Rochester woman finds niche trying to stop an itch

Rebecca Hios of Rochester with her all natural bug repellant at the New Hampshire Farm Museum's Farmer's Market on Saturday, (Lebanon Voice/Harrison Thorp photo)

MILTON - If you're tired of putting Deet on your skin to repel mosquitos and other airborne pests, Rebecca Hios of Rochester has some advice:

Put on some Bug Botherer.

"It bothers the bugs, but it doesn't bother you," she said as she sold her homemade all-natural bug repellant at the New Hampshire Farm Museum's monthly Farmer's Market on Saturday.

She also makes and sells soap and lip balm, but her Bug Botherer has drawn the most interest. Local stores like Arthur's Market in Rochester now carry it.

Hios said that she got bitten by the bug for making bug repellant several years ago after attending a soap-making workshop at the New Hampshire Farm Museum.

"I started out with soap," she said. "Then I saw a need for a bug repellant that was a natural alternative. I started researching online to find the right essential oils that would repel bugs."
Hios' Bug Botherer Body Butter contents are written right on the label in print large enough that you know she's proud of what it's made of: cocoa butter, beeswax, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, "Bug Botherer" essential oil blend and vitamin E.

Hios' business is called The New Homestead, and she describes its mantra as "Handcrafting old-fashioned products in new-fashioned ways."

You'll find her products at farmer's markets, Arthur's and the New Hampshire Farm Museum's Country Store.

Sometime you might find them at Rite Aid or a Walgreen's.

"I might approach them some day," she says.

A former middle school teacher, Hios' full-time job now is as career center coordinator for the Strafford County Community Action Partnership.

"I think it's important to have a side business, but who knows; someday we may take it to a greater level."

By the way, this writer tried Bug Botherer and found it does work, though you may have to reapply more often than repellants containing Deet.

But who cares. It's all natural and it smells great.

For more information click here. They're also on Facebook key work The New Homestead.