This Avon skin stuff was supposed to work well as a mosquito repellant.
Any diet considerations anyone knows about?
Well, truth is that some people have a certain scent or something that is more attractive to the rascals. There is truth that some people are more inviting than others. I have read some things but probably the best is one of the Deet type products.
Fragrances can be attractive too - no deoderants, scented shampoos, or perfumes, lotions, etc.
lemon
B-complex...B-12...
Skeeters home in on potassium, avoid the bananas in skeeter country.
The state bird of MN is the mosquito. Trust me.
They always left my grandmother alone. She was always drinking gin and tonic. I’m not sure there’s a connection.
Cedar oil: http://www.rosecityarchery.com/Bugg_Off.htm
natural mosquito repellents
Although the above repellents are the most promising, there are other natural mosquito repellents that are being researched:
Fennel - A small study by researchers at Seoul National University in Korea found that a spray mosquito repellent containing 5% fennel oil was 84% effective after 90 minutes and a repellent cream with 8% fennel oil was 70% effective after 90 minutes.
Thyme - In one study, carvacrol and alpha-terpinene, two compounds derived from the essential oil of thyme, were found to have significantly greater repellency than a commercial DEET repellent. The researchers suggest that a spray made with 2% alpha terpinene is a promising natural mosquito repellent. However, don’t try to make a thyme oil repellent at home- it is too irritating and strong-smelling to be used at effective concentrations above 25%.
Clove oil - Two studies have found that undiluted topical clove oil is active against mosquitoes. However, like thyme oil, clove oil should not be applied undiluted to skin as a homemade repellent.
Celery extract - A Thai study compared 15 mosquito repellents with a topical extract from celery. The researchers found that the extract did not irritate the skin or cause a burning sensation. It was found to be active against a wide range of mosquito species comparable to a 25% DEET formula.
Neem oil - An extract from the tropical neem tree, neem oil has insecticidal compounds called azadirachtins.
Vitamin B1 - Vitamin B1 is often taken to help repel mosquitos but one study suggests this remedy may be useless. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin study tested B1 with a larger sample of human subjects and found no effect of vitamin B.
Or as the old commercial went Drink Tabasco Sauce!! LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VICaWgD-76w
DEET works great. It’s made from all natural elements (hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen).
I actually live in a swamp. Our mosquitoes are probably a lot worse in number and size and type.
In short: NO.
DEET is the only thing that will work. Cutters or Deepwoods OFF work. Don’t spray it directly on your skin. Spray a veil of it in front of you and walk into it.
The organic sprays I’ve tried will make you vomit from the smell and the oil base they use to make them is impossible to get out of your clothes. In any event, they don’t work. Neither does garlic, Skinsosoft, mint leaves or other things crushed on the skin or folk remedies.
It isn’t the scent that attracts them its the CO2 you let off. For black flies its the heat you let off. If black flies are after you just take your hat and hold it up above your head and see what happens. Its funny..they all go up to the hat until it cools off.
Eating Bananas and other high potassium items will increase your tasty-ness to mosquitoes; but other than garlic I can’t think of a natural repellent.
Allergic to garlic? She may be a secret vampire, do not turn your back for an instant!
Is your wife a vampire ?
Citronella oil is supposed to work but I have my doubts. It is an old one tho. Some people swear that skin so soft by avon works but I also doubt how well it really works.
If you don’t mind a chemical and one which is also a poison, pyrethrin on my hat and lightly on my clothes really does work. It also will kill them.
DEET
All else are inferior and mostly ineffective
Lemon Eucalyptus
Put regular Listerine (the green kind) in a spray bottle. Spray about a half an hour before you go out. I know it sounds strange, but ever since my mom told me about this, my kids never get bit.
I have also heard that you can rub dryer sheets (Bounce) on you before you go out. I never tried this one but heard it works well. I am also one of those people that never get bit, but my poor daughter used to get attacked before I tried the Listerine. Good Luck!
I read that wearing fabric softener pads (those things you throw in the dryer) work ... seemed to work for me. Then if you get bit, ammonia will kill the itch and I know that works. I always carry a small spray bottle of that with me on hikes ...
I read recently that some folks say that pinning a dryer sheet (fabric softener sheet) to your clothing, or tuck one into your pocket, will repel mosquitos.
btt
This Avon skin stuff was supposed to work well as a mosquito repellant.