An early practicle use of sachets and potpourri was to help repel insects and pests from the household and it's contents including the inhabitants.. The addition of one or more of the following ingredients in a mixture or used alone, may help deter the enroachment of insects..
SOURCE: various Yahoogroups
The enemy
The remedy
Ants
Tansy, fresh flowers
Fleas
Fennel, powdered
Fleas or lice
Pennyroyal herb or oil (avoid if pregnant)
Flies
Tansy, fresh flowers
Insects in linen
Costmary, lavender, rosemary,or woodruff
Mosquitoes
Decoction of pennyroyal
Moths
Lavender or rosemary
Spiders
Khus-Khus (vetivert)
Ants:
Spray vinegar on ant trails and around the areas they come into your
house. Place sprigs of pennyroyal, tansy, or rue in the cupboards and
shelves.
Fleas:
Fleas hate laurel leaves, rue, and winter savory. Crush and place under
rugs, sofa cushions, doormats, etc.. Add a tsp. of vinegar to your pets
drinking water.
Flies:
Lavender, mint, pennyroyal, peppermint, or rue. Make
potpourris out of lavender. Grow any one of these herbs in and / or outside
of your house. Hang sprigs in your house.
Moths:
Lavender, lemon, thyme, mint, rosemary, tansy, or
wormwood. Make sachets out of any (or a selection) of these and place in linen closets and drawers & closets
Weevils:
Use bay leaves on shelves and cupboards. Put a whole leaf in with your
flour, rice and dried beans.
Mice:
Use sprigs of tansy or mint on your shelves, cupboards and anywhere mice
have been seen.