9 Scents That Mosquitoes Hate And How To Use Them

Hey there! Some links on this page are affiliate links which means that, if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I greatly appreciate your support!

Mosquitoes are common summer pests and can be a nuisance in the house. To prevent mosquitoes, it is essential to find out what scents do mosquitoes hate.

Many products are available for mosquito control, including candles, sprays, and lotions. However, there are also natural ways to repel mosquitoes by using the products that are available at home.

Certain scents are disliked by mosquitoes, including eucalyptus, garlic, basil, rosemary, and sage. You can utilize these scents to help keep mosquitoes away from you.

What scent attracts mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are attracted to various cues, but the primary natural one is carbon dioxide. They are also drawn to body heat, lactic acid, sweat, and other scents.

Swarm of mosquitoes

Fragrances and floral scents are also the most well-known cues. This includes perfumes, colognes, and scented lotions. It is important to avoid using these products outdoors if you want to keep the mosquitoes away.

What should natural mosquito repellents have?

Mosquitoes can be a real nuisance, especially for people prone to mosquito bites. There are many different natural mosquito repellents, but a mosquito repellent should have a strong odor to it as it disrupts the mosquito’s senses.

Natural repellents are a better option for people who want to avoid chemicals, and they come in a mixture of forms, such as essential oils, plant extracts, and even powders.

Each natural repellent works differently. Some work by masking scents that mosquitoes are attracted to, while others use strong scents that mosquitoes hate.

It is important to do your analysis and find the right repellent before heading out into areas where mosquitoes are known to be a problem.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes?

There are several pathways to get rid of mosquitoes at home.

  • One is to check all window and door screens to ensure there are no tears or gaps. If there are, you can install screens on any doors or windows that are missing them.
  • Another way is to use air conditioning; mosquitoes do not like cold weather.
  • You must dump out and replace water bowls daily. This eliminates their favorite breeding grounds and will help to keep them at bay.
  • Finally, you can prevent the growth of the mosquito population by limiting sources of moisture.
9 Scents That Mosquitoes Hate And How To Use Them

9 Scents That Mosquitoes Hate And How To Use Them

Mosquitoes are a common annoyance while camping and hiking, but they can also carry dangerous diseases. Mosquitoes are attracted to certain smells and repelled by others. Let’s get to know what smells do mosquitoes hate?

By using one or more of the nine scents that mosquitoes hate, you can repel them and avoid getting bitten.

There are a variety of ways to use these scents, from planting them around your yard to burning candles made with these scents. You can plant these herbs near your campsite or put them in a diffuser to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

scents that mosquitoes hate

Neem Oil

Neem oil is a vegetable oil that is extracted from the neem tree. It has been used for centuries for various purposes, including as a mosquito repellent.

Neem oil is effective against mosquitoes because it contains azadirachtin, a compound that interferes with the insects’ ability to reproduce.

Though neem oil is a powerful mosquito repellent, keeping it away from infants and small children is important. The oil can be harmful if ingested, so use caution when applying it and make sure that your children don’t come into contact with it.

Medicinal neem leaves and fruits with essential oil over white background

Camphor

Camphor has a natural mosquito repellent that is effective in keeping mosquitoes away and has a long-lasting effect. Camphor is a white, solid object with a strong odor that you can use to eliminate mosquitoes away from your sleeping area or inside your tent.

When burned, the camphor will release an odor that is intolerable to mosquitoes and will keep them away.

Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil is a mosquito repellent that has a refreshing scent. It can help keep mosquitoes away from your home and your yard.

You can use it in various ways, including diffusing it, applying it topically, or using it in a spray. Peppermint oil can protect you from mosquito bites for around 150 minutes.

Aloe vera Gel & Olive Oil

You can create this repellent by mixing aloe vera gel with olive oil. Combining two parts of aloe vera gel with 1 part of olive oil which will act as a carrier oil will create a powerful repellent that you can spread to your skin. This is a great option if you want to avoid using harsh chemicals on your skin.

Mosquitoes are pesky insects that can ruin any outdoor activity. Aloe vera gel is non-toxic and safe for humans, making it a great choice for mosquito repellent. Additionally, olive oil is also effective at repelling mosquitoes.

Garlic

Garlic is a mosquito repellent because mosquitoes hate the strong pungent smell. To make a garlic mosquito repellent:

  1. Either cover the garlic in mineral oil and let it sit for 24 hours, or peel the garlic pods and add water and lemon juice.
  2. Filter the solution using a filter cloth and pour it into a spray bottle.
  3. Sprinkle garlic around tents while camping to repel pests.
Peeled garlic in bowl

Sage

Sage has been used for its therapeutic effects. It can be grown in gardens or used while camping to keep mosquitoes away. The leaves and stalks of the sage plant release a scent that mosquitoes hate, making it a great natural mosquito repellent.

Vanilla

Vanilla fragrance is lovely to humans, but do mosquitoes hate vanilla? As you already know, mosquitoes are attracted to CO2, sweat, and lactic acid. However, there are certain scents mosquitoes hate, and vanilla is one of them.

This is because the scent of vanilla hinders their ability to pierce the food sources, making it difficult for them to locate you. The smell is so strong that it deters mosquitoes from landing and feeding on humans.

Various scents repel mosquitoes, but vanilla is one of the most potent. Additionally, studies have shown that vanilla extract can be an effective mosquito repellent.

Vinegar

Most people know that the scent of vinegar repels mosquitoes. What you may not know, however, is that white vinegar is the cheapest and most effective mosquito repellent.

You can use it in various ways to keep the mosquitoes away from you and your family. You can mix vinegar with water to create a homemade mosquito repellent solution that is safe.

Coffee Beans

One of the many smells mosquitoes hate is coffee beans. This is because the coffee bean aroma brings out mosquito eggs from stagnant water, resulting in their death.

You can employ this data to your advantage by spreading coffee grounds around areas where you think there might be a lot of mosquitoes, such as near your garden, ponds, or other standing water.

Mosquitoes require stagnant water to breed and lay their eggs. By adding coffee beans to this water, you can suppress mosquito breeding and reduce the population of mosquitoes. 

coffee beans for reducing mosquito population

How often should you reapply a repellent?

It depends on the concentration and the power of the scent. Also, consider things like exposure to water (swimming, for example), exercise (if you’re sweating), and the outdoor temperature.

Applying and reapplying according to the above-mentioned conditions will help ensure you get the most effective protection.

What causes the reduction in the risk of mosquito bites?

Aside from wearing insect repellent, reapplying it as needed, and wearing appropriate clothing, there are a few things to decrease your hazard of mosquito bites.

  • Spend your time in screened-in areas rather than open spaces.
  • Fix any holes or tears in the mesh to prevent leaks.
  • Use mosquito nets and mesh at home.
  • Remove any immobile water from your home and surroundings.
  • Mosquito eggs are laid in standing water, so empty the scrubs, or toss buckets, baby pools, pots, garbage cans, and birdbaths. 
  • Avoid being outdoors between twilight and daylight, when mosquitoes are most dynamic.

Final Thoughts

Mosquitoes are not only unhygienic, but can also spread deadly diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and the zika virus. Thankfully, there are a number of different mosquito repellent scents that you can use to keep them at bay.

It is definitely beneficial for people to know and gain information about the nine scents that help repel mosquitoes. Doing so will not only help protect people from these pests but also keep them safe from deadly diseases they may carry.

About the author

A biotechnologist by profession and a passionate pest researcher. I have been one of those people who used to run away from cockroaches and rats due to their pesky features, but then we all get that turn in life when we have to face something.