Do you notice that some people attract mosquitoes more than others? One reason for this is that mosquitoes are attracted to certain scents. So, these unfortunate people may have a scent on them that make them more attractive to mosquitoes. Here we explain what the four scents that attract mosquitoes are, so you will know how to avoid them.
How do mosquitoes find you?
Wait… how do mosquitoes find you in the first place? Mosquitoes have a lot of ways to track down potential targets. The sense mosquitoes rely on the most, is their sense of smell. So, if you have a scent that naturally attracts mosquitoes, you are more likely to be bothered by mosquitoes than your friends.
The primary scent they look for is your breath because of its carbon dioxide content. It ensures that their potential targets are alive and not just some rocks on the riverbank. Then they look for heat, sweat, and scents.
So, you need to be aware of the scents you have on your body, because they can influence the number of mosquitoes around you.
Scents that attract mosquitoes
Here are the top scents that naturally attract mosquitoes. The great thing about these scents is that they are avoidable, unlike carbon dioxide which you exhale.
1. Perfumes
Colognes, fragrances, perfumes – you name it. They have one thing in common. They are great attractors of mosquitoes. This is especially true for those that have floral scents. This is because floral scents often have ingredients like honeydew, nectar, and other flower and plant-based products that mosquitoes feed on.
If you have these floral scents on you, you are basically spraying mosquito food on yourself. It will not be surprising that mosquitoes start swarming around you. It also doesn’t help that you exhale carbon dioxide. It makes you a complete meal.
2. Scented shampoos and soaps
There are so many personal care products now with different scents. These result in better bathing experiences. And some of them claim that they have health benefits too, especially for the skin. But the downside for these products is that their scents attract mosquitoes.
This is the same concept as that of fragrances. They may have ingredients that mosquitoes feed on in the wild. It’s only natural for mosquitoes to follow the scent of the food items they know.
3. Certain creams and lotions
There are also creams, lotions, and other skincare products that attract mosquitoes. Aside from the ingredients mosquitoes feed on, these products may also contain lactic acid.
Lactic acid is a chemical that your body produces, especially when you are exercising, sweating, or eating a certain kind of food. It builds up on your skin and mosquitoes detect it. Skincare products, like those that promise smoother skin, contain lactic acid.
Mosquitoes don’t care where the lactic acid is coming from. They can come directly from your body or from the skincare product you apply. It’s fair game.
4. Sweat
Sweat is one of the biggest attractors of mosquitoes. This is because it amplifies the other signals that you are a potential target.
When you are sweating, you are releasing lactic acid on your skin, which is already a mosquito attractor in itself. You are also probably exhaling more as you catch your breath, which means you are releasing more carbon dioxide. And you are also releasing more heat, which is another attractor of mosquitoes.
Your sweat can also dilute or wash away mosquito repellents you may have applied on your skin, such as anti-mosquito lotions with DEET.
How to avoid these scents
Fortunately, you don’t need these scents to survive. You can get rid of them completely and you won’t see significant negative effects in your life unless you really want that scented soap that makes your skin smell nice.
Here are things you can do to avoid these scents and stop yourself from being a potential target of mosquitoes.
1. Use non-floral scents
If you are going to spray cologne, fragrance, or perfume, consider using a variety that doesn’t have a floral scent. These sprays are not necessary for life anyway, so it’s also a good idea to completely stop using them.
2. Use unscented personal care products
Since you can’t completely stop using personal care products like shampoos and soaps, you can opt for unscented varieties to lower the chances of attracting mosquitoes.
Creams, lotions, and other skincare products are trickier because they attract mosquitoes not just because of their scents but also their contents.
3. Take a bath even if you feel like you didn’t sweat
Take a bath when you have sweated excessively, like after a workout session. That seems obvious enough. But do you know that humans still sweat even if we are not doing anything physically taxing?
You can be comfortable at home all day, but you may still sweat – even if it is just a little. This is why it’s a good idea to take a bath regularly. If you can take a bath before going to sleep, that could be a great advantage. Mosquitoes are more active at night. If you are free of sweat during this period, you are less likely to attract the bloodsuckers.
Fast tips to stop attracting mosquitoes
Remember that mosquitoes look for multiple signs to identify potential targets. Sure, scents help attract mosquitoes. But there are other attractors that could just be as potent. Here are some fast tips to stop attracting mosquitoes.
- Wear light-colored clothing. Mosquitoes are also visual hunters. They use the light around them to navigate mid-flight and visual cues like dark clothing to identify targets. It also doesn’t help that dark clothing traps heat more effectively compared to light-colored clothing.
- Cover up. This can be a very obvious solution, but you would be surprised how a lot of people forget about common sense. The more skin you expose, the larger the playing field for mosquitoes. Shrink the area they can target by covering up with long sleeves, pants, gloves, and socks.
- Use mosquito repellents. You can drive mosquitoes away by applying a mosquito repellent. This usually comes in the form of a lotion.
Final thoughts
Mosquitoes are attracted to certain scents. But the positive news is that these scents are avoidable. They also have unscented versions to lower the chances of them attracting mosquitoes.
Also, remember that scents are just some of the signs that mosquitoes use to find you. They can detect your breath, body heat, and dark clothing. You can further lower the chances of attracting mosquitoes by dealing with these factors.