Leslie,
I don't know about the sasafrass thing but a well know fact that
osageorange/hedgeapple is known to keep all sort of bugs away when stroed in
cabinets, closets, etc. You know those large grapefruit sized balls from
the osageorage tree that has a sticky substance on them. Don't know if
anyone has tried it as a body repellant though.
Bear Wolf