Reports suggest that vitamin B is also a deterrent, so foods such as Marmite or Vegemite might help you remain off the sandfly's radar. Some other natural repellents include: orange peel, citrus juice, eucalyptus, lemon grass, lavender, catnip, tea tree oil and vinegar.
Beans, Lentils, Tomatoes
Beans, lentils and tomatoes are all rich in thiamine, also known as vitamin B1. This vitamin has been thought of as a natural mosquito repellent because once it's excreted by the skin, it helps to mask the natural human odors that are attractive to insects.
There is no scientific evidence anything you can eat or drink will prevent mosquitoes biting you. You can still enjoy your gin and tonic, bananas, or vegemite on toast – just don't expect the mosquitoes to stop biting!
Garlic, shallots, onions, chives and leeks are part of the Alliaceae family. What do they have in common? They contain a substance called allicin, which is said to have the ability to repel mosquitoes. Ingesting these foods helps the body excrete this substance through the pores of the skin.
Do vitamin B capsules, yeast, or foods rich in thiamine prevent mosquito bites? Some websites claim that eating thiamine-rich food makes you repellent to blood-feeders. It doesn't. However, thiamine (aka vitamin B1) does reduce itching caused by bites.
Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents: cinnamon, peppermint, cedar, citronella, lemongrass, patchouli, catnip, lavender, and more. Find a favorite, and use it when you want to spend time outside.
There is evidence that drinking apple cider vinegar does help repel mosquitoes. It works by slightly altering the scent given off by the human body. This small change in smell is less enticing to mosquitoes, but it is not enough for other people to notice.
"Garlic is a classic," said Joe Conlon, technical advisor for the American Mosquito Control Association. Some think that eating garlic could keep mosquitoes away, but he said studies have not shown that ingesting garlic reduces bug bites. "As in most myths though, there is an element of truth in them," he said.
Sandalwood has been used by Aboriginal people for many generations as an effective mosquito repellent. In traditional times, Aboriginal people burned the bark, wood and the leaves. Sandalwood is also used or medicinal, spiritual and emotional purposes.
Cover up while outside (wear loose, long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing and covered footwear and socks), particularly at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Apply mosquito repellent evenly to all areas of exposed skin. The most effective repellents contain picaridin, DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
It has taken decades of research, but scientists are close to working out why mosquitoes bite some people, and not others. It comes down to a complex trifecta of carbon dioxide, body temperature and body odour that makes some people more inviting to mozzies than others.
Soybean oil and olive oil
A mosquito repellent with two-percent soybean oil offers one to four hours of protection against bites. Twenty-percent olive oil solutions have a 71 percent repellency rate for up to eight hours.
And mosquitoes can not only smell our sweat, studies show they're attracted to the lactic acid and ammonia found in it. Therefore, the more you sweat — whether you naturally sweat excessively or you have just finished exercising — the more attractive you may be to mosquitoes.
Experts at Nomads World said: “There's a reason why most insect repellants have a lemon scent and that's because for some reason mosquitoes don't like it. “Adding a bit of lemon juice to your water can help you to avoid attracting mosquitoes - this is actually my go-to way to repel mosquitoes.
Deter Insects
We may be fans of Vicks, but insects decidedly are not. Dab a bit on your arms, legs, neck, or other areas of exposed skin to keep bugs (including mosquitoes) at bay, however, it is not as effective at preventing bites as a commercial insect repellant.
Your Feet Stink
The short answer as to why mosquitoes go after feet and ankles is that our feet often carry a strong odor. Yes, stinky feet attract mosquitoes.
At a distance of 1 meter, DEET and oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays reduced mosquito attraction by 60%. The only wearable device that worked was an OFF! clip-on fan containing the insecticide metofluthrin.
Since coffee grounds have such a pungent and intense smell, mosquitoes do not like to come near it. Mosquitoes are repulsed by all types of coffee, whether it is fresh, used, or burnt. The most effective way to use coffee grounds for mosquito control is by burning them, as it creates a stronger aroma.
To reduce the possibility of a mosquito biting you, you could consider wearing white, green or blue. Lighter colors are less interesting to mosquitos than darker shades like navy and black, red or orange. However, clothing color alone is unlikely to keep mosquitos away for good.
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?
Some mosquito species are leg and ankle biters; they cue into the stinky smell of bacteria on your feet. Other species prefer the head, neck and arms perhaps because of the warmth, smells emitted by your skin, and closeness to carbon dioxide released by your mouth.
Bananas & Avocados
It's not just these two foods that attract mosquitos, it's what they have in common. Both are rich in potassium. Consuming potassium leads to the production of lactic acid, which is also a known mosquito magnet.
Wear Light Coloured Clothing
This is because, during their most active time, dusk, dark coloured clothing actually provides a contrast in colours, meaning they are immediately attracted. By wearing lighter coloured clothing, neutral colours are recommended, mosquitos won't be stimulated.