What scent keeps mosquitoes off of you?

Author: Isobel Ritchie  |  Last update: Saturday, May 3, 2025

Planting lavender in your garden or using lavender essential oil can help repel mosquitoes. Peppermint Oil has a strong scent that mosquitoes find unpleasant. Diluted peppermint oil can be applied to the skin or used in diffusers to deter mosquitoes. Basil plants emit a strong aroma that repels mosquitoes.

What smell do mosquitoes hate to smell?

Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and rosemary. They also hate smells such as smoke, for further insight, see our exploration on, does smoke keep mosquitoes away.

What's the best thing to keep mosquitoes away from you?

Lemon eucalyptus essential oil is a natural insecticide that the CDC has approved. Lemongrass, lemon balm, and peppermint can be sprayed on your skin to keep mosquitoes at bay. Other essential oils that can be used to repel mosquitoes include citronella, rosemary, and lavender.

What can I put on my skin to keep mosquitoes from biting me?

Use insect repellent
  1. DEET.
  2. Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the United States)
  3. IR3535.
  4. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)—A plant-derived ingredient.
  5. Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
  6. 2-undecanone—A plant-derived ingredient.

What repels mosquitoes from biting you?

To protect yourself from mosquito bites, DEET and picaridin are the safest and most effective methods for anyone over two months of age. If you prefer natural ingredients, there are some products that are thought to repel mosquitoes and prevent mosquito bites. Those include OLE and PMD as described above.

I put cloves in the white vinegar and the final result was incredible

How do I make myself less attractive to mosquitoes?

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).

How to stop getting bitten at night?

To help prevent bug bites, dermatologists recommend the following tips:
  1. Use insect repellent. To protect against mosquitoes, ticks and other bugs, use insect repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing. ...
  2. Wear appropriate clothing. ...
  3. Use bed nets. ...
  4. Pay attention to outbreaks.

What body lotion do mosquitoes hate?

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.

Does Vicks Vaporub keep mosquitoes from biting you?

Apply a small amount of the product to your skin or clothes to deter the pests. The potent smell keeps the mosquitoes away, however, if you do find yourself being bitten, a small amount of Vicks placed upon the bite can also help to reduce the itching.

What perfume do mosquitoes hate?

Mosquitoes are drawn to human scent, but certain natural odors can keep them away. For those enjoying time outdoors, using repellents like citronella, eucalyptus, or lavender offers a chemical-free way to repel these pests. These essential oils are effective and provide a pleasant scent.

How can I stop being bitten by mosquitoes?

When possible, wear clothing with long sleeves, trousers, skirts and dresses, socks and shoes to stop mosquitoes biting your skin. Permethrin (an insecticide) treated clothing and bed nets provide additional protection against biting mosquitoes.

What is the best mosquito repellent for humans?

Overall, chemical repellents like DEET and picaridin offer long-lasting and wide-ranging protection, repelling mosquitoes, ticks and many fly species. Synthesized plant oils, like lemon eucalyptus oil and IR3535, don't protect quite as long and are effective against mosquitoes and some tick species.

What deodorant do mosquitoes hate?

A study in Nature found that a compound in deodorants (isopropyl tetradecanoate) repelled mosquitoes by preventing them from landing on the surface coated in deodorant. In fact, there was a 56% decrease in the number of mosquito landings.

What is the most effective homemade mosquito repellent?

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.

What can I take orally to prevent mosquito bites?

taking Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B12 supplements. eating garlic or yeast extracts, or applying them to your skin. using bath oils and skin softeners.

What is the thing mosquitoes hate the most?

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.

Why rub Vicks on your feet at night?

Some studies suggest that Vicks VapoRub can help ease nerve-related foot pain, treat cracked heels, and help clear toenail fungus.

What can I spray on my body to keep mosquitoes away?

Mosquito repellents that work
  • DEET works. DEET, chemical name, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, was developed in the 1950s by the U.S. Army and is a well-established mosquito repellent with a long history of use. ...
  • Picaridin works. ...
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus, or OLE, works. ...
  • Other essential oils – some work, some not so much.

Which blood type do mosquitoes hate?

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.

What shampoo do mosquitoes hate?

Researchers say coconut-scented soaps were among the most effective at repelling mosquitoes.

How do I stop getting bitten so much?

Take Steps to Prevent Bug Bites During Your Trip
  1. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent.
  2. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
  3. Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.
  4. Keep mosquitoes out of your hotel room or lodging.
  5. Sleep under a mosquito net.

Do mosquito bracelets work?

They're often marketed as providing “natural” protection from mosquitoes. But unfortunately, they aren't a reliable way to prevent mosquito bites.

How to keep mosquitoes away while sleeping?

Freshening up before bedtime, including showering and changing clothes, reduces scents and skin exposure that attract mosquitoes. Employing physical barriers like mosquito nets and window screens can prevent mosquitoes from entering sleeping areas.

Previous article
Is one layer of bubble wrap enough?
Next article
Are new floors a good investment?