Are you a mosquito magnet? It could be the fragrance, or scented soap or skin product, you are using, as mosquitoes may confuse you for the flowers they also feed on. — AFP
Itching, redness, swelling ... mosquito bites can be a real pain, whether they're caused by virus-carrying mosquitoes or perfectly harmless insects.
Fortunately, there are many natural solutions that can help keep mosquitoes away.
In candle, essential oil, home fragrance or plant form, citronella is undoubtedly the best-known natural mosquito repellent.
But it's far from being the only one.
There are various affordable and readily available natural options to help keep mosquitoes at bay.
Here are three you can try:
Lemongrass and geranium essential oils are well known for their ability to repel insects, but eucalyptus oil can also help prevent itchy skin all day long.
While roll-on applicators can be used to apply the product directly to the skin, it is possible – and recommended – to diffuse a few drops of eucalyptus oil into the air for a peaceful night's sleep.
Certain variants, such as lemon eucalyptus essential oil, can be used to soothe mosquito bites, reducing itching and redness.
However, these oils should not be used during the first three months of pregnancy, or by children under six years of age.
As well as flavouring dishes, basil is considered an excellent mosquito repellent, and for good reason: mosquitoes hate the smell of this herb.
However, you don't have to slather it on, or binge on pizzas and other basil-based dishes to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Try placing pots of fresh basil, or bunches of basil, in rooms or on windowsills to help minimise mosquito bites.
Basil is also known for its antiseptic properties, which means that simply rubbing its leaves on the skin can soothe itching.
Some people seem to be mosquito magnets, while others seem to repel them naturally.
This could have something to do with the soap they use, according to a team of American researchers who studied the effect of certain fragrances on these irritating insects.
Published in the journal iScience, the study shows that coconut-scented soaps can keep mosquitoes away and reduce the risk of mosquito bites, despite the fact that each individual has a unique scent profile.
In addition, the research highlights the fact that soaps with plant-based or plant-mimicking fragrances could, on the contrary, attract mosquitoes.
Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes feed not only on blood, but also on plant nectar.
So, mosquitoes confuse scented skin with flowers of all kinds. – AFP Relaxnews
