Mosquitoes love my skin. Every summer, I feel like a human bug light. I draw the mosquitoes in–in fact, I am a personal shield for anyone sitting next to me. The mosquitoes flock to me and leave everyone else alone. So, now with summer right around the corner, I have been trying to decide the best way to keep my skin skeeter-free.
I ran across an article on NPR a while back that ranked the effectiveness of different commercial applications. The general consensus was that products containing DEET, Picardin, and/or IR3535 were the most effective. Though, for the non-chemical route, oil of lemon eucalyptus seemed to do the trick pretty effectively too. Funnily, Victoria Secret’s perfume, Bombshell, has proven to be a pretty effective skeeter deterrent. I personally have never been able to wear perfume–it drives me bonkers, so that one is out for me.
I could just cover up with clothing, avoiding chemicals altogether. Loose clothing is best, according to experts in the NPR article. Sorry active wear folks, but spandex is apparently mosquito friendly. The little beggars have a pretty easy time of noshing right through those tight yoga pants. Thick, tough fabrics, loose long sleeves and pants are best–which kind of sounds like a nightmare in the middle of summer, unless the nights cool off significantly.
Ultimately, the bites are a mere nuisance compared to the potential Zika virus the skeeters could pass on. Flu-like symptoms in the middle of summer? No, thank you.
So, I guess I’ll consider this blog my own informal study…what do YOU use to keep the mosquitoes away? How often do you re-apply?
~Mavis
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Sheila says
Our family has found that Skin-So-Soft from Avon is a really good bug repellent. You bathe with it, and it’s really slippery, but it repels insects really well. My mom would always dunk us in the tub with it before we’d go out fishing in a friend’s country pond.
Lace Faerie says
I agree on Avon’s Skin So Soft oil. I love the fragrance so I use it as my after shower body oil during summer.
When camping we put a glug in a spray bottle of water. Shake before spraying. The fragrance is diminished and the skeeters may land on me but they never bite.
Jeannette says
I stick with products containing DEET (Cutter and Off). I know some don’t like to use chemicals, but I have found them to work the best for mosquitos and especially ticks.
Kathu says
I don’t use a darn thing and do not get bit at all. Seriously. Then again, I must smell and /or taste awful to the lil buggers…I eat a lot of garlic. Am the only one in my little family who is left alone (neither adult child eats my cooking haha). They, on the other hand, use Deep Wood Off.
Brandy says
I overheard someone at the park say that they rub dryer sheets all over their body to keep the Mosquitos away. Might be worth a try??
Delores says
A few things I have heard/read:
*they are attracted to dark clothing
*they are attracted to people who talk a lot
*they are attracted to those with O type blood
*taking vitamin B helps
I prefer the citronella stuff.
Karen says
Mosquito Magnet here!
Introverted, can go hours without talking
I wear khaki and beige and light colors in the summer or when visiting in the South
Type B
Haven’t tried taking vitamin B, but do take a multivitamin
So much for that theory. 🙂
Jen Young says
I use the highest concentration of Deet I can buy, usually Deep Woods Off or Cutter. Nothing else has ever worked for me. I’m the person who goes bonkers when the dog goes in & out the door after dark because mosquitoes come inside being drawn to the light. Then they spend the rest of their lives torturing me as i try to watch a movie or sleep!!!
One of my worst nightmare mosquito experiences was when I was a newlywed & my husband & I were traveling. We’d stopped for gas along I-40 in Arkansas in the evening. I went in to buy snacks, ect while my ‘dear’ husband pumped gas, looked at the atlas (yrs ago) & cleaned out the trash…..all with both doors open & the dome light on. I have NEVER had such a miserable experience in my life. When we got back on the road they swarmed me. I turned the AC onto freezer mode to try to slow them down & buried myself head to toe. Needless to say I was pretty angry for days….it took weeks to heal from all the bites.
When I’m working in my yard I usually can go at least two or three hours without reapplying, depending on how hard I work or wet I get.
Karen says
If they release 1 mosquito in a room with me and 99 other people, I will be the only person bit. I like Off Deep Woods towelettes. I can be sure exposed skin is covered even on the back of the neck, and you aren’t breathing aerosol fumes. I was in Louisiana for a week recently, and did not get 1 bite.
T.J. says
I use Bullfrog its both a sun screen and sketter dope. If I am going to be on my patio or around a campfire I just burn dried sage leaves.
Bryan says
We create mosquito repellents where I work and we’ve seen success with the following essential oils:
Geranium Oil
Neem Oil (more effective than DEET)
Cedar Oil (wouldn’t put on skin, but it’s safe on the lawn or in the garden)
Lemongrass Oil
Citronella Oil
Vickilynn says
Can you provide amount needed for each ingredient? Where is the best store to find these items?
Thank you
Michele says
We only use Deet products when we go camping…other than that nothing. I have to put something on the kids because they’re usually off exploring – away from the fire – where the mosquitoes are. We only go camping a few times a year, so really they only get sprayed 5-6 times a year with it.
However, if I came across a natural lotion or an oil that worked just as good, I would use it instead.
Ellen in Clackamas says
I am a mosquito magnet! People around me may not be bothered but I am prime rib! When I visited my Dad in Alaska years ago I was worried about being eaten up…the mosquitos there are so big they issue them pilots licenses! Any time you opening the car door you needed a can of Cutters in your hand and started spraying so the car wouldn’t be swarmed over. That Cutter’s worked so well I have used it ever since –even in the NW land of wimpy skeeters. I figured if the stuff works in Alaska it would work here!
Cathy Tarr says
I apply Avon Skin so soft lotion every day on my legs arms and face. I find the Original works the best. We also made a spray my MIL found on Facebook. It has a whole bottle of blue mouthwash, Epsom salts, and 3 cans of stale cheap beer. We mixed it together and sprayed around the entire house. I even sprayed the fence and the swing set. I have seen 2 mosquitoes. I have not been bit yet. I am outside every day. The spray is supposed to last 80 days.
ann in E. oregon says
Skin -So -Soft lotion or bath oil. It works (and it smells good, too). 🙂
Brooke says
I have been taking vitamin B1 this season. I also make a homemade spray – a few drops each lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oil essential oils; then fill the bottle 1/3 full of witch hazel, and top off with water. I spray it on exposed skin before going outside. These two things are working pretty well! When I do get bit, I dab the bite with tea tree oil, and it is usually gone the next day.
Heather in M says
Cut out bannanas.
Eat a LOT of garlic.
Take vit b6
Vy says
I’ve found that natural products containing catnip oil are very effective. Also yes to the Skin So Soft, I have a small spray bottle of it that I refil over and over from a big jug I bought five years ago, it lasts forever. The plus with that is you can spray it on a window sill and it keeps bugs from crawling over.
Peggy Gibbs says
I make a home-made repellant that I found on Pinterest. It uses Apple Cidar Vinegar, which smells really awful, but after it’s applied, the smell dissipates. It works well while sitting on the back porch and working in the garden.
Gay Richardson says
Avon skin so soft bath oil, in your own spray bottle, ALWAYS works. My Mom used to keep it by the back door at the cottage and we doused everyone with it before going out to play. Now we use it on our grandchildren. I have just ordered Avons Bug Guard for the first time. We’ll see if it is any better than the old standby. I have a small “customs approved size” spray bottle of SSS that I take with me to Cuba and the likes. Must have!!!
erin says
Bug soother works awesome! It’s made in iowa and they can’t keep it on the shelves here. We have nasty gnats and mosquitos and it keeps me safe at ball games and in my garden. Might have to order it but it’s worth it. Smells pretty good too.
Jillian says
I use a organic herbal insect spray I got at the pet store for the dog. Works great!
Mary Ann O'Brien says
I just read that 100 mg Vitamin B1 (thiamine) daily keeps the skeeters away. Worth a try.
Heidi says
Sublimed sulfur.
In a pinch they have a Sulfur based lotion in an ugly green bottle at commercial pharmacies.
Jean says
Bug Soother https://www.simplysoothing.net/bug-soother/
This stuff smells great and is all natural and non-toxic.
Lauralli says
I’ve live in Arkansas. They originally considered the mosquito as the state bird. 🙂 Everyone in my family gets swarmed by mosquitoes. First, I try to avoid the outdoors as much as possible especially in the evening and at night. That is easy to do here, because the “feels like” temperature is 90 right now and it’s 8:30 in the morning. :/
I like my air conditioning! But, if we are going to be outdoors for any length of time our family rubs down with Bounce dryer sheets (no other brand will work so I’m told but I’m not going to try any other brand just to see). If we go somewhere like a ball game or near a lake or campsite where we know there will be swarms of them, we use Cutter Deep Woods. Also, if we get some freak cool spell where we can go sit outside in the evening, I plug a fan up near us–they can’t fly in the wind! 🙂
l Bryant says
I asked my neighbors elderly parents (they were born in 1895 and 1897) almost 20 years ago what they used for a bug repellant. They both said that their mothers made all the family members consume a glass of water mixed with 3 -4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar every day from the moment the first daffodil emerged until the first frost. If the bugs were unusually bad in any given year they did this 2x per day. I have been doing this every year and I am no longer the bug attractant I was growing up. I use my own apple cider vinegar that I make. It is stronger than the store bought and is what their parents used.
If we go berry picking near the woods, to avoid chiggers we spray sweatbands for our wrists and our socks with a mixture of thyme oil, oregano oil, basil any type of mint oil, tee tree oil all mixed with witch hazel. Also on our apron to prevent the dreaded bites around the underwear line. (I don’t have a recipe I just add the witch hazel half way up a 4oz spray bottle and then add 4-10 drops each until I can smell the oil in the mixture. I do not add lemon or lemon grass oil as this will bring in bees (it is used in swarm traps.)
Good luck!
Lori says
If have been taking vitamin B1……I have not had a single bite yet! I usually get at least 5 if not 15 bites when I go outside. Not a single one.