Mosquitoes use their sense of smell to find hosts to bite and consume blood from. They are attracted to carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and certain chemicals in sweat and skin. While no scent completely repels all mosquitoes, there are some scents that may deter them or mask the scents they follow. Understanding what deters mosquitoes can help prevent bites and diseases like malaria, dengue, Zika, and West Nile virus that they can transmit.
Do mosquitoes dislike any scents?
Yes, there are certain scents that mosquitoes try to avoid. Strong odors from plants in the mint, citronella, lemon, and lavender families contain chemicals like citronellal, geraniol, citronellol, and linalool that can deter mosquitoes. Essential oils or scented candles made from these plants may help repel mosquitoes when applied to the skin or burned where mosquitoes are active.
Catnip and rosemary also contain chemicals known to repel mosquitoes. The CDC recommends oil of lemon eucalyptus as an alternative to DEET, a common chemical insect repellent. Some research suggests mosquitoes dislike the smell of lantana flowers, ginger, garlic, spider plants, basil, and neem oil as well.
Why are mosquitoes repelled by some scents?
The repellent scents contain compounds that overstimulate mosquitoes’ sense of smell, masking scents they normally follow to find hosts. The strong odors likely confuse and irritate mosquitoes, so they avoid those smells. Compounds like geraniol also may inhibit mosquitoes’ ability to detect carbon dioxide, one of their primary attractants.
What scent do mosquitoes like?
Mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of sweat, lactic acid, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and certain skin and breath chemicals. They locate hosts by following these scents. Sweat contains amino acids, carboxylic acids, ammonia, and hormones that attract mosquitoes. Lactic acid and ammonia are also given off in sweat and skin secretions. Carbon dioxide is found in breath and heat emitted from the body.
How do mosquitoes use scent to find hosts?
Mosquitoes primarily rely on their sense of smell to locate blood meals. They use olfactory receptor neurons in their antennae to detect chemical odors related to hosts. When they sense carbon dioxide, sweat compounds, and skin secretions, they become activated and head towards those scents. Mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide from over 50 meters away. They use the CO2 as a general indicator of hosts, then hone in on specific skin smells at closer range to select a target.
What scent masks human smells?
Strong herbal scents from citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, and other plants can mask the chemicals given off by humans that attract hungry mosquitoes. Burning candles containing these scents or applying essential oils derived from these plants to your skin creates a barrier that makes it harder for mosquitoes to detect you.
Oils like citronella, lemon eucalyptus, and catnip have been shown to effectively repel mosquitoes for 1-3 hours when applied to the skin. The CDC recommends lemon eucalyptus as an alternative to DEET repellent. Lemon eucalyptus oil likely masks human scents through its particular chemical composition.
Do mosquitoes dislike perfume?
It depends on the type of perfume. Floral and fruit-scented perfumes can actually attract mosquitoes by mimicking fruity body odors they naturally seek out. However, perfumes with stronger, more pungent odors from plants known to repel mosquitoes may help deter them. Citrus, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, and lemon scents can help mask your natural odors. The higher the perfume’s concentration of these botanical oils, the more protective it will likely be against mosquitoes. Apply it close to the skin and reapply frequently for the best effect.
What scent do mosquitoes hate the most?
Mosquitoes seem to particularly dislike the scent of lemon eucalyptus. Lemon eucalyptus oil contains citronellal, which activates mosquito repellent receptors in their antennae. Multiple studies have found lemon eucalyptus oil provides 94-95% protective efficacy against mosquitoes for up to 6 hours. This makes it more effective at deterring mosquitoes than many low concentration DEET repellents. The CDC endorses lemon eucalyptus oil as an alternative to DEET products.
What scent attracts mosquitoes the most?
Mosquitoes are highly attracted to lactic acid. In one study, traps baited with lactic acid caught over 13 times more mosquitoes than unbaited traps. Lactic acid is present in human sweat and skin secretions, signaling the presence of a potential host. Mosquitoes also hone in on carbon dioxide from breath, certain skin bacteria, and secretions containing ammonia and carboxylic acid.
Do mosquitoes like vanilla scent?
Mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of vanillin, the main compound giving vanilla its scent. In lab tests, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spent over 4x as much time flying near pads scented with vanillin compared to unscented control pads. The vanilla scent stimulates activity in mosquito antennae receptors that detect chemical host cues. While vanillin alone may not be powerfully attractive in nature, it could enhance attraction when combined with other human-based compounds mosquitoes key in on.
Do citronella candles really keep mosquitoes away?
Citronella candles provide moderate protection against mosquitoes. Burning citronella releases citronellal into the air, which repels mosquitoes due to overstimulation of their scent receptors. Studies show citronella candles can provide 40-50% repellency against mosquitoes within a 1 meter radius, with effects diminishing further from the candle. Their effects last about 2 hours but diminish over time as the candle burns down. While not extremely powerful, citronella candles can be somewhat helpful in creating a “protective bubble” against mosquitoes if used properly.
What flower scent do mosquitoes hate?
Marigolds contain pyrethrum, a compound used in many insect repellents. Research shows pots of marigolds near seating areas repelled mosquitoes up to 24 hours after planting. Lantana flowers also contain citronellal and geraniol, mosquito-repelling terpenes present in citronella. Mosquitoes also seem to dislike the smell of lavender, mint, rosemary, and basil. The most effective mosquito repelling flowers contain strong aromatic oils that mask scents mosquitoes follow to find hosts.
What scent repels mosquitoes naturally?
Many plant essential oils naturally repel mosquitoes. Oils containing concentrated compounds from lemon, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, citronella, catnip, and lemon eucalyptus have shown the most repellency. Burning candles with these scents or applying the diluted oils directly to your skin makes you less detectable to mosquitoes. Natural repellents that mask human odors don’t carry the same concerns as synthetic chemicals like DEET when applied topically.
Do mosquitoes dislike smoke?
Yes, mosquitoes generally avoid smoke. Burning certain plant materials like leaves, wood, and grasses generates smoke containing chemicals that deter mosquitoes. The smoke particles disrupt mosquitoes’ ability to detect scents and heat signatures they use to locate hosts. Smoke can shield individuals from attacking mosquitoes when present in moderate density around a perimeter. However, extremely thick smoke could be hazardous, and smoke-based deterrents require constant maintenance when used for ongoing repellency.
Do dryer sheets repel mosquitoes?
Some research suggests unused dryer sheets repel mosquitoes. Dryer sheets contain chemicals like linalool, citronellal, and chloroform that can deter mosquitoes to some degree. One study found dryer sheets provided >90% repellency for 2-4 hours when taped to volunteers’ forearms before dropping off over time. However, other research indicates minimal to poor repellency from dryer sheets under more realistic conditions. While they may provide a slight protective effect, dryer sheets should not replace DEET or plant-based repellents for substantial protection.
Do mosquitoes hate tea tree oil?
Yes, tea tree oil repels mosquitoes through its strong medicinal scent. The major active component, terpinen-4-ol, overstimulates mosquito odorant receptors tuned to human scents. In lab tests, 5% tea tree oil repelled Aedes and Anopheles mosquitoes for up to 2.5 hours. The oil provided roughly 84-93% protection when diluted and applied to skin. Using tea tree oil-based sprays or lotions can discourage mosquitoes from biting, but may need frequent reapplication for lasting effects.
What scent lures mosquitoes away?
Mosquitoes can be lured into traps using various attractants that mimic human smells. Lactic acid, ammonia, fatty acids, hexanoic acid, butylamine and carbon dioxide are proven to attract mosquitoes when used as bait. Traps containing these chemicals can divert mosquitoes away from people into the traps for collection and extermination. Lures made to artificially simulate human scent components offer an effective means of monitoring, controlling, and reducing mosquito populations without insecticide spraying.
Do mosquitoes hate Vick’s Vapor Rub?
Yes, VapoRub helps repel mosquitoes due to its active ingredients eucalyptus oil and menthol. In one study, VapoRub repelled Aedes mosquitoes for up to 4 hours and Anopheles mosquitoes for up to 3 hours when applied to the skin. The eucalyptus oil contains insect repelling terpenes that are released and mask human scents that attract mosquitoes. The menthol adds a cooling sensation that further masks human odors and deters mosquito landings.
What scent attracts mosquitoes to humans?
Mosquitoes are particularly attracted to lactic acid, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and certain carboxylic acids and esters emitted in human skin secretions, sweat, and breath. They detect and follow these chemical signatures to locate potential blood meal sources. Mosquitoes also hone in on specific skin bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Propionibacterium that release attractive acids as metabolic byproducts. Individual attraction can vary based on skin chemistry and microbiome composition.
Should I use perfume or cologne to repel mosquitoes?
It’s not recommended to rely on perfumes or colognes as your sole mosquito repellent. Fragrances marketed for attraction contain floral/fruit notes that may actually draw in mosquitoes. Repellent perfumes are available, but often don’t provide strong enough protection when used alone. If using a scented product, choose one with high concentrations of natural botanical oils (citronella, lemon eucalyptus) known to deter mosquitoes. Still, you’ll likely need to reapply frequently. Ultimately, EPA-registered repellents like DEET and picaridin are most effective for preventing bites.
Summary
Mosquitoes rely heavily on smell to locate hosts. Scents that naturally repel them can provide some protection by masking attractive human odors. Strong odors from citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, lemongrass, catnip and lemon eucalyptus effectively overwhelm mosquitoes’ scent receptors. Topical oils and burning candles containing these plant extracts may help deter biting. However, recommended repellents like DEET and picaridin are vastly more effective and last longer than natural masks. Avoid wearing highly fragrant perfumes or colognes in mosquito-prone areas, as they could make you more detectable.
Conclusion
Mosquitoes use scent-detecting capabilities to hone in on hosts for blood meals. While no smell will completely repel all mosquitoes, certain strong odors can deter them by overloading their sensitive odorant receptors. Botanical extracts like lemon eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and catnip have proven particularly effective at masking human smells mosquitoes key in on. Topically applied oils or burning candles with these scents provide moderate spatial repellency, but typically require frequent reapplication. Powerful EPA-registered repellents like DEET and picaridin remain the gold standard for preventing bites. Avoid wearing perfumes or colognes with fruity, floral notes, as these could actually make you more noticeable to mosquitoes in the area.