Does Perfume Attract Mosquitoes?

Do perfumes attract mosquitoes? Let’s dig into scents that lure these insects.

More often than not, people are puzzled at the rate of mosquito bites they get when they apply certain perfumes to their bodies. It seems such fragrances attract these blood-sucking pests. So, is this just an assumption or a fact?

Actually, it is a fact! Mosquitoes are attracted by perfumes.

This will be sad news for some readers as perfumes are part of their essential grooming kit they cannot do without.

However, this situation can be managed as there are additional factors that attract mosquitoes apart from the scent of perfumes.

Mosquito Attractants

Having established the fact that mosquitoes are attracted to the scent of perfumes, it’s also important to note that other things attract them as well.

Knowing these helps you avoid or manage the problem much better.

• Dark Clothing

Wearing dark clothing, especially at night is an open invitation for mosquitoes to come around. The darker the clothing, the more likely they are to attract these pests.

Colors such as black, red, and dark blue are among mosquito favorites.

• Beer and Soda

Mosquitoes are attracted to beer and soda.

The reasons are simple; these drinks release carbon dioxide when popped open. Plus, the bubbles from these beverages further release carbon dioxide.

Now, this leaves a scent trail for mosquitoes to follow.

• Sweat

When you sweat, you release water which also contains lactic acid. Now, the water doesn’t attract the mosquitoes but lactic acid does. Mosquitoes home-in on the smell of lactic acid using their antennae as sensors.

So, imagine wearing perfume, a dark cloth, drinking beer or soda, and sweating! This will be a perfect combo for mosquitoes to feast on your body. So, what should you do?

Making Some Adjustments

Some adjustments may be needed to keep mosquitoes at bay. Doing this will involve changing your lifestyle a bit. Mosquitoes mostly come out to feed in the evenings and at night. This doesn’t mean you won’t have them biting during the day.

At their most active time of day (evenings), it will be best if you avoid applying perfume when going out. This might be difficult for some people but it will help prevent them from targeting you.

Also, avoid being extra active or playing sports around dusk or dawn when mosquitoes are most active. This lessens your chances of sweating which in turn prevents the release of lactic acid found in sweat.

The clothing you wear in the evenings will determine how mosquitoes react. Wearing light-colored clothing will help. Dark-colored clothing can be worn during the day when these pests are less active.

Another option that might be more acceptable is by applying mosquito repellent products to your body.

Here, you won’t have to be worried about the clothing or perfume you wear. You can still enjoy your evenings without the discomfort caused by mosquito bites.

Scents that Repel Mosquitoes

While mosquitoes are attracted to the scent of perfumes, certain scents repel them. Knowing these fragrances will go a long way in helping you find perfume products containing such.

Then, you won’t be worried about attracting mosquitoes any longer.

• Lavender

The scent of lavender is loved by many. However, for mosquitoes, its pungent smell is repulsive.

Luckily, there are lots of lavender perfume products you can purchase. This eliminates your mosquito problems as it repels them rather than attracting them.

• Marigold

The pungent aroma from the marigold plant makes it one of the favorite perfume fragrances for many. The best part is, it repels mosquitoes.

So, you can wear this on with zero worries about attracting mosquito bites when you go out in the evenings.

• Rosemary

Apart from its seasoning properties among its many other uses, the rosemary herb is quite versatile with its oil being used for perfumes. You can get perfume products made from this oil and be rest assured that mosquitoes won’t come close.

This effectively repels them away.

• Eucalyptus

Perfumes and cologne made from Eucalyptus oil can effectively replace your usual perfume products. This is ideal for persons seeking a solution to mosquito problems caused by perfume scents.

Perfumes with eucalyptus fragrances keep mosquitoes at bay while you enjoy your entire day.

• Lemon Balm

If you’re open to trying out new mosquito repellent perfumes, you may want to try out products containing lemon balm.

You won’t only be solving your mosquito problem but also a wide variety of undesirable insects. They detest the smell and will keep their distance while you smell good and fresh.

• Basil

Although this is a tasty herb, it has a variety of uses including its oils being used for perfumes.

You don’t need to worry about mosquitoes swarming around and biting you when using products containing this ingredient. It effectively repels them and keeps them at bay while you go about your business or relax.

• Peppermint

Mosquitoes are repelled by the smell of peppermint.

Peppermint oil is used for some perfume products that smell really great. You can take charge of your evenings by using any of these products.

In other words, you won’t need to make uncomfortable adjustments just for the sake of keeping mosquitoes away.

• Citronella

Pesky insects such as mosquitoes do not like the pungent smell of citronella perfumes. These are made from citronella oil and keep you smelling fresh and clean all day long. There are tons of perfume products made from citronella oil.

You only need to search to find them.

• Catnip

The catnip fragrance in perfumes is what you need to keep mosquitoes at bay.

These are great smelling fragrances that you can rely on to maintain your confidence all day long. There’s no need to make adjustments to your lifestyle or what you wear. All you need is to put this perfume on and move out without a worry.

We have sufficiently answered the question on the attraction of mosquitoes to perfumes.

Also, this can be managed by making some little adjustments such as not using perfumes in the evenings when mosquitoes are most active and avoiding dark clothing.

However, the best way to avoid mosquitoes while wearing your perfume is by going for fragrances that repel them. These have been listed above.