Compounds derived from coconut oil are better than DEET at repelling blood-sucking insects, according to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study.
Coconut oil fatty acids also provided more that 90 percent repellency against mosquitoes—including Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that can transmit the Zika virus. These coconut oil-derived compounds offer longer-lasting protection than any other known natural repellent against insect blood-feeding, according to Zhu.
Picaridin. For more than 60 years, DEET has reigned as the undisputed champion of insect repellents. No longer. There's now a potentially better alternative on the market: picaridin.
However, coconut oil does nothing to repel fleas and ticks. Oil applied to your pet's skin will only be effective at getting your floor and furniture greasy. The thin layer of coconut oil on their skin does not provide an effective barrier for these tenacious parasites.
Ticks hate the smell of lemon, orange, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, and rose geranium so they'll avoid latching on to anything that smells of those items. Any of these or a combination can be used in DIY sprays or added to almond oil and rubbed on exposed skin.
Virgin coconut oil is always the best option, but in this case a good quality organic refined oil (make sure it's expeller pressed) will do just fine. Mix the coconut oil with your choice of essential oils. Strong smelling oils such as citronella, eucalyptus, rosemary and clove are always good options.
Which repellent works best? N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) remains the standard by which all other repellents are judged. DEET was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was registered for use by the general public in 1957. It is effective against mosquitoes, biting flies, chiggers, fleas, and ticks.
Cedarwood Oil
Cedarwood is toxic to ticks and their larvae, making it a prime essential oil for ticks. It can be used on people and dogs, making it one of the best options for an essential oil repellent. There have been many different scientific studies on cedarwood oil against ticks.
DEET is a widely used repellent that deters pests by making it harder for them to smell humans. Despite being effective, it has faced controversy over potential health and environmental impacts, including skin irritation and toxicity concerns. Some countries have even banned DEET due to these risks.
Yes: DEET. A repellent with DEET tells mosquitos to buzz off loud and clear. You'll need one with at least 20% DEET to protect your skin for several hours at a time, although more than 50% doesn't work any better (kids should use 10%-30%).
Another popular repellent known as picaridin is now regarded as a better alternative, since its protective effect lasts longer, and it doesn't have an odor or damage items. However, like DEET, it has to be reapplied after swimming or sweating.
Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents, including citronella, peppermint, cedar, catnip, patchouli, lemongrass, lavender and more. You can add some of these plants to your landscaping to fend them off.
3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent Lotion
Another top-selling mosquito repellent lotion is Ultrathon Insect Repellent Lotion from 3M. This lotion contains about 34% DEET to repel not only mosquitoes, but biting flies, chiggers, deer flies, ticks, gnats, and fleas.
For a "foolproof recipe" that banishes mosquitoes, combine 1/3 cup witch hazel and 1/3 cup water with 40 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. "Mosquitoes detest the strong aroma of eucalyptus, so this easy homemade mosquito repellent is sure to be a winner," says Harlow-Ellis.
Basically, to avoid being a mosquito-target you should stay as scent-free as possible, wear light clothes, avoid bogs and use an effective repellent (such as those containing DEET or icaridin).
There is simply no evidence taking vitamin B will offer any significant protection from mosquito bites. In reality, if there was even moderate scientific evidence that taking a vitamin supplement could prevent mosquito bites, our supermarket shelves would be full of “mosquito repellent pills”.
Blood Types Mosquitoes Love Most
Type B: Type B placed second in popularity. Type A: Type A Blood Type apparently tastes the worst to mosquitoes. The study found that those with Blood Type A are 50% less likely to receive a mosquito bite than those with Type O.
To protect yourself against mosquitoes, our experts agreed that the best mosquito repellents should contain DEET, picaridin, and IR3535. Wesley Trimble, Communications and Creative Director at the American Hiking Society, recommends DEET and picaridin as effective skin-applied insect repellents.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls mosquitoes the “world's deadliest animal.”1 It's a weighty moniker for an insect that weighs just 2.5 milligrams,2 but it's well deserved because vector-borne diseases, including those transmitted by mosquitos, cause more than 700,000 deaths worldwide every year ...
Our tests show that Avon is right: The Skin So Soft Bath Oil is not meant to repel ticks or mosquitoes. It might work for “skin moisturizing” and “dryness reducing” as the company advertises, but it's not a good bet when it comes to avoiding bug bites.
Option 1: Coconut Oil
It has a low melting temperature, so to make this mix, melt the oil and stir in your essential oil drops. Pour it into a container and let it harden. Before you go outside, apply it like a lotion on your hands, arms, and legs.
Researchers say coconut-scented soaps were among the most effective at repelling mosquitoes.
I started using Dr. Teal's eucalyptus & spearmint lotion and the biting flies/gnats stopped eating me alive, mosquitoes too! I'm usually covered in deep woods Off, but the fly/gnat things kept dive bombing me anyway.