In another thread, there's mention of making a hot pepper insecticide.
Since it wouldn't kill the insects, but just get them to leave the plant
alone, does that make it an insecticide which "cide" infers death?

Minor point, now to the major one.

When I lived in Louisiana, the bug capitol of the Universe, I learned the
following recipe for "bug repellent" from an old Cajun.

Get a plug of "Days Work" tobacco, if you can find it in your area. If not,
any leaf chewing tobacco will work. Day's Work was way cheap back then
(1970's) and it was sold everywhere.

Get some Dawn dishwashing solution.

Get some mouthwash.

Boil about one cubic inch of Day's work in a quart of water for about ten
minutes. Let cool.

Get a gallon milk jug.

Strain the quart of Day's Work tea into your gallon jug through a panty hose
and funnel to remove the things that will clog up your empty Windex sprayer.

Add 1 tbsp. Dawn.

Add 6 fl. oz. of ANY mouthwash.

Add enough water to fill the gallon jug.

Put into an old Windex or any hand sprayer (guess you could make gallons and
use a big pump sprayer), and spray your plants.

When I had lots of aphids, you could actually see the aphids HOP OFF THE
PLANT within 30 seconds while I was standing there.

This stuff stays on the plant for a good while. If it is absorbed into the
plant, it is nothing that will harm you if you ingest it. It can be sprayed
on the ground for cutworms, and things that crawl up from the bottom. You
can spray it on flowering plants, plants with developing fruit. You can
actually spray it on your lawn.

GOOD, CHEAP STUFF. It works! And it works reeeeeeeeal good.

Yer welcome.

Steve