What Smells do Mosquitoes Hate?

While most people are prone to mosquito bites because of a combination of humidity, heat, light, and scent, mosquitoes hate some smells. As a mosquito magnet, I'm sure you're tired of having itchy and bumpy skin.

Did you know that certain things like sweat, carbon dioxide, bacteria, and hand odors attract some species of mosquitoes? Understanding what attracts mosquitoes will help you understand what smells do mosquitoes hate to avoid those smells. This will also help with getting rid of mosquitos in your house.

Good news, whatever species of mosquitoes you encounter, you don't need a DEET-based chemical repellent to protect yourself as they sometimes contain potential environmental and health hazards. Unless you're going to visit places where the risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes is high, it is highly recommended not to use it.

But if you're using it on kids, or taking a camping trip, hanging out in your backyard, or taking a hike around, using all natural mosquito repellents or smells are the best options. The question “what smells do mosquitoes hate?” will be explored extensively in this article.

Lemon Eucalyptus Oil

The lemon eucalyptus oil is a well-known mosquito repellent. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) approves of lemon eucalyptus oil as a mosquito repellent. A mixture of 33 percent lemon eucalyptus oil provides up to 95 percent protection against mosquitoes for at least 3 hours.

Lavender

Lavender flowers produce oil and fragrance that repels mosquitoes when crushed due to its antiseptic, anti-fungal, and analgesic properties. It is not only used as an essential oil for mosquito repellence, but it also soothes and calms the skin.

Cinnamon Oil

Cinnamon is more than a great sprinkler for your oatmeal and applesauce. Its oil also kills off mosquito eggs and serves as an adult mosquito repellent.

Thyme Oil

Thyme oil is excellent at protecting against malarial mosquitoes with a protection rate of 91 percent. Thyme leaves are also great as they provide 85 percent protection for up to 90 minutes when burnt.

Soybean Oil

Soybean oil is an effective natural mosquito repellent as it provides long-lasting mosquito protection.

Neem Oil

Although not yet approved as a topical mosquito repellent because it tends to cause skin irritation, neem oil has been researched to offering 70 percent protection from mosquito bites for 3 hours.

Greek Catnip Oil

Greek catnip oil is an excellent mosquito repellent. The oil and extract from the crushed leaves are ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, as it wards off mosquitoes for more than 2 hours.

Citronella

Citronella is an effective and natural essential oil for a mosquito repellent. It combines a mixture of herbs to repel mosquitoes. Try getting a citronella candle as a repellent against mosquitoes when you're outdoors. Its protection lies up to two hours if appropriately formulated.

Tea Tree Oil

The Melaleuca oil or Tea tree oil from Australia is an essential oil with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties. It is highly effective against mosquitoes and insects, such as biting midges and bush flies.

Geraniol

Geraniol is a type of alcohol used as a flavor or fragrance. It's derived from plant oils like rose, lemongrass, and citronella. It is quite effective and can last for up to 4 hours. Avoid spraying this natural mosquito spray on your eyes or sensitive skin, causing eye and skin irritation.

Potential Health Hazards

Essential oils should never be applied to the skin directly. They must first be diluted in carrier oils like almond oil. A preferred mixture is five drops of essential oil to one ounce of carrier oil.

This is because the Food and Drug Administration hasn't relegated most of them due to the allergic reactions you may get from the active ingredients interacting with your skin. So, before you make use of any products, test the product on a small spot on your skin, and wait for two hours to ensure that the burning sensation of hives doesn't occur.

However, if there's any possibility that you might be going into a high-risk mosquito area where you might get infected with the Zika virus, yellow fever, or malaria, it is advised to bring a chemical mosquito repellent. You will also want to avoid going if you are pregnant.

Treating Mosquito Bites

What do you do when you get painful and itchy mosquito bites even with your mosquito repellent applied? Here's what to do:

· Rub apple cider vinegar on the mosquito bites

· Place a slice of freshly cut garlic or raw onion on the bite to guard against infection and provide relief.

· Apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion.

If you develop an allergic reaction or infection because of mosquito bites, make sure to contact your doctor. Always try to remember what smells do mosquitoes hate so you can ensure to keep those scents throughout your home.

Now that you know how to repel mosquitoes with natural mosquito sprays and repellents, don't hesitate to enjoy your day indoors and outdoors. You can also experiment with the different ingredients above to create an all-natural mosquito repellent just for you.

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