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Garlic and Vit-B never worked for me.
We use permethrin for my son when he goes to scout camp during the summer. Really helps with ticks as they camp in the woods for a week or more. He's working at camp again this year, so he will spend 5 weeks camping, coming home on the weekends for laundry and a chance to sleep in his bed.

 

Basil, Lemon Balm, Catnip and Rosemary are plants that repel mosquitoes and are safe for dogs and cats. If you have pets be sure to always double check to be sure any plants and oils are safe if they get into them. Citronella, peppermint, lavender and some marigolds along with other plants and oils are TOXIC to your furbabies.

 

Mom used to get on me about sunscreen and seeing the Dermatologist. “You have the same type of skin as me!” “Yes Mom.” I finally made an appointment, six or seven months out. Doc came in and looked me over for less than 5 minutes, told me to wear a hat and use sunscreen. Genius he was.

 

I use Skin-So-Soft, an Avon product.

 

The "no stores" in the title caught my eye and got me thinking. My problems with bugs and sun both tend to take care of themselves in the field. When the bugs are worst I wear light, loose fitting long sleeve shirts, blouse my trousers low on my boots and wear big hats. I have big hair and beard, so there's not much exposed skin to burn, Between the sleeves and the hats I have little worry about sun screen. Add the inevitable wood smoke smell to my clothes and after a couple days in camp I don't even notice bugs.

Given any choice at all I'll work in the shade, or carry some with me.

 

Old School Field expedient bug repellant:

Chew a couple of cigarettes, then spit the resulting juice on hands, run in and rub on face and neck.
Ya gross. Beats being eaten alive.