions and sprays are guaranteed.

“It might work for one person and not another,” she explained, stressing that her products are not meant to take the place of medical counseling and she recommends that people consultant with their doctors for any unresolved, undiagnosed or major medical conditions.

She said aromatherapy is the art and science of using pure essentials from the root, seed, leaf, fruit, bark, wood or plant to affect the physical, mental, emotional or spiritual state.

“This is acquired through the process of inhalation as well as external application of these oils,” she said. ” It is truly a holistic therapy taking into account the lifestyle and relationships of the person.”

Sam’s Bounty is located at 168 Central Street in Millinocket. Tel: 723-4619.