Is The DIY Hack For Mosquito Prevention Worth Trying?

When you think of deadly animals, you probably think of vipers, scorpions, or crocodiles. However, the tiny mosquito is responsible for more human deaths than any other animal, killing between 725,000 and one million people worldwide every year, primarily by spreading diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile virus. Although mosquito-related deaths in the U.S. are rare, mosquito bites are annoying and can lead to skin infections and scars from scratching.

Although effective, many people don't want to use pesticides such as DEET to repel mosquitoes. As a result, there are many recipes using household staples that repel mosquitoes like magic, without the risks of pesticides. The latest one making the rounds on social media is remarkably simple and great-smelling: vanilla. According to some TikTok influencers, mixing pure vanilla extract with water and spraying it on you will keep mosquitoes away.

But is it really that easy? Can you trade in your chemical-smelling insect repellent for wholesome and sweet-smelling vanilla? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Vanilla doesn't work as a mosquito repellent, although you'll smell great while you're scratching all of your bites.

To understand why this hack doesn't deter mosquitoes, it helps to understand how mosquitoes target you. Mosquitoes are difficult to hide from because they use multiple physical and chemical signals to identify and feast on your blood. They first identify carbon dioxide, which you emit when you exhale. They also sense your body heat and smell chemicals in your sweat. If you douse yourself in vanilla, you may mask the smell of your sweat for a very short time, but the effect will quickly wear off and isn't effective at actually repelling mosquitoes. Additionally, the sweet smell may actually attract bugs such as wasps and flies that are drawn in by it. Vanilla is ideal for an all-natural air freshener, but skip it as an insect repellent.

In contrast, insect repellents such as DEET work by blocking the receptors on a mosquito's antennae so they can't use them to detect your body heat and sweat. Both the taste and smell of DEET are repellent to mosquitoes. It mixes with your sweat and prevents the chemical signals from reaching mosquitoes, effectively making you invisible to them.

Does that mean we're stuck slathering ourselves with man-made chemicals to prevent bug bites? Not necessarily. Some plant oils can repel mosquitoes, but most don't last as long as DEET or picaridin, a DEET alternative. The exception is oil of lemon eucalyptus or OLE. OLE is as effective as DEET and lasts for up to six hours. Researchers tested other plant-based oils at a 10% concentration in lotion and found that clove oil works for about 90 minutes and cinnamon oil works for about an hour. Despite its reputation as a mosquito repeller, citronella oil will only give you about 30 minutes of protection. 

You can also protect yourself from mosquitoes by wearing loose-fitting clothing that covers your exposed skin. Tuck your pants into your socks to keep mosquitoes from biting your ankles. A wide-brimmed hat with netting will protect your head and face. Avoid tight-fitting clothing such as spandex workout wear, since mosquitoes can bite through it. At home, check for these mistakes that are attracting mosquitoes to your yard.